Nebraska Volleyball and Wisconsin Badgers. Now that’s a rivalry the volleyball world looks forward to! Back in 2021, fans were treated to an absolute thriller when these two powerhouses clashed in the women’s national championship. In a nail-biting, dramatic five-set showdown, Wisconsin claimed their first-ever title, leaving Nebraska just shy of a sixth. The record-breaking crowd of 18,755 packing the arena? A loud and clear message that volleyball was ready to shine brightly under the spotlight. That match didn’t just solidify this rivalry—it flipped the script for the sport, transforming casual viewers into passionate, die-hard fans who couldn’t look away.

Fast forward to the present, the Huskers and Badgers are continuing that legacy, electrifying the court, and taking the sport to the next level. Sure, Texas took the last two championships, but it’s Nebraska and Wisconsin who bring the intensity and keep the championship a true contest. Meanwhile, Nebraska keeps shattering records, from pulling in jaw-dropping viewership numbers to making TV history. But the Wisconsin Badgers aren’t far behind, as they closed in on the Huskers’ historic milestones during an epic NCAA showdown that had fans on the edge of their seats!

Wisconsin Badgers pull off their A game!

Avid Volley, the go-to page for all things USA Volleyball, dropped some pretty exciting news on X on December 16. They shared, “Wisconsin-Texas A&M averaged 524,000 viewers on ESPN2 on Friday night. That’s the second most-watched match on cable so far and the fourth most overall this season.” Not stopping there, they added a little cherry on top, saying, “I’m 99% sure this was the most watched regional semifinal to date on ESPN’s networks. (well, based on publicly released data).” Basically, the match had fans glued to their screens, and the numbers are telling the story—volleyball’s spotlight just keeps getting brighter!

In a nail-biting showdown on Friday night, the No. 2 seeded Wisconsin Badgers fought tooth and nail to take down No. 6 Texas A&M in a five-setter, winning 25-21, 18-25, 25-19, 23-25, 15-13. The offense battle seemed to keep the fans on the edge of their seats as Wisconsin made it to the Regional final for the seventh consecutive year—because that’s just what the Badgers do.

However, Sunday told a different story. The No. 1 Nebraska Huskers entered the match like a storm and dispatched the Badgers 24-26, 17-25, 21-25 in the NCAA Regional Final. This made it three in a row for Nebraska over Wisconsin in the current season to prove how intense the rivalry is. The Badgers may have been knocked down, but if there’s one thing about them—they will always rise up. And talking about Nebraska—what is it about their TV records?

Badgers’ rivals’ TV records!

You got to be wondering, what record are we even talking about here with the Wisconsin Badgers right on our tail? In the discussion about collegiate volleyball, the Cornhuskers are never far behind. Not only do the Huskers control the volleyball floor, but the fans also commandeer the entire rule book to show their support. Nebraska volleyball has some of the most dedicated fans in the sport and they showed it once again by breaking another huge record this year.

It was back in September when Nebraska Cornhuskers and Louisville engaged in a match that was not ordinary. It attracted 684000 average viewers, which is 4 times ESPN’s viewership record, and is the most watched regular season volleyball match on any ESPN channel. Oh, and it didn’t stop there—the numbers were even higher and reached a fantastic 808,000 viewers! To make things even cooler, nearly half the audience were women, showing just how loved women’s collegiate volleyball is across the USA.

Now, with the Wisconsin Badgers creeping up close, you can’t help but notice: whether it is on the volleyball court or in the TV records, these two teams just can’t seem to keep from being in the headlines. Let it be rivalry or just the greatness of two teams—Nebraska and Wisconsin Badgers always make the volleyball fans excited!