The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Florida
NR/No. 16 Soccer preview: at Florida
09.23.2026 | Soccer
Longhorns face Gators for fifth time in last six seasons
NR/16 TEXAS VS. FLORIDA
Date: Sept. 24, 2026
Where: Donald R. Dizney Stadium
Time: 5 p.m. CT / 6 p.m. ET
TV: SEC Network+
Live stats: texas.statbroadcast.com
THE MATCHUP — For the fifth time in the last six years, the NR/No. 16 Texas Longhorns and the Florida Gators face off on the pitch. All four meetings between the Longhorns and Gators have been decided by one goal or ended in a tie. Heading into Thursday's tilt, Florida boasts a 2-1-1 advantage in the all-time series. Texas is looking for its first-ever win in Gainesville, after notching a 1-1 double-overtime draw in 2021 and dropping a 2-1 result two years ago.
LAST TIME OUT — In its first Southeastern Conference home contest under Margueritte Bates, Texas played to a 2-2 tie against No. 8/4 Tennessee at Mike A. Myers Stadium on Friday night. Florida State transfers Mya Brandon and Ashlyn Anderson both delivered their first goals in burnt orange, as the short-handed Longhorns fended off the Lady Volunteers to register a point. With the back-to-back tallies 47 seconds apart, Texas became the first team to take a lead over Tennessee this season. Entering the contest, the Lady Vols had not trailed a single minute and held advantages heading into the break in their first six contests. The physical affair featured 16 fouls, six yellow cards and one red card, with the Longhorns battling down a player over the final 20 minutes and 39 seconds.
NOTEWORTHY NON-CON — Following a 5-1-1 start to the Margueritte Bates era, the Longhorns jumped into both the IWSOC Poll and the Top Drawer Top 25, checking in at No. 19 and 16, respectively. Texas recorded a one-loss or better non-conference slate in the regular season for the fourth time in the last five years. Across the Longhorns' strong start, Texas mounted its quickest goal to begin a campaign in nine years, knocked off Atlantic Coast Conference power Pitt on the road, held its opponents scoreless over the first 209 minutes and 46 seconds of the season, became the lone team to blank a potent Grand Canyon squad, compiled its largest margin of victory since 2023 and upended No. 19/14 TCU in Forth Worth for the first time in 18 years.
LOCK IT DOWN — The Longhorns have been one of the strongest defensive teams nationally midway through the 2026 campaign. As of Sept. 23, Texas is tied for the fifth-fewest goals conceded in the SEC. The Longhorns have outscored their opponents, 17-8, while yielding just 3.67 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.
YOUNG MCDONALD — Ava McDonald burst onto the college soccer scene last season. After a star-studded debut campaign, McDonald has put her name on the stat sheet in five consecutive matches heading into Thursday's tilt. As of Sept. 23, the 5-foot-6 forward has registered the third-most shots (35) in the league. A year ago, McDonald garnered United Soccer Coaches Southeast All-Region Third Team distinction, Top Drawer Soccer Freshman Best XI First Team plaudits and SEC Freshman of the Year honors. She became the ninth different Longhorn to earn Newcomer/Freshman of the Year distinction, including the sixth in the last nine seasons. McDonald paced all of the league's rookies in goals (9), points (22), shots (67) and shots on goal (32) a season ago. Overall, the Allen, Texas, native ranked fourth in goals per game (0.53) and fifth in points per game (1.29). Across the final nine contests, McDonald mounted 16 points, highlighted by a pair of multi-goal efforts. She became the first Longhorn freshman to have three braces since Trinity Byars in 2021.
