Women’s volleyball selection show recap: Bracket, schedule

It’s been 11 months since Penn State volleyball defeated Louisville in four sets to claim the program’s eighth national championship.

Next month, a new champion will be crowned — and the road to get there was officially set this weekend.

Watch the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament selection show live with Fubo (free trial)

The selection show for the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament took place on Sunday, Nov. 30, when 64 teams saw their names unveiled in a bracket to see what path they have to the Final Four in Kansas City.

Nebraska enters the event as the favorite to win it all, with a 30-0 record under first-year head coach Dani Busboom Kelly. The Cornhuskers will have considerable competition in their quest to win their sixth national championship, with Texas, Kentucky, Arizona State and Pitt posing what could be stiff challenges.

USA TODAY Sports is providing live updates of the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament selection show. Follow along:

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NCAA volleyball tournament selection show live updates

NCAA volleyball tournament bracket

Kentucky Quadrant

• No. 1 Kentucky (25-2) vs. Wofford (17-13)
• No. 8 UCLA (18-12) vs. Georgia Tech (16-13)
• No. 5 BYU (22-8) vs. Cal Poly (25-7)
• No. 4 USC (24-6) vs. Princeton (18-6)
• No. 3 Creighton (25-5) vs. Northern Colorado (17-15)
• No. 6 Northern Iowa (25-5) vs. Utah (15-14)
• No. 7 Tennessee (20-7) vs. Utah State (23-7)
• No. 2 Arizona State (26-3) vs. Coppin State (23-11)

Texas Quadrant

• No. 1 Texas (23-3) vs. Florida A&M (14-16)
• No. 8 Penn State (18-12) vs. South Florida (17-12)
• No. 5 Colorado (22-8) vs. American (24-4)
• No. 4 Indiana (23-7) vs. Toledo (23-10)
• No. 3 Wisconsin (24-4) vs. Eastern Illinois (24-7)
• No. 6 UTEP (25-4) vs. North Carolina (21-8)
• No. 7 South Dakota State (23-4) vs. Arizona (16-12)
• No. 2 Stanford (27-4) vs. Utah Valley (16-10)

Pitt Quadrant

• No. 1 Pitt (26-4) vs. UMBC (13-11)
• No. 8 Xavier (26-4) vs. Michigan (21-10)
• No. 5 Iowa State (22-7) vs. St. Thomas (21-9)
• No. 4 Minnesota (22-9) vs. Fairfield (25-5)
• No. 3 Purdue (24-6) vs. Wright State (21-10)
• No. 6 Baylor (17-9) vs. Arkansas State (22-8)
• No. 7 Rice (21-9) vs. Florida (15-11)
• No. 2 SMU (25-5) vs. Central Arkansas (18-11)

Nebraska Quadrant

• No. 1 Nebraska (30-0) vs. LIU (20-8)
• No. 8 San Diego (25-4) vs. Kansas State (17-3)
• No. 5 Miami (26-5) vs. Tulsa (25-6)
• No. 4 Kansas (22-10) vs. High Point (18-9)
• No. 3 Texas A&M (23-4) vs. Campbell (23-6)
• No. 6 TCU (20-10) vs. Stephen F. Austin (23-7)
• No. 7 Western Kentucky (27-5) vs. Marquette (17-10)
• No. 2 Louisville (24-6) vs. Loyola Chicago (17-15)

Nebraska, Kentucky, Texas, Pitt earn No. 1 seeds

Nebraska, with its undefeated record, was a no-brainer as the top overall seed, but Kentucky, Texas and Pitt join the Cornhuskers as No. 1 seeds in the tournament. The Longhorns won the NCAA championship in 2022 and 2023 while the Wildcats won it all in 2020. The Panthers, meanwhile, have made the Final Four in each of the past four years.

As long as they advance, each of those teams will play at home all the way through to the Final Four

NCAA women’s volleyball rankings

The RPI rankings weigh heavily into the NCAA’s seeding and at-large selections for the women’s volleyball tournament. Here’s a look at the latest top 10, which has been updated through Nov. 30:

1. Nebraska
2. Texas
3. Kentucky
4. Arizona State
5. Pitt
6. Creighton
7. Stanford
8. SMU
9. Louisville
10. Texas A&M

To see the full RPI rankings, click here.

NCAA volleyball projected bracket

Here’s a look at the latest mock bracket from Michella Chester of NCAA.com.

NCAA Division 1 volleyball rankings

Though it hasn’t been updated since Nov. 16, here’s a look at the top 10 of the latest AVCA rankings:

1. Nebraska
2. Kentucky
3. Texas
4. Pitt
5. Stanford
6. Texas A&M
7. Louisville
8. SMU
9. Arizona State
10. Wisconsin

How to watch NCAA volleyball bracket reveal

• TV channel: ESPN
• Streaming: ESPN+ ∣ Fubo (free trial)

The 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament selection show will air on ESPN. Streaming options for the show include ESPN+, ESPN’s subscription streaming service, and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

What time is women’s volleyball NCAA tournament selection show today?

• Date: Sunday, Nov. 30
• Start time: 6 p.m. ET

The NCAA volleyball tournament selection show is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, Nov. 30.

NCAA volleyball tournament automatic qualifiers

Here’s a look at the 31 teams that have earned automatic berths to the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament by virtue of winning their conferences:

• ACC: Stanford
• American: Tulsa
• American East: UMBC
• Atlantic Sun: Central Arkansas
• Atlantic 10: Loyola Chicago
• Big East: Creighton
• Big Sky: Northern Colorado
• Big South: High Point
• Big Ten: Nebraska
• Big 12: Arizona State
• Big West: Cal Poly
• CAA: Campbell
• Conference USA: Western Kentucky
• Horizon: Wright State
• Ivy: Princeton
• MAAC: Fairfield
• MAC: Toledo
• MEAC: Coppin State
• Missouri Valley: Northern Iowa
• Mountain West: Utah State
• NEC: LIU
• Ohio Valley: Eastern Illinois
• Patriot: American
• SEC: Kentucky
• SoCon: Wofford
• Southland: Stephen F. Austin
• SWAC: Florida A&M
• Summit: St. Thomas
• Sun Belt: Arkansas State
• WAC: Utah Valley
• WCC: San Diego

When does NCAA volleyball tournament begin?

• Start date: Thursday, Dec. 4

The 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament is scheduled to begin with first-round games on Thursday, Dec. 4.

When is the NCAA volleyball Final Four in 2025?

• Dates: Thursday, Dec. 18 and Sunday, Dec. 21

The two semifinal matches in the Final Four of the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament will take place on Thursday, Dec. 18 and will be followed three days later by the national championship game on Sunday, Dec. 21.

Where is the NCAA volleyball Final Four in 2025?

The Final Four of the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament will be held at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. It’s the third time since 2010 that the venue, formerly known as the Sprint Center, has hosted the Final Four.

NCAA volleyball tournament schedule 2025

Here’s a round-by-round look at the schedule for the 2025 NCAA volleyball tournament:

• First and second rounds: Dec. 4-5 or Dec. 5-6
• Sweet 16 and Elite Eight: Dec. 11 and 13 or Dec. 12 and 14
• Semifinals: Dec. 18
• National championship: Dec. 21

NCAA volleyball tournament champions

Penn State is the reigning NCAA volleyball champion, having defeated Louisville in four sets last year in the national title game. It was the Nittany Lions’ eighth volleyball championship since 1999.

Here’s a look at the past 10 NCAA volleyball champions:

• 2024: Penn State
• 2023: Texas
• 2022: Texas
• 2021: Wisconsin
• 2020: Kentucky
• 2019: Stanford
• 2018: Stanford
• 2017: Nebraska
• 2016: Stanford
• 2015: Nebraska

For the full list of champions, click here.