SMU Volleyball Draws Brutal 2026 Schedule

SMU volleyball isn’t easing into 2026. The Mustangs are walking straight into a buzzsaw.

Head coach Sam Erger has finalized SMU’s non-conference schedule, and it’s not built for padding records.

MORE: Bryson DeChambeau Plaque Drama Has SMU Twist

It’s built to test everything.

The Mustangs could face as many as five teams that finished last season ranked inside the top 18 of the AVCA poll, including No. 1 Texas A&M, No. 2 Kentucky, No. 6 Texas, No. 8 Purdue and No. 18 TCU.

SMU will play eight of its 10 non-conference matches away from home, with five coming at neutral sites.

Before the real grind begins, fans will get an early look at the 2026 roster during the Red vs. Blue Scrimmage on Aug. 12, followed by the program’s first Alumni Match on Aug. 14.

Then things get loud ... and fast.

The Mustangs open with the previously announced AVCA First Serve matchup against Texas A&M in Milwaukee, followed by the Spikes Under the Lights exhibition at AT&T Stadium in Arlington.

From there, SMU heads to Fort Collins, Colorado, for matches against Colorado State and UC Davis on Aug. 29-30.

The rivalry heat arrives Sept. 2, when SMU faces TCU in Fort Worth for the first time since 2021.

Two days later, the Mustangs travel to San Diego before moving into two more marquee trips: the Showdown at the Net against Texas and the Paradise Invitational in the Bahamas.

MORE: SMU Hires Mo Brown To Boost Fan Experience

SMU closes non-conference play with Rice on TCU’s campus on Sept. 17 and a home match against Yale on Sept. 19. Then comes the ACC opener: Stanford in Dallas on Sept. 25.

For SMU, this schedule sends a pretty clear message. The Mustangs aren’t hiding from anybody.

Join Our Roundtable Community For Free!

Share your takes, connect with our Roundtable writers, and talk sports with fellow fans. Download the free Roundtable App today and stay closer to the conversation.