College Pickleball Tour 2026-27: Storylines to Watch

Thedink Pickleball 2 hours ago 7 views

Three events. One weekend. The DUPR and UPA 2026-27 College Pickleball Tour season starts October 3, and the offseason gave us plenty to talk about.

This preview covers opening weekend, the key fall dates, the transfers reshaping two top programs, and an in-state rivalry that proves competition and friendship can share a court.

The College Pickleball Tour Begins October 3rd

The season starts with three events on the same weekend:

Boiler Bash Regional 300, West Lafayette, IN (Oct. 3-4)
Texas Collegiate Pickleball Challenge, Waco, TX (Oct. 4)
Utah Super Regional 300 at Premier Pickleball Club, Herriman, UT (Oct. 3)

Hunter Merritt joins Utah Tech

Hunter Merritt is heading west. The 5.2 rated LSU standout senior is joining Utah Tech in St. George, Utah. Utah Tech is the reigning College World Champion and last season's runner-up at The Nationals. Head coach Chloe Butterfield recruited Merritt with scholarship funding from the university.

Where Merritt fits in the lineup is the interesting part. Liam Duffin and Clayton Boydston are still with the Trailblazers, so for now Merritt looks set for Utah Tech's second squad. Watch whether Duffin decides to change men's doubles partners at any point this season.

Either way, a team that was already hard to beat just got tougher.

Transfer season hits Gainesville

The University of Florida (UF) has been a top College Pickleball Tour contender from the start. The Gators were one of the first clubs to compete back in 2022. Their past roster even included Jack Foster, APP pro.

Last season ended close. At The Nationals, Florida reached the quarterfinals before falling to Utah Tech in a 22-20 DreamBreaker. Earlier, at the Georgia Super Regional, a playoff matchup with UGA turned tense, with disputed calls and a lot of back-and-forth before UGA pulled out the win.

This season, the Gators are looking different as the transfer portal arrived in college pickleball.

The transfer portal has shaped college athletics for years, and college pickleball is just starting to see it. When 5.4-rated Christian Frankie graduated, Florida needed someone to fill his spot. They found that player about 150 miles away at cross-state rival Florida State (FSU): 5.0-rated Zack Florendo.

You can expect UF vs. FSU to come up often this season.

Indiana's friendliest rivalry

Talk to anyone who has spent a few seasons on the tour and you'll hear the same thing. The competition is real, and so are the friendships players build across colleges. Indiana (IU) is the clearest example.

IU and Purdue have been rivals for more than 100 years, especially in basketball and football. In football, they play for the Old Oaken Bucket. In pickleball, they play for the Old Oaken Paddle in a DUPR Dual Match.

IU has won the Paddle all three years. Before the match starts, they hold a balanced mixed doubles event that pairs one player from each school.

"It's a fun, social event that really exemplifies what is great about pickleball," said Timber Tucker, IU Pickleball's former coach and current advisor.

The connection goes beyond one event. Purdue graduate Tori Burke is continuing her studies at IU and plans to join its competitive team. Her friends and boyfriend still play for the Purdue Boilermakers, and there's no bad blood.

The two teams meet for the first time this semester on October 3rd at the Boiler Bash Regional in West Lafayette. Can Purdue take one back on its home courts, or will IU keep the streak going?

Follow the 2026-27 season

Opening weekend is days away, and every match moves player ratings and the DUPR college power rankings. Check the full schedule, follow your school, and open the DUPR app to track the players you're watching.

CPT Fall Schedule

Oct. 3: Utah Super Regional 300 @ Premier Pickleball Club, Herriman, UT
Oct. 17-18: North Carolina Super Regional 300 @ City of Wilson Pickleball Facility, Wilson, NC
Oct. 24-25: Ohio Super Regional 300 @ Match Point Pickleball, Columbus, OH
Oct. 30-Nov. 1: College World Championship 400 @ Brookhaven Country Club, Farmers Branch, TX
Nov. 21-22: Arizona Super Regional 300 @ Center Court Glendale, Glendale, AZ

Source: Thedink Pickleball

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