By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal

Texas and Texas A&M will both open the NCAA volleyball tournament at home this week, but their road to a Final Four look dramatically different as the field of 64 was announced Sunday.

Texas (23-2), the overall No. 3 seed will host the first four rounds in Austin as long as the Longhorns get by a potential second-round matchup with 2024 national champion Penn State.

Texas opens against Florida A&M on Friday at Gregory Gym, with first serve scheduled for approximately 7 p.m. Should the Longhorns advance, they are likely to face the Nittany Lions in the second round Saturday. The Nittany Lions open against South Florida at 4:30 p.m., Thursday in Austin.

That potential Penn State matchup immediately gives Texas one of the toughest early-round tests in the tournament. The Austin Regional also features Wisconsin, Stanford, Indiana and UTEP, making Texas’ path to the Final Four anything but easy.

One of the more intriguing storylines in the bracket centers on Texas outside hitter Torrey Stafford, who transferred from Pitt, after helping the Panthers reach last season’s Final Four.

Texas A&M (23-4) earned the No. 3 seed in the Lincoln Regional and will also host the opening weekend at Reed Arena in College Station.

The Aggies face Campbell at 6 p.m., Friday and will play the winner of 6-TCU and Stephen F. Austin in Saturday’s second round matchup.

Despite the benefit of hosting, Texas A&M drew one of the nation’s most punishing brackets. The Lincoln Regional is anchored by top overall seed Nebraska and also includes Louisville, Kansas, Miami and TCU.

Elsewhere, Texas State was among the tournament’s first four teams left out, narrowly missing the field after a strong late-season push.

Regional semifinals are scheduled for Dec. 12-13 on ESPN2 or ESPNU, with the national semifinals and championship match to follow later in December in Kansas City on ESPN’s main network.

Here’s a look at the field of 64:

Last 4 in: Georgia Tech, North Carolina, South Florida, Utah

First 4 out: Cincinnati, James Madison, Texas State, Villanova

1-seed: Nebraska (Lincoln regional)

1-Nebraska vs. Long Island University

8-Kansas State vs. San Diego

5-Miami vs. Tulsa

4-Kansas vs. High Point

3-Texas A&M vs. Campbell

6-TCU vs. Stephen F. Austin

7-Western Kentucky vs. Marquette

2-Louisville vs. Loyola Chicago

4-seed: Pitt (Pittsburgh regional)

1-Pitt vs. UMBC

8-Xavier vs. Michigan

5-Iowa State vs. St. Thomas-Minnesota

4-Minnesota vs. Fairfield

3-Purdue vs. Wirght State

6-Baylor  vs. Arkansas State

7-Rice vs. Florida

2- SMU vs. Central Arkansas

3-seed Texas (Austin regional)

1-Texas vs. Florida A&M

8-Penn State vs. South Florida

5-Colorado vs. American

4- Indiana vs. Toledo

3-Wisconsin vs. Eastern Illinois

6.-UTEP vs. North Carolina

7-Arizona vs. South Dakota State

2-Stanford vs. Utah Valley

2-seed: Kentucky (Lexington regional)

1-Kentucky vs. Wofford

8-UCLA vs. Georgia Tech

5-BYU vs. Cal Poly

4-USC vs. Princeton

3-Creighton vs. Northern Colorado

6-Northern Iowa vs. Utah

7-Tennessee vs. Utah State

2-Arizona State vs. Coppin State