The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Ole Miss
No. 2 Baseball preview: Ole Miss
03.12.2026 | Baseball
Longhorns open SEC play by welcoming Rebels to Austin for first time since 1912
OLE MISS vs. #2 TEXAS
March 13-15, 2026
Where: UFCU Disch-Falk Field
Time: Friday at 6:30 p.m.; Saturday at 2:30 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m.
Stream/TV: SEC Network+
Radio: AM-1300 The Zone
Live stats: texas.statbroadcast.com
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY – Ole Miss LHP Hunter Elliott (2-0, 3.66 ERA) vs. Texas RHP Ruger Riojas (4-0, 1.23 ERA)
SATURDAY – Ole Miss RHP Cade Townsend (2-0, 0.48 ERA) vs. Texas LHP Luke Harrison (1-0, 3.06 ERA)
SUNDAY – Ole Miss LHP Wil Libbert (2-1, 4.58 ERA) vs. Texas LHP Dylan Volantis (2-0, 1.54 ERA)
THE MATCHUP — To begin Southeastern Conference play, No. 2 Texas welcomes Ole Miss to Austin for the first time since 1912. The Longhorns lead the all-time series over the Rebels, 15-6, winning eight of the last 10 meetings. In the most recent head-to-head matchup, Texas logged a 10-0 run-rule victory on Feb. 15, 2025, which marked the Longhorns' first victory under head coach Jim Schlossnagle. When Schlossnagle was at the helm of the 2013 USA Baseball Collegiate National Team, he tabbed Ole Miss skipper Mike Bianco to serve as the team's pitching coach.
IT JUST MEANS MORE — Last season, Texas became the first team to win the SEC in its first season since the league's inaugural campaign in 1933. The Longhorns — who were picked eighth in the conference's preseason poll — won the league by two games. Texas' 22-8 ledger in SEC action marked its best record in conference play since 2010. The Longhorns were the lone team to win eight series in league play. Since Jim Schlossnagle's first campaign in the SEC in 2022, he has won more conference series than any other coach in the league. Over that four-year run, Schlossnagle's 29 SEC series wins stack up ahead of Tony Vitello (27), Dan Van Horn (26), Jay Johnson (24) and Kevin O'Sullivan (24).
SCORCHING START — Texas is one of the final two remaining unbeaten teams in the country, alongside USC. The Longhorns' 16-0 mark matches their best start to a season in 21 years. With a victory on Friday, Texas would be 17-0 for the first time since 1982, when the Longhorns won 33 straight games to open the year. Through 16 contests, Texas has outscored its opponents, 162-40. The Longhorns have run-ruled their opposition on six occasions, including three times in the last five games. Texas has also tied a program record, mounting double-digit tallies in six straight contests for the first time since 1940. During that stretch, the Longhorns have registered 79 runs, which is their most over a six-game span since scoring 86 tallies from Feb. 16-23, 2002. As of March 12, the Longhorns rank ninth in OPS (1.055) and 11th in average (.340) nationally. On the mound, Texas has posted the country's third-best ERA (2.42) and seventh-best WHIP (1.03). Meanwhile, the Longhorns' .989 fielding percentage is fourth-best in all of Division I Baseball.
THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU — Heading into conference action, Texas is a consensus top-3 team. The Longhorns check in at No. 2, according to D1Baseball, the NCBWA, Perfect Game and USA Today. Texas was also listed third by Baseball America. In the Southeastern Conference's preseason poll voted on by the league's 16 head coaches, the Longhorns were picked second behind only defending national champion LSU. Texas was one of four programs to receive a first-place vote, joining LSU, Mississippi State and Arkansas.
OWN THE DISCH — Since UFCU Disch-Falk Field opened in 1975, Texas has gone 1,673-427-3 (.796) at home thanks in large part to Longhorn Nation. As of March 12, Texas has entertained 84,296 fans at home, the seventh-highest mark in the country. In 2025, the Longhorns drew 250,757 fans to UFCU Disch-Falk Field, the seventh-highest attendance nationally. Against Texas A&M, Texas set a new three-game series attendance record at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, with 23,680 tickets sold.
traDISCHion UNLIKE ANY OTHER — The Longhorns will honor their history throughout the 2026 season, as part of the Saturday traDISCHion series at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. For the fifth consecutive campaign, Texas is celebrating past greats on select Saturdays. The Longhorns will salute J. Brent Cox on March 14, before recognizing Adrian Alaniz on March 28. Chance Ruffin is set to be honored on April 18 and Taylor Teagarden is slated to be celebrated on May 2. The final traDISCHion Saturday of 2026 will feature Dustin Majewski on May 16.
