The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Forty Acres Insider: April 7
04.07.2026 | Forty Acres Insider
Important news happening in and around Texas Athletics compiled by Vice President and Athletics Director Chris Del Conte
Longhorn Nation,
Here's hoping everyone had a wonderful Easter Weekend spent with family, friends, and loved ones. IT'S ONWARD AND UPWARD HERE ON THE FORTY, Y'ALL — TEXAS FIGHT NEVER STOPS! Baseball secured another series win, we powered through the elements for a successful 98th running of the Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, Men's Tennis clinched a share of a second-straight SEC regular season title with a pair of wins, and Women's Basketball battled in a hard-fought game at their second-straight Final Four. It was a strong showing at the Augusta National Women's Amateur for a trio of our Women's Golfers, too — we see you, Farah … pretty nifty! And we get right back after it this week with big-time rivalries ahead for Baseball and Softball, while Rowing, Tennis, Track and Field, Soccer, and Volleyball are all in action. All eyes forward — we're stampeding ahead. As always, we're grateful for your passion, pride, and unwavering support. Looking forward to seeing you on the Forty — keep those Horns Up and let's Hook 'Em!
It was another outstanding weekend at the CLYDE LITTLEFIELD TEXAS RELAYS PRESENTED BY TRUIST. Despite some rain and weather delays, Coach Flo and our Longhorns delivered across the board. The women's squad captured relays titles in the Sanya Richards-Ross 4x400-meter and Carlette Guidry 4x100-meter, while also sweeping hurdles victories from Kendrick Smallwood (110m), Amelliah Birdow (400m, 55.37/No. 5 all-time performer at Texas) — who also ran a leg on the victorious 4x400-meter relay squad — and Kody Blackwood (400m). In the field, Kelsey Daniel claimed the podium's top spot in both the long and triple jumps, Michael Pinones won the shot put, and Giovanna Meeks recorded the top six hammer throw marks in program history. Sophie Atkinson added a distance title in the 5,000 meters. We were also proud to honor our Track and Field seniors and celebrate legendary coach Terry Crawford as this year's Honorary Referee. All in all, another incredible year which included about 4,700 competitors at one of the premier meets in the country — and a great showcase for the Forty Acres. Our squad returns to action this week at the Arkansas Spring Invitational in Fayetteville.
thank you seniors 🤘 pic.twitter.com/ctwrRzs27j
— Texas T&F/XC (@TexasTFXC) April 3, 2026
Heartbreaking way for the season to end, but Coach Schaefer and our Women's Basketball program EMBODIED TEXAS FIGHT IN EVERY WAY. What a ride this team took us on through the NCAA Tournament — playing for each other and battling until the final buzzer against eventual National Champion UCLA in the Final Four. Even on a tough night, our Horns left everything on the court and can hold their heads high. The accomplishments speak for themselves: SEC Tournament Champions, back-to-back Final Fours (our first since 1986-87), 35 wins, 16 victories over ranked opponents (six against the top-10), and a perfect 20-0 at Moody Center, extending a program-record 44-game home winning streak. More than that, this team represented our great University with Texas Toughness on the court and class off it. They gave Longhorn Nation so much to be proud of. This was truly a special group — led by an outstanding head coach and staff who poured into them, mentored them, and built something that will be remembered, not just for what they achieved, but how they competed to earn it. Thank you, Coach Schaefer. Thank you, seniors. Thank you to our entire team and the student-athletes returning — hungry for more. And thank you Longhorn Nation for showing up and showing out every step of the way. An extra Hook 'Em to the extraordinary Rori Harmon — whose story captivated the country and who truly represents the pride and winning tradition of The University of Texas. A true Longhorn Legend. Coach Schaefer continues to stack elite seasons — five Elite Eights in six years and now consecutive Final Fours. We're knocking on the door y'all … and we're going to break through; it's a matter of when, not if.
an incredible run comes to a close. thank y'all for being a part of it. 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/7Hj0bHGZMU
— Texas Women's Basketball (@TexasWBB) April 4, 2026
Coach Schloss and No. 2 Baseball got another SEC series win, this time on the road at South Carolina. That's a FOURTH-STRAIGHT SEC SERIES VICTORY. After dropping the opener Thursday, our Horns bounced back with a 5-3 win on Friday, led by back-to-back bombs from Ethan Mendoza and Carson Tinney. Saturday it was a pitching gem, starting with ace Dylan Valantis and including 15 strikeouts from four pitchers in a 4-1 victory that secured the series and improved our record to 26-5 on the year, 9-3 in SEC play. Meanwhile, after knocking off No. 4 Alabama, 9-1, in the series opener in Tuscaloosa, Coach White and No. 1 Softball fought valiantly but fell in the final two games — and head into this week with a 32-4 record, 9-3 in the SEC. Now it's on to another rivalry week for both squads. Baseball hosts Incarnate Word tonight (6:30 p.m. CT/SEC Network+) before heading to College Station for the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown this weekend. Softball takes to Red & Charline McCombs field for a big-time Red River Rivalry home series with No. 3 Oklahoma Friday through Sunday. I know y'all will be amped up and bringing your best Texas Fight for that series — can't wait to see you at the yard!
series stackin' 📽️#HookEm | @LonghornNetwork pic.twitter.com/K0lhHXWBgO
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) April 5, 2026
No. 3 Beach Volleyball had another great weekend, sweeping four matches at Wright-Whitaker Sports Complex to move to 20-6 on the season. Coach Metzger and our Horns will get a week off before returning to the sand for a pair of home matches on April 18. AND THERE IS PLENTY MORE LONGHORN ACTION THIS WEEK! We mentioned ealier Baseball and Softball playing rivalry series against Texas A&M and Oklahoma — Baseball on the road and Softball at home. Coach O'Neill and No. 2 Rowing travel to Big Ten country to hit the water against Indiana in Bloomington on Thursday (8 a.m. CT) followed by Michigan in Ann Arbor on Saturday as they head towards the SEC Championship regatta on May 10 in Oak Ridge, Tenn. Men's and Women's Tennis continue to move through SEC play with Coach Berque and No. 1 Men's Tennis — the SEC regular-season champion for the second-straight year — hosting No. 18 Florida on Friday (6 p.m. CT) for a chance to claim the outright title with a win, plus it's Senior Day for two amazing ones in Sebastian Gorzny and Jonah Braswell. So let's be sure to bring your Burnt Orange out to the TTC for that one! Meanwhile, Coach Joffe and the No. 6-ranked women's squad close out their regular season on the road as they head to Fayetteville to face Arkansas on Thursday (5 p.m. CT) and Norman for a top-10 Red River Rivalry matchup with No. 7 Oklahoma on Saturday (Noon CT). Spring seasons continue Saturday for Volleyball and Soccer with Coach Elliott's squad hosting TCU at Gregory Gym (1 p.m. CT), and Coach Bates and our Horns welcoming in UTSA at Mike A. Myers Stadium (1 p.m. CT).
right back at it 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/OcXQIoBlHO
— Texas Longhorns (@TexasLonghorns) April 6, 2026
A VICTORY LAP FOR MEN'S SWIMMING AND DIVING! Fresh off back-to-back National Championships, we lit the Tower and honored Coach Bowman and Men's Swimming and Diving last week. That is always such a beautiful site and never gets old, my friends. Check out this link for a great read and video on what it takes to light the Tower. What an incredible night, awesome tribute and tremendous season from our squad that left no doubt in stampeding to the title — which makes it 17 all-time National Titles for our legendary program, I might add. You can read all about this fantastic team's accomplishments right here! It's a squad that included 15 All-American swimmers and divers, as well as the National Swimmer of the Year Hubert Kos, who swept the 100 and 200 backstrokes in record-setting style. And you can relive all the highlights all the livelong day with this wonderful video from our outstanding creative team. It was a sensational year, and here's to another round of applause and Hook 'Em, Horns for Coach Bowman and Men's Swimming and Diving! Texas Fight all the livelong day!!
tower looked good tonight 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/dzZyeGzsOv
— Texas Men's Swimming & Diving (@TexasMSD) April 1, 2026
With the APRIL 18 FOOTBALL FAN DAY QUICKLY APPROACHING (see below for more details on that day), don't miss out on your Football fix, folks. Spring Ball is going well, and we've got plenty of content being shared on our FREE LHN App — like this week's entertaining Texas and Os episode highlighted by an appearance from none other than Coach Muschamp, who we are so doggone happy to have back on the Forty Acres. You can also hear from Coach Sark and our players regularly during post-practice press conferences. This week it was a group of offensive standouts and leaders in Brandon Baker, Trevor Goosby, Ryan Niblett and Ryan Wingo at the microphone to share their thoughts. It's always a great time talking football and can't wait to see y'all at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium in a couple short weeks.
Football Fan Day set for April 18 at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium
We can't wait to welcome Longhorn Nation back to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium on Saturday, April 18 for FOOTBALL FAN DAY! It's shaping up to be a terrific day on the Forty Acres, with a full slate of activities beginning at 9:30 a.m. as the annual Team Shop Fire Sale opens and our Football Fan Day Street Fest gets underway. We'll have many of your favorite gameday interactive experiences and photo opportunities in the morning, including Bevo XV, Smokey the Cannon, and chances to snap a picture with the Allstate Red River Rivalry Golden Hat trophy, the Cotton Holdings Lone Star Showdown trophy, and this year's Cheez-It Citrus Bowl trophy. The first 5,000 fans at the Street Fest will also receive a commemorative rally towel, so be sure to get there early! Stadium gates on the north and east sides will open at 10 a.m., leading into Coach Sark and our football team taking the field at approximately 11 a.m. for an open practice. Following practice, fans will have the opportunity to come down to Campbell-Williams Field for player autographs and photo ops with Coach Sark. For the full timeline of events and additional details, CLICK HERE. See y'all on April 18!
Fan Day is less than two weeks away!
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) April 6, 2026
Join us Saturday April 18th in DKR 🤘
More info: https://t.co/SkyeWQmuIh pic.twitter.com/bBfn4okZsI
Need to give some love to LOVB Austin!
Speaking of Volleyball, we've got to give a big shoutout to our friends at LOVB Austin — the league's defending champions — on clinching a spot in this week's playoffs with a thrilling five-set win in Omaha over LOVB Nebraska on Saturday. WHAT STARTS HERE, my friends. LOVB Austin's squad is built strong in the Burnt Orange and White, featuring eight Longhorn letterwinners and our longtime former assistant coach, Erik Sullivan, leading the way as head coach. And how about our Longhorn Legend Madisen Skinner, who was absolutely En Fuego in leading the team to victory?! Horns up to the squad and all our Texas Exes as they take the court in the playoffs this Friday (3 p.m. CT streamed on Victory+) and Saturday (5 p.m. CT on ESPN2) against LOVB Atlanta in Louisville
Hook 'Em Horns,
P.S. — They clinched it folks — Men's Tennis is SEC Champs!
And there it is! The Horns clinch a share of their second @SEC regular season title with a 6️⃣th-straight win and 4️⃣th-straight sweep, 4️⃣-0️⃣ over #18 Auburn!
— Texas Men's Tennis (@TexasMTN) April 4, 2026
They'll play for the outright title when they host Florida on Friday at 6 pm CT at the TTC! See you there!#HookEm 🤘🎾 pic.twitter.com/PeNQa9r74l
P.S. — Here's to your National Swimmer of the Year — Hubert Kos!
dominant senior campaign 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/vcfr2iJHVk
— Texas Men's Swimming & Diving (@TexasMSD) April 1, 2026
P.S. — Make it a trifecta — Madison Booker wins her third-straight Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year Award!
threepeat 🤘🤘🤘
— Texas Women's Basketball (@TexasWBB) April 4, 2026
Madison Booker has been named the Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year for a third consecutive year! #HookEm pic.twitter.com/bRp51Xn14K
P.S. — We Love You, Longhorn Nation!
our fans on film 🥹🎞️#HookEm pic.twitter.com/9mxALueWn2
— Texas Women's Basketball (@TexasWBB) April 1, 2026
P.S. — A dynamic duo right here — This is so awesome!
THIS ❤️ pic.twitter.com/msnJgiDPqd
— SEC Network (@SECNetwork) April 3, 2026
P.S. — Competing with the best for our Women's Golf standouts at Augusta!
what a week from our Longhorns at @anwagolf 🤘
— Texas Women's Golf (@TexasWGolf) April 4, 2026
T15 Farah O'Keefe (71, 70, 71) -4
30th Lauren Kim (68, 71, 78) +6#HookEm pic.twitter.com/UHE4yJeX7u
P.S. — A glimpse at the future with Austin Goosby (that name sounds familiar?!):
ready to see more of this next year in Moody from @GoosbyAustin 🤯pic.twitter.com/77py0PFYm5
— Texas Men's Basketball (@TexasMBB) April 1, 2026
P.S. — Horns Win!
leaving H-Town with the dub🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/WxwHYXBIBh
— Texas Volleyball (@TexasVolleyball) April 4, 2026
P.S. — Spring is in the air in year one under Coach Bates!
keep building 😤#HookEm pic.twitter.com/vdsTEBvGrp
— Texas Soccer (@TexasSoccer) April 4, 2026
P.S. — Great tradition Boss! So grateful for our ROTC cadets!!
Across the Forty Acres, ROTC cadets push themselves every day in preparation for lives of service.
— Jim Davis (@JimDavis_UT) April 6, 2026
The President's Cup is a great tradition — and a fun way to see their commitment in action. Congratulations to Army, this year's winner. pic.twitter.com/uR81QCkNJz
HEADLINES:
No. 2 Baseball's Pack Jr. collects SEC Co-Freshman of the Week honors:
No. 2 Men's Tennis clinches share of SEC regular season title with sweep of No. 18 Auburn:
Volantis, bullpen pitch No. 2 Baseball past South Carolina to secure series:
Track & Field claims multiple titles to close 98th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays presented by Truist:
Women's Golf concludes play at Augusta National Women's Amateur:
Women's Basketball's Madison Booker named Cheryl Miller Small Forward of the Year:
No. 3 Beach Volleyball sweeps Tulane to finish Longhorn Showdown undefeated:
Tinney, Harrison propel No. 2 Baseball to 5-3 win at South Carolina:
No. 3 Beach Volleyball sweeps three matches on opening day of Longhorn Showdown:
Track & Field collects titles on day three of 98th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays presented by Truist:
Video: No. 3 Women's Basketball pre-NCAA Final Four press conference:
No. 2 Rowing's Dawson, Gaston earn SEC weekly honors:
No. 1 Softball cruises in series opener at No. 4 Alabama:
Track & Field delivers top performances on day two of Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays presented by Truist:
Video: Rori Harmon joins SportsCenter (April 2):
Women's Basketball's Booker, Harmon earn WBCA All-America honors:
No. 6 Women's Tennis sweeps No. 16 Florida, 4-0:
No. 2 Men's Tennis sweeps No. 24 Ole Miss, 4-0:
No. 2 Baseball trio land on Golden Spikes Award midseason watch list:
Video: Football players media availability – Baker, Goosby, Niblett and Wingo (April 2):
Video: Women's Golf's Farah O'Keefe pre-Augusta National Women's Amateur media availability:
No. 2 Baseball's Riojas, Cozart selected to Baseball America's midseason national awards watch lists:
No. 2 Baseball's Tinney earns spot on Buster Posey Award midseason watch list:
No. 2 Baseball rallies for 10-8 victory over Texas State:
Women's Basketball's Booker named finalist for Wooden Award:
Video: Steve Sarkisian media availability (March 31):
