As the football season in Austin draws to a close, we welcome a fresh wave of SEC sports with softball. The Longhorns have already made a remarkable start, securing the second spot in the pre-season rankings according to On3.  The Longhorns are ranked No. 2 behind the defending National Champions, their rival, the Oklahoma Sooners.

On3 notes that the current roster is remarkably similar to that of the team that secured the top overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Reese Atwood, Mia Scott, and Katie Stewart form the backbone of an elite lineup, while Mike White continues to lead a deep pitching staff, anchored by Teagan Kavan.

The Longhorns experienced great success in their final year in the Big 12, concluding the season with an impressive 55-10 overall record (23-4 conference). Despite their performance, they narrowly missed out on a National Championship against their rival, Oklahoma, in the Women’s College World Series. The Longhorns suffered consecutive losses, falling 3-8 and 4-8, respectively. The Longhorns won the regular season Big 12 Championship but fell short of the championship tournament with a loss 5-1 loss against Oklahoma.

The sun sets during Game 2 of the NCAA softball Women’s College World Series Championship Series game between the Oklahoma Sooners (OU) and Texas Longhorns at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Thursday, June 6, 2024. Oklahoma won 8-4.

The 2025 spring season for the Longhorns commences on the road against Florida in Gainsville, Florida, for a three-game series. Beyond that, they will play in eight three-game series, totaling 24 conference games. The season spans nine weeks, starting on March 7th and concluding on May 3rd. If the Longhorns hold their ground, they’ll look to the SEC Tournament in Athens, Georgia.