University of Texas guard Tyrese Hunter drives for the winning layup at the final buzzer as Baylor’s Langston Love tries to defend in the Longhorns’ 75-73 victory over the ninth-ranked Bears on Jan. 20, 2024. The Longhorns and Bears will meet for the first time since Texas’ move to the Southeastern Conference when they play in the San Antonio Showdown at the Frost Bank Center on Nov. 15.
Sara Diggins/American-Statesman
Texas coach Sean Miller offered a laundry list of reasons for why he’s thrilled the Longhorns will face the Baylor Bears next season in a neutral site contest at the Frost Bank Center.
The “San Antonio Hoops Showdown” is set for Nov. 15, the Spurs announced Tuesday. Tickets for the 264th all-time meeting between the programs will go on sale at noon on Oct. 1 at FrostBankCenter.com and Ticketmaster.com. Start time and television broadcast information will be announced at a later date.
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“We wanted to play a high-quality opponent knowing we’re going to challenge our team to the highest level, and Baylor does that,” Miller said. “The fact that they are also from our state is icing on the cake.”
But that’s not the only reason Miller, whose team will enter the 2026-27 season as a consensus preseason top-10 team after advancing to the Sweet 16 and finishing 25-15 overall last season, is excited about the game.
“This allows us to tap into our San Antonio fan base and in particular our great relationship with the San Antonio Spurs,” Miller said via news release. “The Spurs come to Moody Center and play (in the regular season), and now we can reciprocate and go to their home court. It’s great for our players, our team and, to a large extent, for the continued relationship and development between the University of Texas and the San Antonio Spurs. Playing in an NBA arena is always something that means a lot to our team and to our players because it’s where they one day want to be.”
Miller, who is entering his second season with the Longhorns, is also well aware that the Frost Bank Center will host the NCAA South Regional on March 25 and 27.
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Texas is aiming high after welcoming one of the nation’s top recruiting classes, including 2027 No. 1 recruit Marcus Spears Jr., a 6-foot-10 power forward and son of ESPN analyst and former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marcus Spears.
Texas Longhorns head coach Sean Miller shouts to his team in the first half of Texas’ 79-77 loss to the Purdue Boilermakers in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, March 26, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
“Lastly, we don’t have a crystal ball and it’s not easy to make the NCAA Tournament, but if we are able to make the NCAA Tournament this year, there are a lot of different sites that you could go to,” Miller said. “One of those possibilities is San Antonio and Frost Bank Center.
“That is not our reason for playing this game, but there is a chance that could happen, and the fact that we could already have played there one time is, again, icing on the cake.”
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Baylor coach Scott Drew, entering his 24th season heading the Bears, views the game as a great way to showcase college basketball in the state.
“The state of Texas has always been home to outstanding college basketball, and any time you have two in-state programs like Baylor and Texas competing on a neutral floor, it’s great for the game,” Drew said. “We’re excited about the opportunity to play in front of what should be a terrific atmosphere in San Antonio.
“It’ll be good for both programs and great for college basketball in our home state.”
The Longhorns hold a 165-98 edge in their all-time series with the Bears. The last meeting came in 2024 in what was Texas’ final year in the Big 12. Before the Longhorns moved to the SEC, the programs had faced at least once each year since 1909 while in either the Southwest Conference (1915-1996) or the Big 12 (1996-2024).
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Texas last played in San Antonio during the 2003 NCAA Regional at the Alamodome, where it defeated Connecticut and Michigan State to advance to the Final Four.
Baylor last played in San Antonio during the 2014 NCAA Tournament, earning two wins to advance to the Sweet 16.
Texas head coach Sean Miller instructs from the bench during the first half in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA college basketball tournament against Purdue, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
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Texas Longhorns head coach Sean Miller talks to his team during a timeout in the second half of Texas’ 79-77 loss to the Purdue Boilermakers in the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Basketball Tournament at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, March 26, 2026.
Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns head men’s basketball coach Sean Miller watches the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Elite 8 game against Michigan at Dickies Arena on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Texas Longhorns head men’s basketball coach Sean Miller watches the NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament Elite 8 game against Michigan at Dickies Arena on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Aaron E. Martinez/Austin American-Statesman
Baylor head coach Scott Drew, center, celebrates with his team after they defeated Utah earning him his 500th career win following an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, March 7, 2026, in Waco Texas. (Rod Aydelotte/Waco Tribune-Herald via AP)
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FILE – Baylor head coach Scott Drew calls a play to his team during an NCAA college basketball game against Arkansas, Nov. 9, 2024, in Dallas.
Gareth Patterson/AP
Baylor head coach Scott Drew directs his team during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Iowa State, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, in Ames, Iowa.
Charlie Neibergall/AP