Alabama
LSU
Miss State
Oklahoma
South Carolina
Tennessee
LEAD STORY: Sooners Suffer First Loss of 2026 in Four-Set Battle with Washington
Oklahoma volleyball's perfect start to the 2026 season is over. The Sooners fell to Washington in four sets Friday afternoon at McCasland Field House in Norman, dropping a 18-25, 25-19, 16-25, 24-26 decision as part of the Big Ten/SEC Challenge, per the school's athletics site.
The match was tighter than the final line suggests. After dropping the opening set, Oklahoma answered emphatically with a 25-19 second frame to level the match. Washington reasserted control in the third, but the fourth set was the heartbreaker — the Sooners pushed it to the wire before falling 26-24, two points from forcing a decisive fifth set on their home floor.
The Big Ten/SEC Challenge continues to serve its purpose: early-season measuring-stick matches against quality nonconference competition. For Oklahoma, Friday's result stings, but a four-set fight against a Big Ten opponent — with a deciding set that went to extra points — offers plenty of evidence the Sooners can hang with top-tier competition as SEC play approaches.
QUICK HITS
- Ranked volleyball showdown in Nashville: No. 22 Tennessee takes its 4-0 start on the road for the first time this season, facing No. 21 Indiana on Sunday at the second annual Broadway Block Party in Nashville. First serve is set for 3 p.m., with national television coverage on ESPN2.
- Alabama soccer eyes a perfect nonconference slate: No. 6 Alabama (7-0-0) closes out its nonconference schedule Sunday, Sept. 6, hosting Harvard (2-2-1) at 1 p.m. CT at the Alabama Soccer Stadium.
- Texas golf tees it up at Folds of Honor Collegiate: The No. 12 Longhorns men's golf team competes Monday through Wednesday at American Dunes Golf Club.
- Gameday tech upgrade in Austin: Texas Athletics launched a new interactive mapping experience at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, giving Longhorn fans a smarter way to navigate football gamedays.
- LSU riding high: ESPN's Holly Rowe, appearing on The Paul Finebaum Show, described the Tigers as unfazed by outside distractions, saying the team is together despite a new-look roster and that energy around the building is high.
- Bulldogs in the bigs: Mississippi State's #StateToTheShow update highlighted the program's continued pipeline of professional baseball players in 2026, per the school's athletics site.
PORTAL WATCH
One piece of transfer movement crossed the wire in the last 12 hours: Ethan Sanchez committed to South Carolina. The Gamecocks add another name to their roster as programs across the conference continue to shape their depth charts. Further details on Sanchez's role will become clearer once he's integrated into the South Carolina program.
RECRUITING BUZZ
A quiet stretch on the recruiting front — no new commitments were reported in the last 12 hours. With the 2026 football season now underway, expect official visits and gameday atmospheres to start driving the next wave of pledges. Big home environments in September and October historically do heavy lifting for SEC recruiting classes.
GAMES TO WATCH
No games are on the schedule today, but the weekend slate offers two matchups worth circling:
- Sunday: No. 22 Tennessee volleyball vs. No. 21 Indiana at the Broadway Block Party in Nashville — 3 p.m., ESPN2. A ranked-vs.-ranked test in the Lady Vols' first match away from home this season.
- Sunday: No. 6 Alabama soccer vs. Harvard — 1 p.m. CT in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide can finish nonconference play unbeaten at 8-0-0.
- Monday–Wednesday: No. 12 Texas men's golf at the Folds of Honor Collegiate, American Dunes Golf Club.
Georgia fans, meanwhile, got their appetizer for the weekend: the Bulldogs released their Football Game Trailer ahead of the matchup with Tennessee State, and Memorial Stadium opened a new era for football, per school channels. The SEC weekend is loading — we'll have full coverage as results roll in.
