EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsWelcome to 2026's first installment of women's college volleyball Bracketology.Now that the calendar has reached November, the countdown to Selection Day (Nov. 29, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN) is on and it's time to look at the key elements of the 64-team NCAA tournament field. With the return of the Pac-12, there are once again 32 automatic bids with 32 at-large teams chosen by the NCAA volleyball committee. Volleyball seeds the top eight teams in each region, and the top four in each region serve as first- and second-round hosts. The rest of the bracket is filled out to balance it competitively and geographically. The highest remaining seeds also host the regionals, and the 2026 Final Four will be held in San Antonio on Dec. 17, with the finals on Dec. 20.Bracket watchNo dispute exists about No. 1 Nebraska, which has topped the rankings all season and is five wins away from going unbeaten. The Cornhuskers have yet to see a fifth set, but there's still time with the first-ever Big Ten women's volleyball tournament to navigate. One-loss Pittsburgh is also an easy choice for the No. 2 overall spot, but its road to keep that position is tougher than Nebraska's. The Panthers must go to Stanford and host North Carolina and Louisville. The other two spots on the No. 1-seed line are up for grabs. SEC leader Florida and Louisville hold down those spots now, but Wisconsin, SMU and Kentucky will also be in the mix over the next four weeks.Top seedingsNo. 1 seeds: Nebraska, Pittsburgh, Florida, LouisvilleNo. 2 seeds: Wisconsin, SMU, Kentucky, BYUNo. 3 seeds: Oregon, Arizona State, Penn State, TexasNo. 4 seeds: Washington, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, TCUNo. 5 seeds: Purdue, Texas A&M, Kansas, MinnesotaNo. 6 seeds: North Carolina, Baylor, UCLA, StanfordNo. 7 seeds: Illinois, Indiana, Western Kentucky, Michigan StateNo. 8 seeds: Creighton, Colorado, Colorado State, PepperdineRest of the field (alphabetical): American, Ball State, Bowling Green, Cal Poly, Charleston, Coppin State, Cornell, Dayton, Eastern Kentucky, Fairfield, Florida A&M, Georgia Southern, Georgia Tech, Hawai'i, High Point, Lipscomb, Lindenwood, Long Island, UMBC, Marquette, Michigan, Missouri, Northern Iowa, Toledo, Oklahoma, Tulane, South Dakota, Utah Tech, Wright State, UTRGV, High Point, Wofford.(The rest of the teams in the field wouldn't be seeded)Bubble watchIt seems unlikely the MAC will produce three NCAA tournament teams. If either Ball State or Bowling Green stumbles in the two weeks leading up to the conference tournament, that spot will be up for grabs. Cal will face Georgia Tech on Nov. 13, and while Cal doesn't have any rsum-building matches, the Bears can rake up some more wins. That Stanford win on Oct. 28 looms large, and 20 wins to go with it would be helpful. Oklahoma's recent skid can be overcome with a strong finish, which includes hosting Missouri and Vanderbilt on the final weekend of the SEC regular season.Last Four In: Loyola Marymount, Oklahoma, Bowling Green, Ball StateFirst Four Out: Missouri State, Cal, Georgia, DePaulNext Four Out: Miami, Iowa State, Mississippi State, DukeConference breakdownBig Ten: 12SEC: 7Big 12: 6ACC: 6MAC: 3Big East: 2
