The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Ole Miss
RV/No. 16 Soccer preview: at Ole Miss
09.26.2026 | Soccer
Longhorns conclude two-match road swing on Sunday
RV/16 TEXAS VS. OLE MISS
Date: Sept. 27, 2026
Where: Ole Miss Soccer Stadium
Time: 1 p.m. CT
TV: SEC Network+
Live stats: texas.statbroadcast.com
THE MATCHUP — The RV/No. 16-ranked Texas Longhorns wrap up their two-match road swing at Ole Miss on Sunday afternoon. The two sides have met in each of the last two seasons, with the Longhorns notching back-to-back shutout wins. The Rebels' lone victory over Texas came in a neutral site contest in 2003.
LAST TIME OUT — Texas registered a point for the second straight Southeastern Conference match, playing to a 1-1 tie against Florida at Donald R. Dizney Stadium on Thursday night. Ashlyn Anderson converted a penalty kick in the 30th minute to put the Longhorns ahead, but the Gators scored off a set piece 30 minutes later to earn the draw. Anderson's tally marked her second in as many matches, as the 5-foot-8 forward also mounted the go-ahead strike against then-No. 8/4 Tennessee. In the second half, Texas kept Florida scoreless until the Gators were awarded a free kick just outside the box. From 20 yards away, Zoe Main curled home a right-footed shot to even the contest, 1-1, at the 59:40 mark. Florida notched 14 shots after the break, including six on target, but senior goalie Bayliss Flynn recorded five save.
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. 26, Texas is tied for the sixth-fewest goals conceded in the SEC. The Longhorns have outscored their opponents, 18-9, while yielding just 3.9 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 of the last six matches heading into Sunday's showdown. As of Sept. 26, the 5-foot-6 forward has registered the third-most shots (37) 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.
