Texas Longhorns athletics go 13-0 across six sports, closing in on Stanford in the Directors’ Cup race with major SEC wins and unbeaten starts.
If you want to understand the standard inside the Texas Longhorns athletic department, start with this: second place is noise.
Athletic director Chris Del Conte doesn’t measure success only in football wins or Final Four banners. The real scoreboard sits in the Learfield Directors’ Cup standings, where every sport matters and depth across the department separates contenders from pretenders.
And right now? Texas is charging.
After capturing four of the last five Directors’ Cup titles, the Longhorns are once again locked in a heavyweight fight with Stanford, the all-time leader with 26 trophies.
The Cardinal built its dynasty on Olympic sports dominance, but Texas has turned breadth and postseason power into its own weapon.
Last weekend felt like a statement. Across six different programs, Texas went a spotless 13-0.
Sean Miller’s men’s basketball team delivered a road clinic against Missouri, rolling 85-68, days after surviving LSU 88-85. At 8-5 in SEC play, the Longhorns have surged into NCAA Tournament position with an 88.3 percent projected chance to dance in March. Guard Max Abmas continues to steady the offense, while Dillon Mitchell’s two-way production has anchored a defense that’s rounding into form at the right time.
Vic Schaefer’s No. 4 Texas women’s basketball squad added its own signature moment, grinding out a 65-63 road win at Tennessee before dismantling Arkansas 92-61. Madison Booker’s scoring punch and Rori Harmon’s control at the point have made Texas a legitimate Final Four threat - and those postseason points loom large in the Directors’ Cup formula.
On the courts, men’s tennis knocked off Texas A&M and TCU en route to winning the ITA National Team Indoor Championship.
While the title itself doesn’t count toward Directors’ Cup scoring, the wins absolutely do. The women’s tennis team added another victory, continuing the department-wide surge.
Meanwhile, defending national champion softball hasn’t blinked, storming through tournament play undefeated. Texas baseball opened its season with a 3-0 sweep, flashing depth on the mound and timely power at the plate.
Stanford may still sit ahead in the standings, but Texas has momentum - and history on its side. Deep postseason runs in football, swimming, softball, and basketball are where this race is ultimately decided.
In Austin, they don’t chase participation trophies. They chase the Cup.