Texas newcomer Hannah Tate lands on the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list after an award-winning run at Denver and brings veteran punch to the Longhorns.
Texas soccer newcomer Hannah Tate is arriving in Austin with serious national credibility.
The fifth-year midfielder and defender has been named to the MAC Hermann Trophy watch list, putting her among 65 players in the running for college soccer’s top individual honor entering the 2026 season.
For Tate, it’s the latest signal that expectations are already high.
She has also earned a spot on the SEC Preseason Watch List and was named one of the United Soccer Coaches’ forwards to watch, giving the former Denver standout three major preseason honors before she has even played her first official match for Texas.
The resume explains the attention.
Tate spent four seasons at Denver, appearing in 43 matches with 37 starts while logging more than 3,000 minutes.
She produced five goals and two assists during that run and built a reputation as a dependable two-way player capable of affecting games from multiple spots on the field.
Her biggest season came in 2025.
The Omaha, Nebraska, native was named Summit League Midfielder of the Year and earned United Soccer Coaches All-West Region First Team honors.
Tate started all 15 matches she appeared in and played the full 90 minutes in all but one.
She also proved she could deliver when games were hanging in the balance.
Tate scored a league-best-tying two game-winning goals, finding the net against North Dakota and South Dakota. She also assisted on a dramatic 88th-minute equalizer against St. Thomas.
That kind of composure could matter immediately for Texas.
The Longhorns aren’t simply adding another experienced transfer. They’re bringing in a player who has already handled a major workload, earned conference player-of-the-year recognition and shown she can make decisive plays late in matches.
Now Tate gets a much bigger stage.
The Hermann Trophy is awarded annually to the top player in Division I women’s soccer, with voting conducted by participating Division I head coaches.
Tate will have plenty of competition for that honor, but her inclusion on the preseason list gives Texas another player to watch nationally.
The next step comes quickly.
Texas opens the 2026 season against HCU at Mike A. Myers Stadium, where Longhorn fans will get their first look at one of the program’s most intriguing offseason additions.
If Tate’s Denver form follows her to Austin, she could become a major piece of Texas’ SEC push.
