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Texas vs Oregon 2026 Super Regional: NIL Stars and the Game 2 Pitching Matchup

Updated 2026-06-08

The road to Omaha runs through Austin. No. 6 Texas and No. 11 Oregon are playing a best-of-three NCAA Super Regional, and the winner punches a ticket to the 2026 Men's College World Series, which opens June 12 at Charles Schwab Field. Texas leads the series 1-0 after an 11 to 3 Game 1 win. Game 2 is set for Sunday, June 8 (8 p.m. Central, ESPN); if Oregon wins, a decisive Game 3 follows. However it ends, here is the pitching matchup and what the stars are worth.

The Game 2 pitching matchup: Riojas vs Sanford

Texas hands the ball to senior right-hander Ruger Riojas (5-2, 3.86 ERA), an Austin native working back from a midseason bout of tendinitis. Oregon, facing elimination, counters with right-hander Will Sanford (9-2, 3.46 ERA), the Eugene Regional MVP who struck out 14 and allowed just one hit over 6.1 innings against Washington State to push the Ducks to this round.

Texas set the tone in Game 1 behind ace left-hander Dylan Volantis, the reigning national freshman of the year and a finalist for national pitcher of the year, who struck out 10 over 5.1 innings. If the series goes the distance, the Longhorns would still have Volantis and weekend starter Luke Harrison available, with closer Thomas Burns anchoring the back end.

Texas's NIL names to know

Texas pairs elite pitching with a lineup full of draft-caliber bats. Beyond Volantis, watch catcher Carson Tinney, a Notre Dame transfer and middle-of-the-order presence; infielder Adrian Rodriguez, the offensive star of the Game 1 rout; freshman outfielder Anthony Pack Jr., one of the SEC's top first-year players; Aiden Robbins, a breakout Seton Hall transfer; and Jonah Williams, a two-sport athlete (also a football defensive back) who carries the biggest social following on the roster. Second baseman Ethan Mendoza, first baseman Casey Borba, and LSU transfer outfielder Ashton Larson round out a deep group.

Oregon's NIL names to know

Sanford is the headliner on the mound, but the Ducks have pro upside in the field too. Shortstop Maddox Molony is a projected 2026 MLB Draft pick, switch-hitting outfielder Jax Gimenez is a high-profile young prospect, and veteran corner bat Dominic Hellman brings power to the middle of the order.

So what is a college baseball player worth in NIL?

Baseball NIL is real and growing, but it works differently than football or basketball, and public dollar figures are scarce. We break down exactly why in how college baseball NIL works. To see an estimate for any player above, open their page and unlock the value, or estimate any athlete in the calculator. You can also browse the full database or read how NIL valuations actually work.

Series details as of Sunday, June 8, 2026, compiled from NCAA.com, ESPN and other outlets. NIL figures on this site are modeled estimates of earning potential, not confirmed deals.

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