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4d ago

Nebraska Wins Inaugural Spikes Under the Lights as College Volleyball Plays Inside an NFL Stadium

The made-for-TV exhibition at AT&T Stadium drew a large crowd and featured program appearance fees and a winner's payout that highlight growing NIL-driven revenue in the sport.

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Texas Longhorns outside hitter Torrey Stafford (4) sends the ball over the net in the third set of the Longhorns’ summer scrimmage against the Rice Owls in Gregory Gymnasium, Aug. 14, 2026.
Texas Longhorns outside hitter Abby Vander Wal (6) reaches for a ball in the third set of the Longhorns’ summer scrimmage against the Rice Owls in Gregory Gymnasium, Aug. 14, 2026.

Overview

  • The three-match exhibition took place at AT&T Stadium on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026, and marked the first time a women's college volleyball match was played inside an NFL stadium.
  • Matches used a broadcast-friendly best-of-three scoring format (sets 1–2 to 21, set 3 to 15) and were designated exhibition games that do not count toward official season records.
  • Organizers distributed baseline appearance payments to each program and an extra winner's prize, though outlets reported different totals for the competitive bonus.
  • Nebraska beat Florida in the semifinal and then swept SMU in the final to claim the title and the event's additional winner payout as reported, with the night televised on Turner networks.
  • The event capped the start of Nebraska's early-season stadium tour and illustrated how national broadcasts and NIL money are reshaping revenue and exposure for top women's college volleyball programs.