Khamzat Chimaev wants Sean Strickland rematch in Abu Dhabi
Khamzat Chimaev requests a rematch with Sean Strickland in Abu Dhabi after losing his title.
Texas baseball is facing a dramatic final week of the regular season, with SEC and NCAA seedings still in play. The Longhorns will play against Missouri on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
It hasn't been uncommon over the past few years for Texas baseball to have some drama in the final week of the regular season.
In 2018, Texas rallied to a Big 12 championship by sweeping TCU, highlighted by Kody Clemens' walk-off homer in the second-to-last game. In 2021, the Longhorns were beating up on West Virginia in the regular-season finale when they received word that TCU had lost, all but ensuring a shared regular-season conference title with the Horned Frogs. Last year, Texas closed out its SEC debut by wrapping up a conference title against rival Oklahoma.
UP NEXT
NO. 6 TEXAS VS. MISSOURI
When/where:Â 6:30 p.m. Thursday at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
TV/radio:Â SEC Network+; 1300 AM.
Don't expect that much drama this time around, though.
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As they Longhorns prepare for the final week of the regular season and a three-game series against Missouri that begins Thursday, they're playing for second place. Georgia (41-11, 21-6) has secured the SEC's outright championship, leaving Texas (37-12, 16-10), Texas A&M (37-12, 16-19), Alabama (35-17, 16-11) and Auburn (35-15, 16-11) in its rearview mirror.
In the SEC preseason poll, Texas was picked to finish second. The Longhorns were attempting to become the conference's first repeat champion since Florida in 2018.
The current SEC and NCAA seedings for Texas baseball are still being determined as the regular season concludes.
Texas baseball plays Missouri on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
In past final weeks, Texas baseball has had dramatic moments, including a Big 12 championship in 2018 and a conference title against Oklahoma last year.
Texas baseball secured a shared title in 2021 by beating West Virginia while TCU lost their game, ensuring a tie for the regular-season conference title.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Maddox Monsour (32) celebrates scoring in the eighth inning as the Texas Longhorns take on the UTSA Roadrunners at Disch-Falk Field in Austin, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. Texas won the game 11-8. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
So, are these last three games against last-place Missouri (23-27, 6-21) meaningless? Not really. Some stakes will still be in play at UFCU Disch-Falk Field.
First off, Texas is playing for seeding in the SEC Tournament, which begins next Tuesday in Hoover, Ala., and wraps up five days later. If the regular season ended today, Texas would be the No. 3 seed in the 16-team SEC showcase and would thus earn a double-bye. (The No. 1 and No. 4 seeds play their first games next Thursday while the No. 2 and 3 seeds' quarterfinals will be next Friday.)
Texas controls its destiny when it comes to securing that double-bye, but a shortcut to the SEC quarterfinals has not yet been secured. Only 2½ games separate Texas and a ninth-place slot that would guarantee a spot in the SEC Tournament's first game Tuesday.
Here's how the top nine teams in the SEC are finishing the regular season:
⢠Georgia (41-11, 21-6) is at Auburn (35-15, 16-11).
⢠Texas A&M (37-12, 16-10) hosts Mississippi State (38-14, 15-12).
⢠Texas (37-12, 16-10) hosts Missouri (23-27, 6-21).
⢠Alabama (35-17, 16-11) hosts Ole Miss (34-18, 14-13).
⢠Auburn (35-15, 16-11) hosts Georgia.
⢠Florida (34-18, 15-12) is at LSU (29-24, 9-18).
⢠Mississippi State (34-18, 15-12) is at Texas A&M.
⢠Arkansas (34-18, 15-12) is at Kentucky (30-18, 12-15).
⢠Ole Miss (34-18, 14-13) is at Alabama.
Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle watches batters warm up in the first inning as the Texas Longhorns play the Mississippi State Bulldogs in the second of a three game series at Disch-Falk Field in Austin, May 2, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
Texas is also looking to put the finishing touches on the rĂŠsumĂŠ that it will submit before the NCAA Tournament's bracket is revealed May 25. With the No. 4 RPI and the No. 6 ranking in the D1Baseball and Baseball America polls, a home regional â which is awarded to the top 16 seeds in the 64-team field â is a safe bet for Texas.
However, UT would like to wrap up a top-eight seed. That would give the Longhorns the right to host a super regional if they advance past the NCAA Tournament's first weekend.
On Tuesday, USA Today projected Texas as the No. 5 overall seed while Baseball America had UT as the No. 6 seed. So the Longhorns seemingly have some wiggle room with which to work. A series loss to Missouri and a quick exit from the conference tournament, though, wouldn't help the Longhorns' case if a team projected behind them finished out their season strongly.