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Longhorns Crack the Polls at #22

Texas is trending up after a grueling 36-game slate earned them national recognition.

D1Ball StaffThursday, July 16, 2026

The Longhorns are officially on the board at #22, vaulting from unranked into the national conversation. A 21-15 record isn't the kind of line that screams dominance, but it screams resilience — this is a group that ground through a full season and did enough to force the voters' hands. Entering the rankings for the first time tells you the committee and pollsters saw something click down the stretch.

What it signals: Texas has found its footing and is playing its best basketball at the right time. For a program that wasn't on anyone's radar early, cracking the top 25 is a statement that the Longhorns aren't just happy to be here — they're building something worth watching.

Data via ESPN · Summarized by D1Ball's editorial engine from official statistics.

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