Indiana University athletics headline 2026 season openers

The 2026 college sports season features significant matchups involving the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers. In football, Indiana is set to open its season against North Texas in a nationally televised FOX Big Noon Kickoff game. The Hoosiers, led by coach Curt Cignetti, are looking to maintain the momentum of their recent championship run despite roster changes.

In volleyball, the inaugural Allstate Big Ten/SEC Challenge Week is underway. The event includes high-profile matchups such as Georgia facing Indiana and Purdue, and Texas A&M competing against Purdue and Indiana. In a recent match within the challenge, No. 17 Florida defeated No. 11 Minnesota 3-1.

Additionally, the Big Ten conference enters the season with high expectations following a three-year run of national titles by Michigan, Ohio State, and Indiana. The conference aims to continue this dominance as teams like USC and Oregon also enter the season highly ranked.