University of Texas Baseball Earns #8 Ranking in Baseball America Preseason Poll

AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas baseball team collected its third preseason top-10 ranking Monday, checking in at No. 8 in Baseball America's preseason poll. The Longhorns were previously slotted third by D1Baseball and eighth by Perfect Game. Texas is one of 11 programs from the Southeastern Conference listed in Baseball America's top 25, joining No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Mississippi State, No. 5 Auburn, No. 6 Georgia, No. 10 Arkansas, No. 13 Tennessee, No. 16 Ole Miss, No. 17 Vanderbilt, No. 19 Oklahoma and No. 22 Florida. In head coach Jim Schlossnagle's first campaign at Texas, the Longhorns finished with their best record in 15 years, posting a 44-14 mark. Texas became the first team to win the SEC regular season title in its first campaign since the league's inception in 1933. The Longhorns, who were tabbed 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. Schlossnagle's club brings back 16 letterwinners from last season, highlighted by 2025 Baseball America national Freshman of the Year Dylan Volantis. Overall, Texas returns 76 percent of its innings pitched. A year ago, the Longhorns totaled the second-best WHIP (1.18) and the sixth-best (3.71) in the country. Offensively, Ethan Mendoza and Adrian Rodriguez — Texas' top two leading hitters in 2025 — are back on The Forty Acres. Meanwhile, the Longhorns welcome 24 newcomers, with 14 freshmen and 10 transfers. Texas' recruiting class was ranked first nationally, according to Baseball America. Three Longhorns collected Perfect Game preseason All-America recognition, as Volantis was joined by transfers Carson Tinney and Aiden Robbins. Texas opens its 2026 slate against UC Davis on Feb. 13 at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.