Nebraska Tops NCAA DI Women's Volleyball Committee's In-Season Top 16 Rankings

Nebraska has secured the top spot in the NCAA Division I women's volleyball committee's in-season top 16 rankings, marking the second year the rankings feature 16 teams instead of 10. The rankings, announced after matches through October 18, considered strength of schedule, top-10 wins, and head-to-head competition, with Nebraska remaining undefeated and having swept eight straight opponents without losing a set since mid-September. The NCAA women's volleyball championship semifinals and finals are scheduled for December in Kansas City, Missouri. Meanwhile, Nebraska football remains favored in betting lines despite mixed performances this season, opening as an 8-point favorite against Northwestern. Nebraska football's recent ranking in the AP Top 25 is attributed more to losses by other ranked teams like Penn State and Michigan rather than dominant wins, as the Huskers have had close games and some tense victories. This shift in rankings reflects the dynamic nature of college sports, where a team's status can benefit from the struggles of competitors within their conference and nationally.