• Loading stock data...
Saturday, August 9, 2025
Tuned In returns to NYC on September 16. Hear from the biggest names in sports media. Click here to get your spot

College Volleyball’s Audience Is Spiking—and Networks Are Noticing

Women’s college volleyball is rapidly growing in popularity, with major networks expanding coverage and viewership reaching record highs.

Dylan Widger-Imagn Images

Women’s college basketball has been one of the more surprising sports-growth stories in recent memory, as intense competition and electric atmospheres inside arenas have translated into a burgeoning TV property.

Two years ago, Fox Sports had a wild idea: Air college volleyball in NFL-adjacent windows. Most of the country saw Wisconsin-Minnesota airing with the NFL as its lead-in—where a lot of regions had Packers-Vikings before the match—while others saw Michigan–Ohio State leading into an NFL window.

The aggregate result? 1.7 million viewers, the most-watched regular-season volleyball window of all time. 

“We’ve seen with other properties where obviously you can use the strength of the NFL lead-in to really expose new viewers to sports that are growing—like women’s volleyball,” Fox Sports VP Derek Crocker told Front Office Sports. “Seeing those numbers and how well it did really showcased the power of what women’s volleyball could be. We were really encouraged by it.” 

Last year, Fox aired 18 matches across Fox (2), FS1 (12), and FS2 (4), up from 12 the previous season. This included the State Farm Showcase at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee featuring four games including Texas, Wisconsin, Stanford, and Minnesota. 

Big Ten Network (which is majority-owned by Fox) aired 68 matches last year, its most ever. In 2023, Wisconsin-Nebraska drew 612,000 viewers to BTN, and the matchup garnered 591,000 viewers last year. This week, BTN is airing spring volleyball coverage for its first time. Demographically, volleyball has the youngest audience and most female viewers of any sport for the network. 

Other networks are also airing more volleyball. Last year, NBC Sports featured four Big Ten women’s volleyball games for the first time, including three on the NBC broadcast network (simulcast on Peacock) and one exclusively on Peacock. The latter, an Oregon-UCLA game, was part of a Black Friday tripleheader that also featured Pitt–Ohio State in men’s basketball and a Nebraska-Iowa football game. 

There’s also been a considerable uptick in college volleyball as a live event, as was evidenced when Nebraska filled its football stadium with more than 92,000 fans in August 2023 for a match against Omaha. 

“A lot of credit goes to the coaches and the cultures they’ve created, especially in the Big Ten,” Crocker said.  

ESPN has also been pouring considerable resources into volleyball. More than 2,600 matches in the 2024 season aired on ESPN platforms (including linear TV and the ESPN+ streaming service). The network recently announced a “Block Party” in Nashville for this upcoming season that will feature a tripleheader of SEC vs. Big Ten games—Nebraska-Kentucky, Purdue-Tennessee, and Illinois-Vanderbilt—on ESPN2 on Aug. 31.

The network has seen large numbers for volleyball, particularly in the NCAA tournament. In 2023, the Texas-Nebraska championship game drew 1.7 million viewers on ABC, and last year’s Louisville–Penn State final had 1.3 million viewers, peaking at 1.9 million. The semifinals (Penn State–Nebraska and Louisville-Pittsburgh) averaged 1.1 million viewers.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Dec 14, 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA; President Donald Trump wave during the second quarter of the game between the Navy Midshipmen and the Army Black Knights at Lincoln Financial Field

‘Political Gold’: Trump Putting His Stamp on College Sports 

Trump has embraced executive action on hot-button college sports issues.
NC State

NC State ‘Cardiac Pack’ Team Loses NCAA Suit for NIL Back Pay

The 1983 team was among college basketball’s greatest Cinderella stories. 

After Draft-Day Snub and Drama, Sanders to Start Preseason Opener

Multiple injuries mean Sanders gets the nod for the opening preseason game.

US Open Breaks Prize Money Record, Still Leads All Grand Slams

The total 2025 US Open prize money is $85 million.

Featured Today

Inked Under Anesthesia: Athletes Getting $50,000 Tattoos

High-end studios, elite artist teams, and hours under anesthesia.
Coco Gauff at New York Liberty
August 2, 2025

How the New York Liberty Became the Hottest Ticket in Town

Once banished to the burbs, the Libs are now Brooklyn’s marquee attraction.
Las Vegas sign
July 29, 2025

College Sports Embracing Vegas After Years of Cold Shoulder

The Big Ten became the latest newcomer to Sin City.
2000, Jupiter, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Montreal Expos pitcher Hideki Irabu in action on the mound against the New York Mets at Roger Dean Stadium during Spring Training
July 28, 2025

Dead Sports Franchises Are Alive and Well on Twitter

The Expos, Sonics, and Whalers have active social media accounts.
Chad Ochocinco

Shannon Sharpe, Chad Ochocinco Settle $20 Million Defamation Suit 

It’s the second multimillion-dollar lawsuit Sharpe has settled in recent weeks.
Apr 2, 2023; Inglewood, CA, USA; Roman Reigns during Wrestlemania Night 2 at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit:
August 6, 2025

ESPN Strikes $1.6 Billion Streaming Deal With WWE

WWE’s premium live events are migrating from NBC’s Peacock in 2026.
NFL Network host Kimmi Chex gives Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor a draft do-over during the second round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Taylor was drafted in 2020 when the draft was held virtually due to COVID.
August 6, 2025

ESPN Reaches NFL Draft Rights Extension Following Mega-Deal

The network will continue to broadcast the draft through 2030, say sources.
Sponsored

Hottest Matchups Following NFL Schedule Release

The NFL released the 2025 regular-season schedule, and anticipation is already building in the ticket marketplace with four months to go.
August 4, 2025

NFL’s Hall of Fame Game Draws 6.9M TV Viewers, Highest Since 2021

The Lions and Chargers played this year’s game in Canton, Ohio.
Jul 15, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark (22) reacts to the crowd as they take on the Connecticut Sun in the first quarter at TD Garden.
July 30, 2025

WNBA Viewership Up Across All Networks Compared to 2024

Non-Fever games are up 37% compared to the full 2024 season.
NASCAR Cup Series driver Bubba Wallace (23) celebrates winning Sunday, July 27, 2025, the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.
July 30, 2025

Amazon, TNT Post Near-Identical NASCAR Ratings in Debut Season

The cable channel is a new media-rights partner this season.
Jul 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Sky guard Kia Nurse (11) drives to the basket against Indiana Fever guard Sophie Cunningham (8) during the second half at United Center.
July 29, 2025

Fever-Sky Draws 1.5M Viewers Despite Clark, Reese Absences

Clark and Reese both missed the game due to injury.