Texas Triumphs Over No. 10 Vanderbilt, Shakes Up Early-Season Rankings with 80-64 Upset
January 15, 2026
Texas pulled ahead to a 42-37 halftime lead in a high-scoring first half, with Vanderbilt starting hot from long range before cooling, while Texas bolstered its scoring with strong shooting in the paint.
Dailyn Swain was a catalyst for Texas, finishing with 14 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, contributing in the paint and as a secondary playmaker.
Texas upset No. 10 Vanderbilt 80-64, marking the Longhorns’ second straight win over a top-25 foe.
Miami-Ohio remains undefeated at 18-0, highlighted as one of the nation’s weakest schedules in the context of the early-season landscape.
The piece frames a trend of upsets by unranked teams altering the early-season scene and weighing on the remaining undefeated clubs, with Vanderbilt’s tests in mind.
Arizona sits at 16-0 as the top undefeated team, with an upcoming non-conference rivalry against Arizona State and a date with BYU on the horizon.
Vanderbilt, under second-year coach Mark Byington, has two immediate tests: hosting No. 19 Florida and then visiting No. 17 Arkansas within three days.
Vanderbilt hosts No. 19 Florida next, while Texas welcomes Texas A&M in a rivalry game on Saturday.
Texas’ next game is a home date with Texas A&M at Moody Center, coming off an overtime loss by the Aggies to No. 24 Tennessee.
Texas will again host Texas A&M on Saturday at Moody Center, continuing their schedule after the Vanderbilt win.
With Vanderbilt’s defeat, plus losses by Michigan and Iowa State, the number of undefeated teams drops to three: Arizona, Nebraska and Miami-Ohio.
Vanderbilt struggled offensively, shooting 36% and relying on its starters, as AK Okereke scored zero points before fouling out and Tyler Nickel added 10.
Summary based on 6 sources
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Sources

ESPN • Jan 15, 2026
Texas basketball deals No. 10 Vanderbilt first loss of season - ESPN
NBC Sports • Jan 15, 2026
Texas hands No. 10 Vanderbilt its first loss of the season with a dominant 80-64 win - NBC Sports
Austin American-Statesman • Jan 15, 2026
Texas basketball vs Vanderbilt game score: Live updates, how to watch