The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Forty Acres Insider: January 27
01.27.2026 | Forty Acres Insider
Important news happening in and around Texas Athletics compiled by Vice President and Athletics Director Chris Del Conte
Longhorn Nation,
That was quite a blast of arctic air that rolled through last weekend, but OUR LONGHORNS SURE DID HEAT THINGS UP on and around campus, though, as y'all brought that Texas Fight to Moody Center, while Men's Tennis was en fuego in claiming the ITA Kickoff Austin Regional Championship inside the Weller Indoor Tennis Center. The dusting of snow and ice made for some nifty photos, but it was even nicer to see that gorgeous Texas sunshine return and warm things back up early this week. And just like that, we're right back at it. Baseball gets underway with the Annual Alumni Game and Fan Appreciation Day, Swimming and Diving hosts another meet bearing the name of a Longhorn Legend — the Sterkel Classic — and College GameDay is headed to Austin for Women's Basketball on Sunday. And don't forget to keep that 'ol dance card clear for our Annual Town Hall next Wednesday at 6 p.m. CT in the Touchdown Club at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium, with a live stream available on the FREE LHN app. It's a great time to be a Longhorn, my friends!
❄️❄️❄️ pic.twitter.com/CLjEBMheIt
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) January 25, 2026
Coach Miller's shoutout to Longhorn Nation said it best — the cold weather and impending storm didn't put a damper on y'all bringing the heat to Moody Center on Saturday. What a joy it was hearing you cheer your hearts out and seeing our Horns scorch the nets while stymieing the nation's top-ranked scoring offense in a 20-point win over No. 21 Georgia (87-67). The victory marked our third ranked win in the last five games and fourth on the season, and now it's time to take the show on the road for more hard-fought SEC action. Our Horns head to Auburn on Wednesday (6 p.m. CT/ESPN2) before traveling to Norman for a Red River Rivalry at Oklahoma on Saturday (1 p.m. CT/ESPN2). Meanwhile, weather forced the cancellation of No. 4 Women's Basketball trip to Fayetteville, so after a week-and-a-half break from game action, Coach Schaefer and our Horns will travel to Gainesville to face Florida on Thursday (6 p.m. CT/SEC Network+). Then it's back to the friendly confines of Moody Center for a Red River Rivalry of their own on Sunday (2 p.m. CT). All eyes will be on that one, with COLLEGE GAMEDAY IN THE HOUSE pregame and a national audience on ABC for the matchup. Stay tuned for details on how to join us for the one-hour College GameDay pregame show, making its first-ever visit to Austin on the women's side, which hits the ESPN airwaves at 11 a.m. CT. Can't wait to see everyone there!
for the first time ever, see you in Austin @CollegeGameDay 🤘🤝#HookEm pic.twitter.com/NTCOkTdDie
— Texas Women's Basketball (@TexasWBB) January 23, 2026
We had a blast in the warmth of the Lee and Joe Jamail Texas Swimming Center last weekend as we CELEBRATED OUR INCOMPARABLE LEGENDARY COACH during the Eddie Reese Texas Showdown. Our Men's and Women's Swimming and Diving squads teamed up for a convincing combined victory on Friday night, and the men followed that up with an impressive win over top-10 Louisville and Ohio State on Saturday to put a bow on a phenomenal weekend. We're so grateful to all of you who braved the cold and rain to join us at the pool — a great time was truly had by all. Swimming and Diving will be back in home action once again this week, hosting the Sterkel Classic on Saturday (11 a.m. CT). That marks the second straight week paying homage to a Longhorn Legend, this time it's honoring the incredible Jill Sterkel. One of Texas' and USA Swimming's all-time greats, Jill was a 27-time All-American and captured an eye-popping 16 individual national championships. The Honda Broderick Cup winner as the National Female Athlete of the Year in 1980-81, she was a member of four Olympic teams, winning two gold and two bronze medals, and later served as our head women's swimming and diving coach for 14 seasons (1992-2006).
A bit off campus at the Weller Indoor Center, we hosted the ITA Kickoff Austin Regional Championship. The Longhorn victory train rolling as Coach Berque and our No. 4-ranked Men's Tennis squad swept UNC Wilmington and South Florida to PUNCH THEIR TICKET TO THE ITA NATIONAL INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS for the eighth-straight year. But before we get to that in mid-February, there's a big-time early season clash set for Friday in Columbus as our Horns travel to No. 6 Ohio State (5 p.m. CT). On the women's side, the weather unfortunately had an impact in forcing some withdrawals and postponements, but the outcome of that is being sorted through so stay tuned for that. However, this week the ladies will be on the road for a pair of matches in Big Ten territory at Iowa on Friday (Noon CT) and Wisconsin on Sunday (Noon CT).
ticket punched 🎟️🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/Pf37WdDEwI
— Texas Men's Tennis (@TexasMTN) January 24, 2026
Make your plans to join us Saturday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field for BASEBALL'S ANNUAL FAN APPRECIATION DAY AND ALUMNI GAME. It all gets started at 10:30 a.m. and there will be autograph sessions with our Baseball and Softball squads, Bevo will be in the house, and the game is set for a 2 p.m. first pitch. Come on out for some fun and Longhorn fellowship. If you can't make it out, you can tune in to the live broadcast of the game on the FREE LHN app. In addition to Men's and Women's Hoops, Baseball and Tennis, we have Golf and Track and Field action this week, too.
lots to watch this week, Longhorn Nation! 🤘#HookEm | @seatgeek pic.twitter.com/uNw0E2WLyn
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) January 26, 2026
The pride and winning tradition of The University of Texas! Let's put our Horns Up for some outstanding accomplishments from our Texas Exes. Texas led all programs with the most players in the AFC and NFC Championship Games (both the 10 active and 13 total on rosters of the four teams), and a huge tip of the cap to our FOUR LONGHORNS who are Super Bowl bound — all for the first time in their careers, to boot. Punter extraordinaire Michael Dickson, immovable defensive line standout Byron Murphy II, and the wily 11-year veteran Quandre Diggs (practice squad) will be representing the Longhorns with the Seattle Seahawks, while Brenden Schooler, a true special teams weapon, continues to bring the juice for the New England Patriots. That makes it 20 of the last 21 years that at least one former Longhorn will be part of The Big Game— this time Super Bowl LX (60) on Feb. 8 in Santa Clara. The four super bowlers also mark the most we've had since four Horns were on rosters for the 49ers and Ravens in 2013, matching the fourth-most all-time for Texas. On the links, it was a historic start to the year for Scottie Scheffler, who captured his 20th career PGA Tour victory at The American Express at La Quinta Country Club on Sunday. With the win, Scottie becomes the winningest Longhorn ever in PGA Tour history, surpassing Longhorn Legends Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite, who each recorded 19 victories. Just another powerful example of What Starts Here Changes the World my friends! Congrats fellas, and best of luck to our Horns in the Super Bowl!
And while I've got you, we've got more must-see TV on LHN for y'all. "TALK ABOUT TEXAS" is a three-part series, debuting Wednesday, that goes in depth about the story of our National Championship-winning Softball program. So, download that FREE LHN app, tune in, and enjoy! Y'all be sure to go follow our new Texas Longhorns LinkedIn page as well. Just another great place to keep up with the latest news on student-athlete development, NIL and our teams' successes.
Get autographs, Bevo photo ops, and more at Baseball's Fan Appreciation Day and Alumni Game this Saturday!
After a taste of winter these last few days, we can't wait to see the Burnt Orange and White back at UFCU Disch-Falk Field for this Saturday's Baseball Fan Appreciation Day and Alumni Game presented by LHN. ADMISSION IS FREE, and the action gets going at 10:30 a.m. with the annual autograph session, photo ops with Bevo XV, and the opportunity to play catch in left field. All fans interested in getting autographs should arrive early as the Home Plate Gate opens at 10:15 a.m. We'll have the 2026 schedule posters and pennants courtesy of UFCU available for fans while supplies last.
Then at Noon, we are so excited to welcome our defending national champion Softball team to sign autographs as well and all participating fans will receive this year's softball schedule poster. All Fan Appreciation Day activities will happen before the 2026 Texas Baseball team takes the field for the annual Alumni Game at 2 p.m. against a stacked roster of letterwinners featuring several former Horns in the major leagues. Stay tuned to TexasLonghorns.com for all the details!
Attend ESPN College GameDay this Sunday before Women's Basketball's game versus OU!
Last week, our friends at ESPN College GameDay announced they are headed to Moody Center for our Women's Basketball game versus Oklahoma this Sunday. It marks the first time in program history that we'll have college basketball's premier pregame broadcast on the Forty Acres for women's basketball, and we can't wait to see Longhorn Nation out in full force. The Southwest Gate will open at 10 a.m. CT and ADMISSION IS FREE FOR ALL FANS on a first-come, first-served basis. Come out early and be part of this amazing opportunity to spotlight our program to the entire country. We'll have plenty of FREE giveaways!
Longtime Texas Athletics staffer James Blackwood passes away
We lost a great man and loyal Longhorn with the passing of James Blackwood last Thursday. James dedicated a quarter century to Texas Athletics, serving 14 years (1972-85) as an assistant track and field and cross country coach. In 1985, he transitioned into the role of football recruiting coordinator, where he truly shined for seven years before moving into an academic counselor position, a role he continued to serve our student-athletes until 1996. A special man with an infectious personality, James remained a familiar presence at the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays long after his tenure at Texas concluded. He will be dearly missed but never forgotten. Services for James will be held on Friday, Feb. 6 at 11 a.m. at Mission Park Funeral Chapels and Cemetery – Dominion (20900 West I-10; San Antonio, TX 78257). Our thoughts, prayers and most sincere condolences are with his family, friends and the countless lives he touched as both a coach and administrator.
It's a sad day with the passing of longtime Texas Athletics staffer James Blackwood. He dedicated 25 years to UT, first as assistant track & field and cross country coach, then football recruiting coordinator and academic counselor. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. pic.twitter.com/xa7vHGh2wI
— Texas T&F/XC (@TexasTFXC) January 23, 2026
Hook 'Em Horns,
P.S. — This is must-see TV! Check out Texas & Os on the LHN App!!
Watch full episodes of Texas & O's on the LHN app 📺#HookEm pic.twitter.com/C7obqJ0MgX
— LHN (Longhorn Network) (@LonghornNetwork) January 22, 2026
P.S. — Arch Manning's Cheez-It Citrus Bowl MVP performance garner recognition from Davey O'Brien Award!
We're sad it's over, but happy it happened. After all of @BowlSeason and the @CFBPlayoff, here are our final Great 8 QB performances from 2025. #DaveyQBs
— Davey O'Brien National Quarterback Award (@daveyobrien) January 26, 2026
READ: https://t.co/MJToWjE9Zt@Fiesta_Bowl @SugarBowlNola @LasVegasBowl @CitrusBowl @CFAPeachBowl @valeroalamobowl… pic.twitter.com/gthwSuNngz
P.S. — Awesome having the G.O.A.T. in the house!
the man himself 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/r7eo3uHV1P
— Texas Men's Swimming & Diving (@TexasMSD) January 24, 2026
P.S. — And what a time we had at Swimming and Diving, thanks for coming out!
w's in the chat 💬#HookEm pic.twitter.com/egNTbWwQA6
— Texas Men's Swimming & Diving (@TexasMSD) January 24, 2026
P.S. — Super Bowl Horns!
FOUR Longhorns are SUPER BOWL BOUND! Michael Dickson & Byron Murphy II playing for the Seahawks with DB Quandre Diggs on the practice squad and Brenden Schooler on the Patriots. All making SB debut, marking 20th time in last 21 seasons that a Longhorn will be in The Big Game🤘🏻 pic.twitter.com/oy3nUiQ5Cx
— John Bianco (@UT_Bianco) January 26, 2026
P.S. — Incredible accomplishment — What Starts Here!
20 wins, 151 career starts ... not too shabby 🫡 pic.twitter.com/Qxz1mayS4z
— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) January 26, 2026
P.S. — Had a whole lot of Longhorn Legends and Olympians in the house at Swimming and Diving!
we have familiar faces in the house 👀#HookEm pic.twitter.com/PT4xPMkvxh
— Texas Men's Swimming & Diving (@TexasMSD) January 24, 2026
look who is here 👀#HookEm pic.twitter.com/HsqipZMbWy
— Texas Women's Swimming & Diving (@TexasWSD) January 24, 2026
P.S. — Love this — Horns Supporting Horns!
hey @TexasSoccer 👋#HookEm pic.twitter.com/LfCiFvwPTq
— Texas Women's Swimming & Diving (@TexasWSD) January 24, 2026
P.S. — Snow on the Forty!
just a little Texas dustin' ❄️#HookEm pic.twitter.com/GYCLpaqZzF
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) January 25, 2026
HEADLINES:
Video: Longhorn Weekly with Sean Miller (Jan. 26):
Video: Michael Huff's 2025 NFF Hall of Fame induction:
Football's Manning named to Davey O'Brien Award's Postseason Great 8:
No. 4 Men's Golf's Maas claims top-10 finish at DP World Tour's Hero Dubai Desert Classic:
No. 4 Men's Tennis wins ITA Kickoff Austin Regional championship:
No. 1 Men's Swimming and Diving is victorious at final day of Eddie Reese Texas Showdown:
Video: Texas and Os Episode 14 with Margueritte, Ethan Mendoza and Ava McDonald:
Video: Vic Schaefer, Aaliyah Crump media availability (Jan. 23):
Video: Sean Miller media availability (Jan. 23):
No. 4 Men's Tennis sweeps UNC Wilmington in ITA Kickoff First Round:
Right on Track: Women's Track & Field's Carleta Bernard:
Goosby named to Naismith Trophy High School Player of the Year Midseason Team:
Video: My Humann Story: Teagan Kavan:
