Ole Miss and No. 2 Texas Meet in Austin for SEC Opening Weekend

First matchup between the two teams in Austin in 114 years

Mar. 13, 2026 at 8:18pm

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Ole Miss and No. 2 Texas will face off in Austin this weekend for the first time since April 1912 as SEC play kicks off. The two teams last met in Arlington, Texas during the opening weekend last season, but this will be the first time they've played on the Texas campus in over a century. The series has historically favored Texas, but both teams boast impressive pitching staffs heading into the weekend.

Why it matters

This matchup between two top college baseball programs marks the start of SEC conference play and features a rare meeting between Ole Miss and Texas in Austin. The game will showcase some of the best pitching talent in the country as both teams look to gain an early advantage in SEC standings.

The details

Ole Miss (15-3) will send Saturday starter Cade Townsend to the mound, who has a nation-leading 0.48 ERA through his first four starts. Texas (16-0) will counter with Friday starter Ruger Riojas and Saturday starter Dylan Volantis, both of whom have sub-2.00 ERAs. The Rebel hitters will have their hands full, as they lead the SEC in strikeouts so far this season.

  • The last time Ole Miss and Texas played in Austin was on April 9, 1912.
  • The two teams last met in Arlington, Texas during the opening weekend of the 2021 season.

The players

Cade Townsend

Ole Miss Saturday starter with a nation-leading 0.48 ERA.

Ruger Riojas

Texas Friday starter with a 1.23 ERA and SEC-leading 42 strikeouts.

Dylan Volantis

Texas Saturday starter with a 1.54 ERA and 29 strikeouts.

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What they’re saying

“This is the game inside the game as the Rebel hitters lead the SEC in strikeouts at 157 heading into this weekend.”

— Jake Thompson, Author (on3.com)

The takeaway

This highly anticipated matchup between two top college baseball programs will showcase some of the best pitching talent in the country as SEC play kicks off. The rare meeting between Ole Miss and Texas in Austin adds historical significance to the series, which has traditionally favored the Longhorns.