The Nebraska Huskers have been voted as the top team to win the 2026 Big Ten title by the league's 18 head coaches. Nebraska received all 18 first-place votes in the preseason poll, making them the clear favorite for conference play. In the 2025 season, Nebraska dominated the conference with a perfect 20-0 record in Big Ten matches and finished the season with an overall 33-1 record, reaching the NCAA Regional Final.
Three key members of the Huskers—Andi Jackson, Harper Murray, and Bergen Reilly—were named to the Preseason All-Big Ten Team, making them a trio of standout players from Nebraska. These three were among only four players selected unanimously by the head coaches, the others being Penn State’s Kennedy Martin. Jackson, a senior middle blocker, was a standout performer last season, leading the nation with a hitting percentage of .467. This impressive mark ranks third-best in Nebraska’s program history.
Murray, also a senior, earned AVCA All-America honors for the third consecutive season. She led the Huskers in kills per set and contributed significantly with 34 aces during the 2025 season. Reilly, the team’s setter, was recognized as the AVCA Setter of the Year and Big Ten Player of the Year in 2025. She averaged 10.47 assists per set and was instrumental in guiding the team to a school-record hitting percentage of .351.
Wisconsin, Penn State, Purdue, and Minnesota rounded out the top five teams in the 2026 Big Ten preseason poll. The conference looks to be highly competitive, but Nebraska’s experienced roster and depth give them a strong edge over their rivals. This is especially true with the return of three key players who are not only skilled but also bring a wealth of experience.
Other standout names in the Preseason All-Big Ten Team included Indiana’s Jaidyn Jager and Penn State’s Kennedy Martin. However, the Nebraska trio stood out for being chosen unanimously, a clear reflection of their impact and influence on the team. Notably, Jackson broke the Big Ten hitting percentage record in conference-only matches with a .559 average, surpassing the previous record of .541 set by Penn State’s Arielle Wilson in 2008.
With three of the four unanimous selections and the top seed in the poll, Nebraska enters the 2026 season as the clear favorite in the Big Ten. The Huskers' returners offer a mix of power, precision, and leadership that few teams in the conference can match. Their success in 2025 and the continued dominance of their key players position Nebraska well to defend their title.
The 2026 Big Ten preseason poll is as follows: 1. Nebraska, 2. Wisconsin, 3. Penn State, 4. Purdue, 5. Minnesota, followed by Indiana, USC, Oregon, UCLA, Illinois, Michigan, Michigan State, Washington, Northwestern, Iowa, Ohio State, Rutgers, and Maryland. Nebraska's depth and experience, combined with the return of three standout players, make them a formidable force in the league.
The Preseason All-Big Ten Team includes notable players such as Jaidyn Jager (Indiana), Teodora Krikovi (Indiana), Carly Gilk (Minnesota), along with Nebraska's Andi Jackson, Harper Murray, and Bergen Reilly, and Penn State's Kennedy Martin and Alexis Stucky. Nebraska's selections, however, were the only ones chosen unanimously, further emphasizing their strength and impact on the team. The Huskers' combination of talent and experience positions them as a top contender in the upcoming season.