By Daniel Susann – @dsus_sus
Everyone craves that big-game feeling early in the season.
Lucky for us, the first few weeks of men’s and women’s college soccer feature several marquee matchups between members of the nation’s top two conferences, the Big Ten and the ACC.
Get ready for a few rekindled historic conference rivalries, regional matchups for not-too-distant neighbors and a few high-caliber contests.
Men’s
UCLA @ Virginia — Aug. 20, 7 p.m. (All times in Eastern Time)
Right out of the gate, we are treated to a thrilling matchup on opening day between the 2025 Big Ten Tournament Champion and the 2025 ACC Tournament runner-up. Both UCLA and Virginia lost their top goal scorer to MLS in the spring, with former Bruin Sergi Solans Ormo joining Real Salt Lake and former Hoo Nicholas Simmonds joining FC Dallas.
The tough matchup early in the fall could prove to be a good opportunity for a new leader to step forward as each squad begins its quest for more hardware in the 2026 season.
Pitt @ Penn State — Aug 28, 7 p.m.
Both of Pennsylvania’s top public universities are vying for the spotlight. The Nittany Lions just hired 2024 National Champion Head Coach Rob Dow from Vermont, and look to get back to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2021.
On the other side of the Keystone State, Pitt seeks to get back to winning form after a relative down year last season under the guidance of veteran head coach Jay Vidovich. The Panthers had made it to the National Quarterfinals in four of the last five seasons heading into 2025.
More matchups
Virginia Tech @ Ohio State — Aug 20, 8 p.m.
Maryland @ Pitt — Aug. 20, TBA
Notre Dame @ Indiana — Aug. 20, TBA
Indiana @ Louisville — Aug. 31, 7 p.m. Watch on ACCN
UCLA @ Cal — Sept. 1, 5 p.m.
Pitt @ Michigan State — Sept. 3, 7 p.m.
Michigan @ Notre Dame — Sept. 6, 3:30 p.m.
Women’s
Duke @ UCLA — Aug. 16, 9 p.m.
In 2025, first-year Head Coach Kierin Hall led Duke to the College Cup in his debut, the Blue Devils’ second College Cup appearance in two years. Taking the reins from the legendary Robbie Church at a historic program, Hall rose to the occasion.
New Bruins Head Coach Gof Boyoko will try to manifest some of that success as he looks to restore the UCLA Bruins to their former glory. He takes over for Margueritte Bates, who led the Bruins to their second national championship in 2022 as they took down UNC-Chapel Hill in Cary, NC. Bates departed for the University of Texas during the offseason, and Boyoko was promoted from associate head coach.
USC @ Stanford — Sept. 3, 10 p.m.
These two teams, along with UCLA, ran Pac-12 Women’s soccer before football-focused conference realignment put a wrench in everything a few years ago. Today, Stanford continues to contend for national championships, as the national runner-up last season.
Southern California, under the leadership of fifth-year head coach Jane Alukonis, seeks to rekindle the flame of its 2024 season, when it won the Big Ten Regular Season Title with an undefeated mark of 10-0-1. The Trojans lost their leading goal-scorer from last season, Maribel Flores, to the Portuguese Professional League, and will need big contributions from her former teammates.
Meanwhile, the Cardinal stays steady with legendary head coach Paul Ratcliffe at the helm, looking to build on its recent ACC title and claim Ratcliffe’s fourth National Championship with Stanford.
More matchups
Duke @ USC — Aug. 12, 9 p.m.
Northwestern @ Virginia — Aug. 12, 7 p.m.
Ohio State @ Clemson — Aug. 16, TBA
Iowa @ Wake Forest — Aug. 20, 5 p.m.
Syracuse @ Northwestern — Aug. 20, TBA
Virginia Tech @ Maryland — Aug. 23, 6 p.m.
Michigan State @ UNC — Aug. 23, TBA
Boston College @ Rutgers — Aug. 27, 7 p.m.
UCLA @ Stanford — Aug. 27, 10:30 p.m.
Michigan State @ Notre Dame — Sept. 3, 7 p.m.
Virginia Tech @ Penn State — Sept. 3, 7 p.m.
Illinois @ Virginia Tech — Sept. 6, noon
