The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Baseball lands at No. 3 in D1Baseball’s preseason top 25
01.12.2026 | Baseball
Longhorns earn second-highest ranking in 12-year history of D1Baseball’s preseason poll
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Longhorns were slotted at No. 3 in D1Baseball's preseason top 25, the outlet announced Monday morning. It marks Texas' second-highest ranking in the 12-year history of D1Baseball's preseason poll, after the Longhorns were picked first in 2022.
Earlier this month, Texas was listed at No. 8 by Perfect Game.
The Longhorns are one of 11 programs from the Southeastern Conference in D1Baseball's top 25, joining No. 2 LSU, No. 4 Mississippi State, No. 7 Arkansas, No. 9 Auburn, No. 13 Florida, No. 14 Tennessee, No. 15 Georgia, No. 18 Kentucky, No. 23 Vanderbilt and No. 25 Texas A&M.
The complete D1Baseball preseason top 25 can be viewed HERE.
Texas heads into its second campaign under the direction of skipper Jim Schlossnagle.
Last season, the Longhorns posted their best record in 15 years, mounting a 44-14 ledger. Texas became the first team to claim the SEC regular season title in its first campaign since the league's first year in 1933.
Despite being chosen eighth in the conference's preseason poll, the Longhorns finished 22-8 in SEC play and won the league by two games.
Texas brings back 16 letterwinners from a year ago, including reigning Baseball America National Freshman of the Year Dylan Volantis.
Overall, the Longhorns return 76 percent of their innings pitched. Last season, Texas totaled the second-best WHIP (1.18) and the sixth-best ERA (3.71) nationally.
Offensively, Ethan Mendoza and Adrian Rodriguez — Texas' top two leading hitters in 2025 — are back on The Forty Acres.
Meanwhile, the Longhorns add 24 newcomers, highlighted by Baseball America's No. 1 recruiting class.
Texas begins its 2026 slate with the opener of a three-game set against UC Davis on Feb. 13 at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
