Texas vs Missouri Showdown 2026: Date, TV Channel, Odds & Key Storylines Fans Can’t Miss

The stakes couldn’t be higher tonight as the Texas Longhorns (15-9, 6-5 SEC) visit the Missouri Tigers (17-7, 7-4) in a Valentine’s Day showdown that could swing each program’s NCAA Tournament résumé. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. CT at Mizzou Arena in Columbia and airs nationally on ESPN2, with live streams available on the ESPN app. Why this game matters • SEC bubble breaker: Missouri enters the evening projected among the “Last Four In,” while Texas lurks just outside the field. A road win would give the Longhorns a coveted Quad-1 boost; a home victory would cement Mizzou’s rising profile. • Momentum check: The Tigers ride a three-game win streak, including a last-second thriller at Texas A&M on Wednesday. Texas, meanwhile, is 4-1 over its past five thanks to improved perimeter defense. • First SEC clash: Although these former Big 12 rivals have 25 previous meetings, tonight marks their first conference matchup since Texas joined the SEC on July 1, 2025. Early scoreboard With 18:07 left in the first half, the teams were knotted 22-22 behind hot shooting from Tiger forward Mark Mitchell and freshman Longhorn center Matas Vokietaitis. Expect an up-tempo pace; both squads rank top-50 nationally in adjusted tempo according to KenPom. Key matchups to watch 1. Mark Mitchell vs. Tramon Mark: Mitchell’s slashing ability powers Missouri’s offense, but Texas senior Tramon Mark is an elite on-ball stopper. 2. Boards battle: Missouri is +5.6 in rebound margin during its win streak; containing Longhorns 6-foot-10 freshman Camden Heide will be crucial. 3. Three-point variance: Texas shoots 38.1 % in wins, 27.4 % in losses. Missouri defends the arc at a league-best 29.7 %. How to watch and stream • TV: ESPN2 • Live stream: ESPN app (authentication required) • Radio: Longhorn Radio Network, Tiger Radio Network • Odds: Missouri –2.5; O/U 146.5 (via DraftKings, noon ET line) What’s at stake A Tiger win would push Dennis Gates’ club to 8-4 in the SEC, tying Vanderbilt for third and placing Mizzou two games back of Florida for first. For Rodney Terry’s Longhorns, a victory would level their conference mark at 7-5 and add a second true-road Quad-1 win—gold in the eyes of the selection committee. Trending search terms to track tonight • “Texas vs Missouri score” • “Texas vs Missouri live” • “Texas Longhorns vs Missouri Tigers channel” • “Mizzou bubble watch” Stay with us for real-time updates, postgame reactions, and bracket impact analysis as “Texas vs Missouri” surges to the top of college-basketball conversation this February night in Columbia.