The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Auburn
No. 2 Baseball preview: at No. 5 Auburn
03.19.2026 | Baseball
Longhorns travel to Plainsman Park for first time in program history
#2 TEXAS vs. #5 AUBURN
Dates: March 20-22, 2026
Where: Plainsman Park
Time: Friday at 6 p.m.; Saturday at 6 p.m.; Sunday at 2 p.m.
Stream/TV: SEC Network+
Radio: AM-1300 The Zone/103.1 FM
Live stats: texas.statbroadcast.com
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
FRIDAY – Texas RHP Ruger Riojas (4-0, 2.05 ERA) vs. Auburn LHP Jake Marciano (3-0, 0.93 ERA)
SATURDAY – Texas LHP Luke Harrison (1-0, 3.06 ERA) vs. Auburn LHP Jackson Sanders (2-0, 2.76 ERA)
SUNDAY – Texas LHP Dylan Volantis (2-0, 1.54 ERA) vs. Auburn RHP Alex Petrovic (4-0, 2.03 ERA)
THE MATCHUP — For the first in their illustrious history, the No. 2 Texas Longhorns will travel to Auburn, Ala., to face the fifth-ranked Tigers. Texas and Auburn have met just six times, with five of those previous contests taking place in Austin. In 2025, the Longhorns swept a three-game set against then-No. 8 Auburn at UFCU Disch-Falk Field. Prior to last season, the two sides hadn't squared off since the 1995 Midwest II Regional. This weekend's series will feature two of the premier rotations in the country. Texas and Auburn's starters have a combined 18-0 record with a 1.91 ERA and a 0.85 WHIP.
IT JUST MEANS MORE — Last year, 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-plus year run, Schlossnagle's 30 SEC series wins stack up ahead of Tony Vitello (27), Dan Van Horn (27), Kevin O'Sullivan (25) and Jay Johnson (24).
SCORCHING START — The Longhorns are off to their best 20-game start in 21 years. Texas finished the 2005 season with a 56-16 ledger, capturing its sixth national championship. Through 20 contests, the Longhorns have outscored their opponents, 190-59. Texas has run-ruled its opposition on six occasions. Prior to SEC-Opening Weekend, the Longhorns matched a program record, mounting double-digit tallies in six straight games for the first time since 1940. As of March 19, the Longhorns rank 12th in OPS (1.002) and 17th in average (.324) nationally. On the mound, Texas has posted the country's fourth-best ERA (2.67) and sixth-best WHIP (1.06). Meanwhile, the Longhorns' .985 fielding percentage is fifth-best in all of Division I Baseball.
THE EYES OF TEXAS ARE UPON YOU — Heading into week six, Texas is ranked No. 2 by all five major outlets, trailing only consensus No. 1 UCLA. In the Southeastern Conference's preseason poll voted on by the league's 16 head coaches, the Longhorns were picked second behind defending national champion LSU. Texas was one of four programs to receive a first-place vote, joining LSU, Mississippi State and Arkansas.
