Texas softball faces a challenging path at this week's SEC softball tournament, as the defending NCAA champion fights to secure a top NCAA seed — and home field advantage for the 2026 Super Regional.
Before the fourth-seeded Longhorns (39-10, 16-8 SEC) take on the Tennessee-Ole Miss winner Thursday, coach Mike White noted Texas needs at least one victory to solidify its NCAA tournament hosting duties.
"I think that, obviously, we'd want to go as far as we can in this tournament, but I would say we've probably got to win a game for sure," White said. "Hopefully, that first one gives us a more solid chance of being in [the top eight]."
The potential SEC softball tournament showdown with No. 5 seed Tennessee (42-9, 16-8) presents its share of obstacles.
The Lady Vols would likely start dominant pitcher Karlyn Pickens against Texas, after the 6-foot-1 ace posted a 1.44 ERA with 154 strikeouts while holding opponents to a .126 batting average this year. The top pick in the recent AUSL College Draft and two-time SEC Pitcher of the Year, Pickens throws a 78 MPH fastball — roughly equivalent to 109-110 MPH in Major League Baseball.
Texas dropped to No. 10 in the latest National Fastpitch Coaches Association poll after losing two of three games to Arkansas last weekend. The Longhorns hit just .216 and scored seven total runs across that three-game showdown.
Despite the late-season slump, Texas remains No. 4 in NCAA RPI ratings after facing DI's second-hardest schedule. White says reaching the SEC semifinals would give his team a strong case for a high tournament seeding when the bracket drops Sunday.
"Being in the top eight is a big advantage, especially when you can get to that Super Regional with your home crowd," White said.
How to Watch Texas in the 2026 SEC Softball Tournament
The Longhorns face the winner of Tennessee vs. Ole Miss on Thursday at 5 PM ET, live on SEC Network.
