Texas Longhorns Upset No. 3 Gonzaga, Advance to Sweet Sixteen

Veteran leadership, strong interior play, and bench contributions key to Longhorns' victory

Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:50am

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The Texas Longhorns have punched their ticket to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament after taking down the No. 3-seeded Gonzaga Bulldogs 74-68. In a battle of experienced teams, the Longhorns leaned on their veteran leadership, dominant interior play, and valuable bench minutes to pull off the upset and advance to the second weekend of the tournament.

Why it matters

This win marks a significant milestone for the Texas program in head coach Sean Miller's first season, as the Longhorns continue to exceed expectations and prove they can compete with the nation's elite teams. The victory also showcases the value of experience and depth in the high-pressure environment of March Madness.

The details

Led by senior guards Jordan Pope (17 points) and Chendall Weaver (8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block), the Longhorns weathered a strong performance from Gonzaga's Graham Ike (25 points). Texas center Matas Vokietaitis held his own against Ike, scoring 17 points and grabbing 9 rebounds. Sophomore forward Nic Codie provided a valuable 26 minutes off the bench, scoring 12 points and contributing in multiple facets of the game.

  • The Longhorns will head to San Jose, California for the Sweet Sixteen on March 28, 2026.

The players

Texas Longhorns

The men's basketball team from the University of Texas, competing in the NCAA Tournament.

Gonzaga Bulldogs

The men's basketball team from Gonzaga University, a No. 3 seed in the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Jordan Pope

A senior guard for the Texas Longhorns who scored 17 points in the upset win.

Chendall Weaver

A senior forward for the Texas Longhorns who provided 8 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block off the bench.

Matas Vokietaitis

The Texas Longhorns' starting center who scored 17 points and grabbed 9 rebounds while defending Gonzaga's leading scorer Graham Ike.

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What they’re saying

“We've been through a lot together as a team, and that experience really showed tonight against a great Gonzaga squad. I'm so proud of the way our guys battled and made the plays we needed to pull off this upset.”

— Sean Miller, Head Coach, Texas Longhorns

“This is why you come to a program like Texas - to compete on the biggest stage and have a chance to win a championship. We're not done yet, and we're excited to keep this run going in the Sweet Sixteen.”

— Jordan Pope, Senior Guard, Texas Longhorns

What’s next

The Texas Longhorns will face the winner of the Purdue-Miami matchup in the Sweet Sixteen on March 28 in San Jose, California.

The takeaway

Texas' upset victory over Gonzaga showcases the value of veteran leadership, interior dominance, and depth in the NCAA Tournament. The Longhorns' ability to weather Gonzaga's star power and make winning plays down the stretch demonstrates their readiness to compete with the nation's elite teams as they continue their March Madness run.