Top questions facing NCAA volleyball’s Power Four as conference play begins

The GIST: Early-season college volleyball drama gives way to the conference play grind this week. With surging viewership, all eyes are on the Power Four’s rosters. Each one has its own flavor of chaos, so let’s spin through the spiciest storylines being served up on conference courts:

Q: How will conference newbie No. 3 Stanford change the ACC’s power dynamics?

• The Cardinal powered through an ambitious pre-conference slate and now seems ready to challenge veterans No. 1 Pitt and No. 5 Louisville for the ACC crown. That said, cross-country travel fatigue could be their fiercest foe — it’s already humbled their elite women’s soccer squad.

Q: Who will step up in the Big 12 power vacuum that No. 8 Texas left behind?

• The Longhorns easily dominated the Big 12 last year — only Kansas State snagged a (notably fluke-y) upset. But now that Texas is in the SEC, the field is wide open, with No. 9 Kansas, No. 14 Arizona State, No. 17 BYU, and No. 19 Baylor all strong contenders.

Q: Will Texas find their groove in SEC play?

• Texas’ national title defense is off to a rocky start, with one humbling upset loss and a mid 2-2 record against ranked opponents so far. Can they storm the SEC to surge into the postseason, or will a new rival like No. 12 Kentucky turn a Longhorn three-peat into a longshot?

Q: Who has the stamina to survive the Big Ten?

• There are no nights off in the brutal Big Ten. Traditionally the sport’s toughest conference, nearly every matchup is a potential upset with major postseason consequences. Catch the first one tonight when No. 4 Penn State visits No. 10 Purdue at 7 p.m. ET on BTN.