The stakes are high at UFCU Disch-Falk Field this weekend as the No. 6 Texas Longhorns prepare to host the Missouri Tigers in a pivotal SEC series—the first time these two have met as conference opponents in Austin since 2011. For head coach Jim Schlossnagle's squad, every game matters now: he revealed Wednesday that Texas could finish anywhere from second to ninth in the conference standings, making this series crucial for locking in a favorable seed at next week's SEC Tournament.
On paper, this looks like a golden opportunity for the Horns. Missouri enters the weekend dead last in the SEC with a 6-21 conference record, and the Tigers were picked to finish 16th out of 16 teams in the preseason coaches' poll. Their road struggles are well-documented at 3-12, but that record doesn't tell the whole story. Kerrick Jackson's squad has shown a knack for playing spoiler, stealing two games at then-No. 24 Kentucky and another at Tennessee—their first road series win over a ranked opponent since 2021. Most recently, they took a home series from Vanderbilt, their first home conference series victory since April 2024. Translation: the Tigers have bite, even if they're not consistently dangerous.
Offensively, Missouri ranks near the bottom of the SEC in nearly every category: 14th in batting average (.262), 15th in runs scored (312), and dead last in home runs (45) and slugging percentage (.405). First baseman Jase Woita is the only Tiger with double-digit homers (11), while shortstop Kam Durnin (.329) and designated hitter Blaize Ward (.321) are the only regulars hitting above .300. It's a lineup that can be contained—if Texas brings its A-game.
On the mound, Missouri's 5.43 ERA is 15th in the SEC, and opponents are hitting .246 against them (13th). But the Tigers do have a legitimate ace in right-hander Josh McDevitt (3-5, 4.08 ERA), who has fanned 91 batters in 69.2 innings and ranks fourth nationally in whiff rate on his fastball (31.8 percent). Friday's starter is left-hander Brady Kehlenbrink (3-8, 6.45 ERA), while Saturday's starter remains a question mark. That uncertainty could play right into Texas's hands—if the Horns can get to the bullpen early.
As Schlossnagle put it, "That's the thing about Missouri—they play hard and they've got nothing to lose." For a Texas team eyeing postseason positioning, this series is a chance to build momentum, sharpen the edge, and prove they belong among the SEC's elite. With the tournament just around the corner, every pitch counts.