Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge and UCF football season kick off

Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge Minnesota Golden Gophers UCF Knights college volleyball college football

The 2026 Allstate Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge features a partnership between the two conferences, involving 34 teams. The competition runs from September 1–6, with matches hosted at various campus sites and two matches scheduled at Wrigley Field involving Kentucky, Penn State, Nebraska, and Missouri.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers, currently ranked No. 11 in the AVCA Coaches' poll, enter the week following a split opening weekend where they lost to No. 12 Arizona State and defeated No. 13 Creighton.

In college football, the UCF Knights are set to begin their season at the Acrisure Bounce House on September 3 against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. UCF's roster features transfer quarterback Alonza Barnett III, who previously led James Madison to a College Football Playoff appearance in 2025.

Entities

Alonza Barnett III · Big Ten Conference · SEC · UCF · University of Minnesota

Sources

Gophers Back on the Road to 2026 Allstate Big Ten/SEC Volleyball Challenge - University of Minnesota Athletics [gophersports.com]

11 days ago

UCF Kicks Off 20th Season of Acrisure Bounce House Thursday [ucfknights.com]

12 days ago