University of Texas baseball heads back to World Series
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Texas Longhorns baseball players celebrate after a victory this season. Photo: Josh Fralick/Baylor Athletics/University Images via Getty Images
The University of Texas men's baseball team, ranked sixth nationally, will face No. 3 Georgia in its opening game of the 2026 men's College World Series on Saturday.
Why it matters: UT is arguably the New York Yankees of college baseball — this berth marks its record 39th appearance in the College World Series.
The intrigue: The Longhorns were hot at Disch-Falk Field — completing their 2026 home slate with a 34-4 ledger, their most wins in Austin since 2011 — but they were mediocre (8-8) in true road games.
- They posted a 3-1 record at neutral sites.
Catch up quick: The Longhorns (45-13) got here by defeating Oregon last weekend in the Austin super-regional.
- That made skipper Jim Schlossnagle one of only four coaches to guide three different schools — TCU, Texas A&M and Texas — to the College World Series.
Flashback: Schlossnagle was named head coach at UT in June 2024 — the day after the Aggies' loss in the College World Series finals.
- But last year the Longhorns didn't even make it out of the Austin regional, despite posting their best record since 2010.
Zoom in: The Longhorns sport a pair of fab freshmen.
- Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. on Thursday was named National Freshman of the Year.
- Among Power Four freshmen in 2026, Pack Jr. ranks first in stolen bases (20); second in average (.359), runs (58) and on-base percentage (.485);
- Sam Cozart this week was named the Co-Freshman Pitcher of the Year.
What they're saying: "The standard here is a national title, and we'll do our best to win that," Schossnagle said at a press conference after the club beat Oregon.
- "I have to walk by that sign every day that says 38 trips to Omaha. And 38's been sitting there for a while. I'm glad we'll at least be able to change that to 39."
How it works: The men's College World Series begins with an opening round of two four-team, double-elimination brackets.
- The winner from each of those two brackets then advances to face each other in a best-of-three championship series.
What's next: The 7pm game will air on ESPN.
- The winner between the SEC's top two programs will square off against the winner of No. 7 Alabama and Oklahoma at 6pm Monday.
- Meanwhile, the pair of losing teams will meet in an elimination contest at 2pm Monday.