Although the basics are the same — don’t let the ball on the ground, don’t touch the net, etc. — beach volleyball’s format is a significant shakeup from that of its indoor cousin.

The world’s most intense game of “the floor is lava” is also one of the NCAA’s top sports, boasting 1057 women’s teams nationwide, including 344 in Division I (DI). Volleyball’s popularity has skyrocketed in recent years — the 2022 championship saw record viewership and the 2023 edition will appear on network TV for the first time.

Prep your best celly and blast your team’s fight song — after a week of exhibition games, the women’s soccer season officially kicks off tomorrow.

From hoops to soccer to baseball to golf, older athletes have been defying expectations for years, proving it’s never too late to pursue collegiate sports dreams.

Recruitment can be a delicate dance, especially with NIL busting a move on the floor.

The race to court top prospects is more cutthroat than a Taylor Swift Ticketmaster queue, and a program’s very future can hinge on its incoming freshman class.

The biggest story around recruitment and transfers this year is Colorado football.

About 14K athletes compete at the NCAA’s 313 DII schools, with top stars making the big leagues (particularly the NBA and NFL) — though that’s becoming rarer: With the transfer portal, it’s easier than ever for DII’s best to jump to a DI school.

Group of Five, mid-majors…whatever you call them, these smaller DI schools are rapidly catching up to their Power Five (er, Four?) competitors.

There are 438 DIII schools nationwide, and although it’s rare for DIII athletes to go pro, it’s certainly not unheard of, with recent grads doing so from fútbol to football.

No hibernation here — when fall gives way to winter, racers simply head indoors. The indoor track & field (T&F) season, featuring 875 women’s and 778 men’s programs, runs from just after winter break through mid-March.

Cross country (aka XC) is the name of the autumnal racing game. There are a whopping 1062 women’s and 992 men’s programs across Divisions I (DI), II, and III, making it one of the NCAA’s most popular sports. All that collegiate competition is fertile ground for breeding future pros, from Olympians to marathoners.