The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Vanderbilt
10.22.2026 | Soccer
Longhorns look for first-ever win over top-ranked program in country
TEXAS VS. #1/1 VANDERBILT
Date: Oct. 23, 2026
Where: Vanderbilt Soccer Complex
Time: 7 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network+
Live stats: texas.statbroadcast.com
THE MATCHUP — For the final time in the regular season, Texas hits the road to face No. 1/1 Vanderbilt on Friday night. The Longhorns and Commodores have split their six head-to-head meetings, but Texas has won each of the last three contests. A year ago, the Longhorns upended No. 13/17 Vanderbilt, 2-1. Amalia Villarreal converted a penalty kick with 10 seconds remaining to lift Texas to its first top-15 victory in the regular season since 2017. Last season's showdown also marked Texas' first trip to Nashville in 23 years.
UPSET ON THE MIND — The Longhorns are looking for their first-ever win over the top-ranked program in the country. Texas last downed a top-3 team on Sept. 1, 2006, when the Longhorns knocked off then-No. 3 Penn State, 2-1. Under first-year head coach Margueritte Bates, Texas is 2-0-2 against ranked opponents.
A LOOK AT THE LONGHORNS — As of Oct. 22, the Longhorns sport the No. 32 RPI in the country. Texas has earned a spot in the top-25 in five of the last seven weeks, highlighted by being slotted at No. 16 by Top Drawer Soccer on Sept. 7. Heading into Friday's match, the Longhorns are tied for seventh in the league. With a Texas draw or win OR a Tennessee draw or loss, the Longhorns will punch their ticket in the 2026 SEC Soccer Tournament in Pensacola, Fla. Texas can finish as high as tied for second or a low as 13th in the table.
LAST TIME OUT — Against one of the top programs in the country, Texas earned a 1-1 draw against No. 6/17 South Carolina at Mike A. Myers Stadium on Sunday afternoon. Addie Brink delivered a late equalizer in the 83rd minute, helping the Longhorns register at least one point for the sixth time in their last seven matches. Brink's first career goal came off of a feed from fellow Dallas native Audrey Bryant. Texas' breakthrough moment marked just the second tally the Gamecocks had conceded in conference play. Entering Sunday's showdown, South Carolina ranked fourth in shutout percentage (.714) and sixth in goals against average (.429), among all teams nationally. In the draw, the Longhorns outshot the Gamecocks, 19-15, including a 7-5 advantage in attempts on target.
LOCK IT DOWN — The Longhorns have been one of the strongest defensive teams nationally into the heart of conference play. Under one of the best defensive minds in collegiate soccer, Margueritte Bates' club has drawn its opponents offside 37 times in the last nine matches. Across their first six contests, the Longhorns forced their opposition offside on just seven occasions. As of Oct. 22, Texas has outscored its opponents, 29-15, while yielding just 4.5 shots on target per match. For only the third time in program history, Texas posted five clean sheets through its first seven matches. The 2026 squad is just the second Texas team to have allowed a school-best one tally through four contests alongside the 2008 squad. Meanwhile, senior Bayliss Flynn became just the second Longhorn goalkeeper to record back-to-back shutouts in their first two starts at Texas in the program's illustrious 33-year history, joining Dana Hall in 2003.
