Texas Baseball 2025 Season Preview: 3 biggest games, key players, predictions and more
Texas Baseball fared decently in the 2024 college baseball season. They finished third in the Big 12 regular season with a 20-10 conference record, which saw them make the postseason with an at-large bid. They also featured in the Bryan-College Station Regional as the third seed before suffering elimination following back-to-back losses to the Texas A&M Aggies and the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns.
With the Longhorns set to join the SEC from 2025, they are making waves during the offseason. They made headlines soon after the season ended by replacing coach David Pierce with Aggies coach Jim Schlossnagle. This added another flashpoint in the fierce Lone Star rivalry, which only looks set to intensify in the regular season next year.
The Longhorns, who last won the College World Series in 2005, will be keen to get back to the top. Here, we preview Texas Baseball ahead of the 2025 season.
3 key games for Texas Baseball in the 2025 season
#3. Tennessee Volunteers
While Schlossnagle leads a new team, he will hope to get his revenge over Tony Vitello and the Tennessee Volunteers next season. The Aggies suffered a narrow loss to the Vols in their maiden College World Series finals this year, following which Schlossnagle made the surprise decision to jump ship to the Longhorns.
The Vols are likely to be among the strongest teams in the SEC in 2025, which means the Longhorns will need to better them to enhance their credentials for the NCAA Tournament.
#2. Oklahoma Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners will join the Longhorns in making the switch from the Big 12 to the SEC next year. They will also be one of two permanent opponents for the Longhorns, intensifying a rivalry that has produced some incredible games over the years.
#1. Texas A&M Aggies
This is the clash that college baseball fans will not want to miss in 2025. The Aggies are the other permanent opponent for the Longhorns next year, guaranteeing Schlossnagle's return to a College Station crowd that is likely to be hostile toward the coach.
Meanwhile, the Longhorns will have revenge on their minds following their exit from the Bryan-College Station Regional this year and with both teams aiming for glory, their rivalry looks set to reach new heights in 2025.
3 key players for the Texas Longhorns in 2025
#3. Max Belyeu, OF
Belyeu was one of the stars in his sophomore season for the Longhorns this year. He scored 18 home runs, tied with Jalin Flores for the most home runs among all Longhorns hitters this season. He also drove in 53 runs with an average of .329 which saw him win the Big 12 Player of the Year award.
With Jared Thomas picked in the 2024 MLB draft, Belyeu is likely to lead the Longhorns' hitting line-up in 2025. He will be keen to impress and will certainly have his eyes set on getting picked early in the draft in 2025.
#2. Max Grubbs, RHP
Grubbs was arguably the most lethal pitcher for the Longhorns in 2024. He finished the season 6-4 while recording 50 strikeouts with an ERA of 3.67 in 73.2 innings pitched. His WHIP of 1.30 also emphasizes his impact on the mound, which will be key for the Longhorns in 2025.
#1. Jalin Flores, INF
Despite being draft-eligible this year, Flores opted to stay with the Longhorns for another season in NCAA Baseball. Tied with Belyeu for the most home runs in 2024 (18), he also recorded 56 RBIs with an impressive average of .340.
He will be keen to use his junior year in 2025 as a launching pad to enhance his ranking as one of the top draft prospects for next year's draft.
Predicting Texas Longhorns' 2025 baseball season
The Longhorns' appointment of Schlossnagle and their strong recruitment drive are a clear signal of their intentions. With a strong roster brimming with potential, the Longhorns are likely to make it to the postseason for the fifth season in succession.
In fact, the six-time College World Series winners could return to Omaha for the first time since 2022 given the skill set that Schlossnagle brings to the table. However, they will need to improve their bullpen in the off-season to tackle the fierce competition in the SEC before that.