Texas returns home this weekend after playing three of the last four weekend series on the road. The Longhorns knew a trip to College Station was going to be a hostile environment, but dropping both games still had to sting for head coach David Schlossnagle and the team. There is a silver lining, however, when Sunday’s game was canceled due to rain, Texas left Aggieland without having to deploy two of its four best arms. Ace Dylan Volantis, slated as the Sunday starter, and reliever Sam Cozart both went unused, as the first two games didn’t unfold in a way that called for Cozart either. Humble pie was served in College Station, but there’s no time to sulk with Alabama coming to Austin.
The Crimson Tide arrive at Disch-Falk Field on the heels of a tough weekend of their own, having been swept at home by Arkansas. Don’t let that fool you. Alabama’s résumé is more impressive than it may appear. The Tide have swept both Auburn and Florida this season and took a series from Oklahoma, leaving them just one win behind Texas and Texas A&M for second place in the SEC. With postseason positioning on the line, this series carries significant weight for both programs.
Can Texas Contain Alabama SS Justin LeBron?
Make no mistake – Alabama shortstop Justin LeBron will be the most talented player to set foot at Disch-Falk Field in 2026. A projected top-5 pick in the upcoming MLB Draft, LeBron is a complete five-tool player with no obvious weakness. He enters the weekend hitting .272 with 12 home runs, 32 RBIs, a near-.400 on-base percentage, and a perfect 29-for-29 in stolen base attempts. If Texas pitchers can’t keep him off the bases, he will apply a brand of pressure that very few players in college baseball are capable of. He is the X-factor of this series.
Rotation Shuffle Gives Volantis a Chance to Prove Himself
With Volantis having not taken the mound last weekend, Schlossnagle has adjusted the starting rotation. Volantis will open the series on Friday, followed by Ruger Riojas on Saturday and Luke Harrison on Sunday. The official explanation is that this avoids Volantis going two full weeks between starts, and while that reasoning is valid, the difference between 12 days and 14 days isn’t dramatic enough to be the sole motivator.
This feels more like an opportunity to evaluate whether Volantis has earned the No. 2 spot behind Riojas. Harrison struggled significantly against Texas A&M, and Volantis represents a higher floor for this rotation. If he pitches well this weekend, a Riojas-Volantis one-two punch heading into the postseason would be one of the most formidable combinations in the country. Don’t be surprised if Volantis locks down that No. 2 role for the remainder of the season.
The Texas Offense Must Clean Things Up
The Texas offense was inconsistent against Texas A&M and, through two games, simply wasn’t good enough. Aidan Robbins was outstanding, clubbing four home runs, and Carson Tinney chipped in with a home run and three walks. With shortstop Adrian Rodriguez still sidelined, the Longhorns needed more from the rest of the lineup, and outside of Anthony Pack, it didn’t materialize. Third baseman Casey Borba, who was swinging a hot bat early in the season, went 0-for-9 with seven strikeouts against the Aggies. That kind of production from a middle-of-the-order bat is not sustainable.
The encouraging news is that Rodriguez is reportedly close to returning. He was technically available last weekend, but the coaching staff appears to be taking a cautious approach, which is the right call. A healthy Rodriguez is a genuine difference-maker, both for what he brings to the box score and for how his presence elevates the hitters around him. Even a pinch-hitting appearance this weekend would be a welcome sign. If he can return to his pre-injury form, this Texas lineup has the ceiling to be dangerous down the stretch.
