FREDERICKSBURG, Texas – The numbers for the historic $1.8 billion jackpot have finally hit, one winning ticket bought in Missouri and the other, right here in Central Texas. 

What we know:

There was a lot on the line with this lottery drawing, as it marked the second biggest in Powerball history. And talking to people at the store where that big purchase was made, it was almost too hard to believe it could happen that close to home.

Some are still in disbelief, while others still wish they would have snagged a ticket. On a lone stretch of Highway 290 in Fredericksburg, that’s where one person’s luck changed for the better. 

Local perspective:

One of the two winning tickets bought at this Big’s convenience store, whose doors have only been open for a matter of months.

“Shocked, mind blown, I wasn’t expecting it,” said the store owner, Melanie Carter.

“We’re a brand-new store, so you’d think if somebody was going to win it’d be an established store that’s been around for years, but that’s not the case.”

Dig deeper:

In the days leading up to the big draw, tickets flew off the shelves, too hard to pass up, especially when the amount of prize money starts with a B.

“We’ve been having a lot of customers come and like we don’t really play, we just play because it’s for the billions,” said cashier Sean Peterson.

This now puts an end to a 41-week drought, where no one was able to match all six numbers, and that eventually led to a $1.8-billion jackpot.

What they’re saying:

Regulars who make their pit stops at Big’s are in disbelief and maybe even a little jealousy is starting to creep in.

“I regret not buying one here cause I may have been a winner,” said local resident, David Tharp.

“It’s like standing in a field and lightning struck right beside you and didn’t hit you.”

What’s next:

Now the Texas winner will have to split their winnings with the winner out of Missouri, and they have a few options on how to go about doing that. 

There’s the annuity plan of receiving 30 payments over the next 29 years, or they can take one big lump sum right now, $410.3 million. 

Now there was another winner in Austin who matched five out of the six numbers, earning themselves a $1 million cash prize. 

Now neither of those winners have come forward to the Texas lottery commission to claim those prizes, but have 90 days to do so. 

After exacting revenge Friday night in its season opener by sweeping No. 12 Creighton, No. 5 Texas volleyball continues its hot season start with a sweep of No. 8 Wisconsin Sunday at Kohl Center in Madison, Wisc. 

Texas got off to an early lead after Wisconsin had tied the game 5-5. A pair of 6-2 and 5-2 Texas runs slowed Wisconsin’s momentum and led 16-9 after middle blocker Ayden Ames’ successful joust. But the Badgers’ 7-2 run took advantage of Texas miscommunications to close the Longhorns’ lead to two, 18-16. 

Wisconsin’s attack kept the Longhorns on their toes. With the chance to put the game away at 24-21, Wisconsin’s front row scored three straight to tie the game at 24. Seven set points later, Texas won the opening set 29-27 with a swing from Vander Wal. 

There were eight ties in the second set and Texas went up 17-16 on a Spears kill and block, then back-to-back points from Vander Wal and Spears got the Longhorns in the red zone. A Wisconsin tip and too many Texas touches made it 20-19, and a Wisconsin kill appeared to have tied the set 20-20, but Texas coach Jerritt Elliott successfully challenged the point to make it 21-19. A Vander Wal kill and a Rella Binney ace extended Texas’ lead to 23-20 and Ames’ block and a Vander Wal kill won the set.

Wisconsin jumped out to an early lead in the third set, but Texas took a 17-9 lead behind Stafford and a series of Badgers errors. Two jousts and a wide Wisconsin kill made it 20-9, and after a 5-2 Badgers run, Texas went up 23-14 on an Ames kill, followed by a wide Wisconsin swing and a Vander Wal kill to complete the sweep.

Texas will finish its three-road game stretch at 6 p.m. Wednesday against Rice.

A Texas college has the happiest students in the country, a new report shows.

Each year, the Princeton Review analyzes higher education institutions to determine the best in a variety of categories — from academics and campus life to politics and the social scene. For the 2026 rankings, more than 170,000 students were surveyed from nearly 400 top-ranking colleges.

One university in the Lone Star State was deemed to have the happiest students, and three others in the state were among the top 25. Here’s the full list, along with some other categories Texas schools ranked highly.

The happiness of students wasn’t the only category Texas institutions were recognized for. Here are the schools that ranked in the top 10 of at least one list: