Texas Longhorns Enjoy a Thrilling Weekend with More Excitement on the Horizon
The Texas Longhorns are in the midst of an electrifying weekend, with multiple athletic programs celebrating major victories and key program developments. As the momentum continues to build, Sunday presents an opportunity for even more success.
Football Secures Stability with Major Coaching Extensions
The Longhorns football program received a boost with the announcement of head coach Steve Sarkisian’s contract extension. The deal, which secures his tenure in Austin through 2031, comes with a substantial pay raise, solidifying his long-term leadership of the team. Additionally, key staff members Jeff Banks and Johnny Nansen have been locked in with new agreements, ensuring continuity in Sarkisian’s coaching staff on the Forty Acres.
Basketball Eyes a Statement Win on National Television
The excitement extends beyond the football field, as the Texas women’s basketball team, led by head coach Vic Schaefer, is gearing up for a high-stakes showdown. Schaefer, who also received a contract extension that, pending approval from the UT Board of Regents, will keep him at Texas through 2030, will lead his third-ranked squad against the fifth-ranked LSU Tigers. The highly anticipated matchup, set for 2 p.m. at the Moody Center, will be nationally televised on ABC, giving Texas a prime-time opportunity to solidify its dominance.
Track & Field, Softball, and Tennis Deliver Dominant Performances
The Longhorns’ weekend of success began on Friday with stellar performances from the track and field program at both the Tiger Paw Invitational in Clemson and the David Hemery Valentine Invitational in Boston. Standout athlete Eva Jess etched her name into the Texas record books, setting a new school record in the indoor 5,000 meters with a time of 15:44.48.
Meanwhile, the Texas softball team flexed its muscle at the Bevo Classic. The second-ranked Longhorns first overwhelmed Maryland with a dominant run-rule victory before securing a thrilling 2-1 win over No. 8 Texas Tech. Pitcher Teagan Kavan shined in the circle, outdueling Texas Tech’s NiJaree Canady, last season’s collegiate player of the year, in a hard-fought contest.
Adding to the weekend’s success, the third-ranked men’s tennis team earned an impressive victory at the National Team Indoor Championship in Dallas, toppling No. 14 Texas A&M in a pivotal showdown.
Baseball Bounces Back in Style
The only blemish on Texas’ Friday slate came from the baseball team, which suffered an extra-inning loss to Louisville. However, the Longhorns quickly rebounded with a statement win on Saturday. Under the leadership of new head coach Jim Schlossnagle, Texas responded in dominant fashion by run-ruling the Ole Miss Rebels, marking Schlossnagle’s first victory at the helm of the program.
Sunday Presents More Opportunities for Longhorn Success
As the weekend reaches its climax, Texas still has multiple chances to add to its impressive run of success. The softball team will get another shot at Texas Tech in a rematch at 12:30 p.m., broadcast on SEC Network+. Later in the afternoon, the Longhorns women’s basketball team will look to cap off the weekend with a defining victory over Kim Mulkey’s LSU Tigers in front of a national audience.
With momentum on their side, the Longhorns are poised to make this a weekend to remember, with the possibility of more celebrations still to come.
