© Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Texas Longhorns earned a Top 8 seed in the NCAA Tournament after an incredible first year under new baseball coach Jim Schlossnagle. The team will host a Regional in Austin as it pursues a national championship.
Excitement wasn’t evident in the players’ reactions during a nationally televised watch party. The room appeared largely uninterested in front of a live audience on ESPN.
The network unveiled the postseason field on Selection Monday after conference tournaments came to a close. Texas landed the No. 2 overall seed, giving them homefield advantage in both the opening round and a potential Super Regional.
The Longhorns won the SEC in their first year as league members. They won 42 games with a 26-5 mark at home. Playing in Austin could provide an incredible advantage.
The NCAA baseball tournament bracket installs four double elimination rounds to determine a national champion. The Top 16 teams host Regionals in their home city. The Top 8 teams have priority for hosting Super Regionals should they advance in their pursuit of the College World Series in Omaha.
Texas baseball’s championship path runs through Austin. They won’t have to leave their campus before the CWS. The Longhorns’ Regional field was announced this week. Players seemed less than thrilled.
regional ready 🤘#HookEm | @TexasLonghorns pic.twitter.com/SSnrBUYOhi
— Texas Baseball (@TexasBaseball) May 26, 2025
The reaction forced Jim Schlossnagle to address the situation. He spoke on the response after the fact.
“I don’t know how I feel about it,” he said to the media. “I never want us to take that for granted. I understand it’s Texas, but as long as I’m coaching here, I never want us to assume, and I don’t was us to feel like we’re entitled to something.”
Texas baseball was strictly business when hearing their names called for the tournament. Not a huge reaction but poised with confidence
Coach Schlossnagle appreciates that confidence but he also wants his team to recognize this accomplishment isn’t given
“I never want us to… pic.twitter.com/pref05EKoW
— Cory Mose (@Cory_Mose) May 26, 2025
There could be a reason for the apathetic response. Texas didn’t have to sweat it’s seeding. They knew they’d be a top seed after winning college baseball’s toughest conference. There was little drama in the leadup.
There’s also a possibility players didn’t realize cameras were rolling as they awaited their NCAA Tournament fate. Regardless, the optics of the lackluster reaction weren’t great.
Jim Schlossnagle would’ve liked to see a bit more excitement from his bunch. Hopefully, the team will be more lively on the field next weekend.