Texas officials did not confirm the matchup Thursday, but Busboom seemed sure that the nonconference meeting — between two teams that will likely be ranked near the top of the preseason polls — will happen.
“I won’t give you all the details, but we’re bringing back the rivalry to Texas, so that’s going to be fun,” Busboom said to chamber members, according to Husker Online. “It is not going to be in Nebraska, I’ll tell you that. We have another potential, exciting and unique field-type experience. The contracts are going to be signed very soon, hopefully, then we can announce it.”
The Longhorns will compete in the Sprouts Farmers Market Broadway Block Party Sept. 6 in Nashville, Tenn. ESPN will broadcast the event, but has not released details or all participating teams.
Whether Nebraska faces Texas in Nashville or at another neutral site, the meeting will resume a fierce rivalry between two proud programs who once competed against each other in the Big 12. Overall Nebraska holds a 33-25 edge. Texas and Nebraska also have faced off three times for a national championship, with Texas winning in 2023 and Nebraska winning titles in 1995 and 2015.
Both schools boast blue-blood bona fides. Nebraska has won five national titles and Texas has won four since the inception of the NCAA volleyball tournament in 1981. The Longhorns also won the 1981 Association for Intercollegiate Athletics national championship before the organization disbanded the following year.
Last season, Nebraska finished 33-1 and No. 3 in the final AVCA poll. Texas went 26-4 and lost to the Wisconsin Badgers in the NCAA Elite Eight.
Texas volleyball will open the 2026 season at the AVCA First Serve in Milwaukee with matches against Arizona State Aug. 22 and Marquette Aug. 24.