Payton Blalock

Payton Blalock

Joined: Apr 30, 2025

Payton Blalock is a staff writer for Texas Longhorns in SI. She attends the University of Texas at Austin, where she is a journalism and plan II honors major. She is also a general sports reporter for the Daily Texan on the swimming beat. You can find Blalock on all major social media channels, including Twitter on @Payton_Blalock9.

Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer reacts during the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats at Moody Center.

Tyler Atkinson visits OSU the day of the Ohio State Buckeyes' 38-15 win over the Indiana Hoosiers in an NCAA football game at Ohio Stadium in Columbus on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024.

Oct 25, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive linemen Ethan Burke (91) attempts to get into the backfield during the second quarter against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Feb 5, 2026; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer reacts during the second half against the LSU Tigers at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images

Texas Longhorns guard Rori Harmon reacts during the second half against the LSU Tigers at Moody Center.

Basketball

Texas Longhorns point guard Rori Harmon set a defensive program record on Thursday against the LSU Tigers.

Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker (35) shoots during the second half against the LSU Tigers at Moody Center.

Basketball

The Texas Longhorns used their home crowd to take care of business.

Jan 29, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer huddles with Texas Longhorns center Kyla Oldacre (00), Texas Longhorns guard Sarah Graves (6), Texas Longhorns forward Teya Sidberry (32) and Texas Longhorns forward Breya Cunningham (25) after a game against the Florida Gators at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Basketball

The Texas Longhorns are coming off a strong rivalry win against the Oklahoma Sooners.

Jun 6, 2025; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Texas Longhorns players hold up the trophy after beating the Texas Tech Red Raiders 10-4 to win the National Championship in game three of the NCAA Softball Women's College World Series finals at Devon Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-Imagn Images

Softball

The Texas Longhorns will kick their season off in just two days.

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian observes the second half against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

Football

Head coach Steve Sarkisian have a tough SEC schedule ahead in 2026, but one analyst believes they can escape with only one loss.

Jan 18, 2026; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns forward Madison Booker (35) and forward Justice Carlton (11) celebrate a foul by the Texas A&M Aggies during the second quarter at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images

Basketball

The Texas Longhorns earned a Red River Rivalry victory in front of a home crowd.

Oct 25, 2025; Starkville, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs offensive linemen Jacoby Jackson (75) blocks Texas Longhorns defensive linemen Hero Kanu (93) during overtime at Davis Wade Stadium at Scott Field. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Football

Texas has earned a late commitment from a prospect some might never have heard of.

Jan 29, 2026; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer huddles with Texas Longhorns center Kyla Oldacre (00), Texas Longhorns guard Sarah Graves (6), Texas Longhorns forward Teya Sidberry (32) and Texas Longhorns forward Breya Cunningham (25) after a game against the Florida Gators at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Basketball

The Texas Longhorns took down the Florida Gators with a final score of 88-68.

Jan 17, 2026; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Sean Miller reacts during the first half in a 74-70 loss against the Texas A&M Aggies at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Dustin Safranek-Imagn Images

This elite 2027 prospect has 20 offers so far, and the Texas Longhorns hope to emerge as frontrunners.

Oct 11, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive end Colin Simmons (1) during the game between the Texas Longhorns and the Oklahoma Sooners at the Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The 2026-27 college football season starts in just over seven months.

Jan 15, 2026; Columbia, South Carolina, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Vic Schaefer directs his team against the South Carolina Gamecocks in the first half at Colonial Life Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Blake-Imagn Images

College GameDay will come to the Forty Acres on Feb. 1.

College GameDay hosts (left to right) Elle Duncan, Andraya Carter and Chiney Ogwumike host the show courtside before a NCAA women's basketball game between No. 3 Notre Dame and No. 25 Louisville at Purcell Pavilion on Sunday, March 2, 2025, in South Bend.

This is College GameDay's first road-show of the 2025-26 season.