Late last Sunday night, Sam Cozart struck out Oregon’s Ryan Cooney to secure a 6-5 win and advance the Texas baseball team to the College World Series for the fourth time in the last decade. The freshman didn’t quite remember what happened next.
“I blacked out for a little bit,” Cozart later told reporters.
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Texas Longhorns Sam Cozart (35) throws a pitch during the NCAA Baseball Regional game against UC Santa Barbara at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, May 301 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) celebrates a home run during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) celebrates a third strikeout during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) throws a pitch during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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The Texas Longhorns play Oregon in game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) celebrates a home run during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) celebrates a home run by outfielder Aiden Robbins (43) during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) throws a pitch during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) hit for a single during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns outfielder Anthony Pack Jr. (6) hits a pitch down the foul line during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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The Texas Longhorns huddle on the mound during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Casey Borba (31) is hit by a pitch during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) celebrates a third strikeout during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Ethan Walker (46) throws a pitch during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Ethan Walker (46) looks at a runner on first base during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns head coach Jim Schlossnagle brings in pitcher Ethan Walker (46) during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) leaves game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Thomas Burns (45) throws a pitch during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Thomas Burns (45) throws a pitch during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) celebrates a home run during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Oregon pitcher Devin Bell (77) throws a pitch to Texas Longhorns short stop Adrian Rodriguez (24) during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns infielder Adrian Rodriguez (24) celebrates a hit for a double during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Sam Cozart (35) throws a pitch during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) runs home for a score during game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Sam Cozart (35) throws the final pitch of game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Sam Cozart (35) a final strikeout in game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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The Texas Longhorns run out of the dugout after winning game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Sam Cozart (35) hugs catcher Carson Tinney (8) after winning game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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From left, Texas Longhorns infielder Callum Early (36), pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) and pitcher Sam Cozart (35) celebrates winning game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns catcher Carson Tinney (8) holds up the Super Regional Championship trophy after winning game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Samuel Cozart (35) smiles on his way to the dugout as the Texas Longhorns and Texas State Bobcats face off in San Marcos Tuesday, March 10, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Sam Cozart (35) throws a pitch during the annual Texas Longhorns Alumni Baseball Game at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Samuel Cozart (35) throws in the seventh inning as the Texas Longhorns play their first game of a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide, April 17, 2026.
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Texas Longhorns Sam Cozart (35) is taken out of the NCAA Baseball Regional game against UC Santa Barbara at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, May 301 2026 in Austin.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Sam Cozart (35) throws the final pitch of game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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In case he needs a refresher, Cozart pumped his fists after that strikeout as he gleefully greeted Texas catcher Carson Tinney. Following a celebration around the pitcher’s mound, pictures and handshakes with the defeated Ducks, the Longhorns eventually ventured out to the left field area at UFCU Disch-Falk Field to fire off Smokey the Cannon and see their fans.
The Texas players didn’t dog-pile, though.
TEXAS VS. GEORGIA
When/where: 7 p.m. Saturday in Omaha, Neb.
TV/radio: ESPN; 1300 AM.
GOLDEN: Augie always said Omaha is mandatory, so will Texas baseball make CWS noise now?
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As most UT fans know, the Longhorns don’t dog-pile until Omaha. And even though he’s just a freshman who wasn’t alive when Texas won its last national championship in 2005, Cozart understands that tradition.
“I think we as a team understood that winning (the super regional) doesn’t mean that we’re memorable here yet,” Cozart said. “Winning a super regional at Texas doesn’t make you memorable, winning the national championship does. That’s when we get to dog-pile.”
Back in Omaha for the first time since 2022, Texas (45-13) will open its College World Series run against Georgia (51-12) at Charles Schwab Field on Saturday night. According to DraftKings on Friday afternoon, Georgia and Texas respectively have the best and third-best betting odds in the eight-team College World Series field.
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Texas Longhorns pitcher Samuel Cozart (35) throws in the seventh inning as the Texas Longhorns play their first game of a three-game series against the Alabama Crimson Tide, April 17, 2026.
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As UT’s freshman closer, Cozart makes a good first impression
If this Texas team ends up being memorable, Cozart will likely have a say in the matter. After all, he is the closer at a school that retired Huston Street’s number — partially because of what he did at the end of games in the 2002 College World Series — and had J. Brent Cox close out his All-American campaign in 2005 with a championship-securing strikeout.
Over 22 appearances this season, Cozart is 6-0 with a 1.65 ERA. He has struck out 71 batters and issued 12 walks in 49 innings.
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Seven of Cozart’s nine saves were recorded in SEC play this season. While clinching UT’s super regional sweep of Oregon, Cozart was then credited with a save after striking out four of the six batters he faced.
“Ninety-six (mph) with a really nasty slider and a breaking ball to go with it,” Oregon coach Mark Wasikowski replied afterward when asked what made facing Cozart such a tough task. “Those are major league arms (on the Texas pitching staff). They can pitch in the big leagues tonight.”
MORE: What to know before Texas baseball faces Georgia at CWS
Cozart’s two-inning save against Oregon came on the heels of one of his few missteps this season. Cozart allowed five hits over 1⅔ innings in UT’s regional final against UC Santa Barbara on May 31, and coach Jim Schlossnagle replaced him with veteran starter Luke Harrison for the game’s final out.
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One week later, Texas expected Cozart to return to form. As Schlossnagle said, “We have supreme confidence in him, that’s why he was out there with Omaha on the line.”
Texas even considered bringing in Cozart earlier in the game when the two teams were locked in a 4-4 tie, but the 6-foot-6, 260-pound right-hander became the obvious option out of the bullpen after Adrian Rodriguez’s two-run double in the top of the eighth inning gave the Longhorns the lead.
“I didn’t so much as bounce back (against Oregon), I just honestly don’t remember my last outing,” Cozart said. “I just live where my feet are in that moment.”
From left, Texas Longhorns infielder Callum Early (36), pitcher Ruger Riojas (13) and pitcher Sam Cozart (35) celebrates winning game two of the NCAA Baseball Super Regional against Oregon at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday, June 7, 2026 in Austin.
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Bragging rights in the Cozart family are on the line in Omaha
A North Carolina native, Cozart hails from an athletic family. His mother, Michelle, played college volleyball at UCF and his father, Craig, both played and coached at the collegiate level. One of Cozart’s brothers, Caleb, also pitched at North Carolina and another sibling, Jacob, is currently playing for the Cleveland Guardians’ Double-A affiliate.
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MORE: Sam Cozart could star for Texas baseball. First, he had to make custom, size 18 cleats
The Cozart family got a taste of the College World Series in 2024 when Jacob Cozart was North Carolina State’s starting catcher and clean-up hitter. The Wolfpack, however, went 0-2 in Omaha as two, one-run losses ended their season.
“My brother went to Omaha with another team and I was able to watch him. But I want to do more than what he did. He didn’t win it all, I want to win it all,” Sam Cozart said.
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A championship would be a cherry on top of Cozart’s baseball-helmet sundae for the 2026 baseball season. On Friday, Cozart joined Cox (2005), Chance Ruffin (2010) and Corey Knebel (2011) as the only Longhorns to win the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association’s Stopper of the Year award. A second-team honoree on the SEC’s all-conference team, Cozart has earned All-American accolades from the NCBWA and Perfect Game.
“He loves baseball, and he loves to compete,” Tinney said. “He has a ton of confidence, and he wants the ball as much as he can get it. I think that over the course of the year, we’ve been able to see him grow just as a player, mentally and physically. And it’s been a ton of fun to work with him.”