DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - The Valdosta State Cheer team and the Red Hots dance team are headed south this weekend as each team prepares for its chance to bring more hardware back to Titletown at the 2026 NDA and NCA College Championships. The teams departed on Wednesday morning from the Complex.

The Red Hots will participate in Jazz prelims tonight at 8:53 p.m. ET, followed by the Hip Hop prelims on Friday night at 9:48 p.m. ET. Coach Kelli Fields, fresh off of her ninth national championship as the leader of the VSU Red Hots, described her team as a young group with experience beyond their years. Fields specifically mentioned that she is bringing eight previous national champions back to Daytona Beach, along with a number of new faces.

Last season, the Red Hots brought home their ninth NDA (National Dance Association) National Championship under the leadership of coach Fields. The team won the Hip Hop Division II Finals with a score of 93.9143 and a 93.91 perf %. 

The Cheer team will begin their weekend with prelims at 8:50 p.m. on Friday night. Coach Desiree Hagan brings her first full recruiting class to Nationals in her fourth year at the helm of the program. Hagan credited program alumni for their support along with her upperclassmen, "The third years played a big role in the teams growth over this season. They are my first full recruiting class, so to see them grow from year one to now and trust the process has been so rewarding". 

In 2025, the cheer team finished fourth in the Intermediate All Girl Division II in a field of 19 teams, with Dallas Baptist taking home the crown behind a score of 97.6134. VSU finished with a score of 96.2755.

Fans with memberships to Flocollege can stream the weekend's events by clicking here to watch on Varsity TV.