Texas Softball Unveils Stacked 2026 Schedule as Title Defense Begins
Coming off a storybook run to the 2025 NCAA National Championship, Texas Softball isn’t easing into its title defense. Head coach Mike White just dropped the full 2026 regular season schedule, and it’s clear the reigning champs are ready to run it back - with 55 games on the docket, including 26 at home inside the always-electric McCombs Field.
From early-season tournaments to a gauntlet of SEC showdowns, the Longhorns will be battle-tested long before the postseason rolls around. Let’s break down what lies ahead for the defending champs.
Season Opener: Hitting the Road Early
Texas opens the 2026 campaign on the road at the UTSA Invitational in San Antonio, Feb. 6-8.
The Longhorns kick things off against Nebraska on Friday night before doubling up on Saturday with games against Washington and Nebraska again. Sunday brings another doubleheader - Washington followed by host UTSA - setting the tone for a team that’s not afraid to log miles or face quality competition early.
Home Cooking: Bevo Classic & Longhorn Invitational
The Horns return home to McCombs Field for their first home action during the Bevo Classic (Feb. 12-15). Texas opens with Abilene Christian under the lights, then stacks up doubleheaders against Ohio State and Syracuse on back-to-back days before closing out the tournament against Northern Illinois.
Later in February, the Longhorn Invitational (Feb. 27-March 1) brings another full slate of games.
The Longhorns will take on Houston, St. Bonaventure, Prairie View A&M, and Incarnate Word - a stretch that allows Texas to fine-tune its lineup before diving into the SEC grind.
West Coast Challenge: DeMarini Invitational
Before SEC play begins, Texas will head west for a five-game stretch in the DeMarini Invitational hosted by Stanford (Feb. 20-22).
The competition is stiff: Arizona, Stanford, Santa Clara, and Boise State all await. It’s a chance for Texas to test itself against a mix of Pac-12 power and scrappy mid-majors - the kind of early-season tournament that sharpens a contender.
SEC Play: No Easy Weekends
Texas begins SEC play on the road at South Carolina (March 6-8), then returns home for a midweek tune-up against East Texas A&M before diving headfirst into the conference gauntlet.
The SEC home opener comes March 13-15 against Ole Miss, followed by a non-conference rivalry weekend with Baylor (March 20-21). That series features a Friday night game in Austin and a Saturday rematch in Waco - a nice touch of in-state rivalry flair during Texas’ SEC bye weekend.
Then it’s on to the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown against longtime rival Texas A&M (March 27-29) at McCombs Field, a series that always brings fireworks no matter the records.
April is where things really heat up. Texas travels to Alabama (April 3-5), hosts Oklahoma (April 10-12), visits Georgia (April 17-19), and hosts Oklahoma State (April 22) before heading to Kentucky (April 24-26). That’s a brutal stretch - but it’s also the kind of run that can prepare a team for another deep postseason push.
The regular season wraps up with a marquee home series against Arkansas (April 30-May 2), just before the SEC Tournament kicks off in Lexington, Kentucky (May 5-9).
A Schedule Built for Champions
Texas isn’t easing into anything. The 2026 schedule features 36 games against teams that made the 2025 NCAA Tournament, including 20 against Super Regional qualifiers. That’s not just a tough slate - it’s a proving ground for a team with championship expectations.
With a national title under their belt and a loaded schedule ahead, Mike White’s squad isn’t just defending a crown - they’re chasing history. And if last season’s 56-12 finish was any indication, this group knows exactly what it takes to get there.
Game times and TV details are still to come, but one thing’s already clear: Texas Softball is ready for the spotlight again.