The Texas Longhorns are back in the Super Regional for a seventh straight season, and on their way to the second round of the NCAA Softball Tournament, people undeniably wanted to see the defending National Champions in action.
As the Super Regionals flew into focus, ESPN released the numbers for just how many viewers tuned in to watch the Horns play.
When Texas took down Baylor and Wisconsin, the games also set records, making it the most-watched NCAA Softball Regional round since 2016, and the two most-watched individual Regional games since 2019.
683,000 people watched the Horns' game against the Baylor Bears, peaking at 1.1 million viewers. The second most-watched game of this year's Regional was none other than Texas's game against the Wisconsin Badgers, also peaking at 1.1 million and bringing in 665,000 viewers.
Texas softball set to face Arizona State in Super Regional
Compared to last year, viewership skyrocketed, increased by 41 percent year-over-year, according to ESPN.
After downing Wagner, Wisconsin, and Baylor, the Longhorns advanced to the Super Regional, where they will face the Arizona State Sun Devils, who also had their own highly-viewed game in the Regional Round.
When Arizona State defeated Texas's rival, the Texas A&M Aggies, 569,000 people watched the game, and the matchup peaked at 697,000 viewers.
While ASU may not have reached the numbers that Texas did in the first round, it is a great sign that thousands, if not millions, of people will tune in to see the Super Regional series between the two teams.
#NCAASoftball Regionals on the rise 📈
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) May 19, 2026
ESPN delivered the most-watched NCAA Softball Regional round since 2016, including the 4 most-viewed regional games since '19 🥎 pic.twitter.com/yDf3vwLbT6
Texas and Arizona State have never faced each other on a softball field before, so the Horns have a chance to gain an early edge in the matchup history.
Also read: Texas softball ends a 20+ year drought with SEC Championship win over Alabama
The Super Regional, unlike the Regional, isn't just a win-or-go-home round. It consists of best-of-three series, where a team has to win two games in order to advance to the Women's College World Series. If Texas or Arizona State wins the first two games, the third would not take place.
As the higher seed, Texas is hosting the series at its home field, Red & Charline McCombs Field in Austin. The No. 3 Longhorns and the No. 19 Sun Devils are scheduled to throw out the first pitch of Game 1 at 8 p.m. CT on Friday, May 22.
The second game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CT on Saturday, May 23. If it is necessary, the third game will be played on Sunday, May 24.
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