FAYETTEVILLE -- The Texas Rangers organization is trying its hand at a marquee early season baseball event in a state that is already full of them.
The Rangers officially announced the College Baseball Showdown on Thursday -- a six-team event that will include the University of Arkansas, Ole Miss and Mississippi State from the SEC, and Texas, Texas Tech and TCU from the Big 12.
Inaugural games are scheduled to be played Feb. 19-21 at Globe Life Field, the $1.2 billion second-year home of the Rangers in Arlington.
Arkansas is scheduled to open with Texas Tech on Feb. 19 and follow with games against Texas and TCU the next two days. All three of the Razorbacks' games are scheduled to start at 7 p.m. Central and will be streamed by FloSports.com, which requires a subscription.
A schedule announcement earlier this week listed Texas as Arkansas' season-opening opponent, but a change this week swapped the Red Raiders and Longhorns on the Razorbacks' schedule.
"Playing such a quality team, it really doesn't matter who you play -- they're all great," Arkansas Coach Dave Van Horn said. "We're excited to play."
Arkansas is no stranger to playing the three teams it will face from the Big 12. The Razorbacks have played Texas, Texas Tech and TCU at least once since 2019, and have faced all three teams in the NCAA postseason since 2018.
"Dave's running a juggernaut over there, but it's been awesome competing against them the past few years," Texas Coach David Pierce. "They'll test you and you'll find out about your team and where your weaknesses are, and totally get exposed."
After hosting Texas and Texas Tech for midweek games in 2018, Arkansas beat both teams at the College World Series that year. The Razorbacks played all three teams in 2019 -- Texas for a midweek series in Austin, TCU twice at the NCAA Fayetteville Regional and Texas Tech at the College World Series. The Razorbacks lost to Texas at the Shriners College Classic in Houston last year.
"We know them pretty well and they know us," Van Horn said. "The games are always really well played, for the most part. The competition is incredible. It's a real SEC weekend feel for us and it should be very entertaining."
The College Baseball Showdown is formatted like the Shriners College Classic that is held annually in Houston. Arkansas has played in that event every fourth year since 2012.
In Houston and Arlington, a total of nine games are played over three days, totaling three games for each participating team. Teams from the same conference will not play one another.
Tickets for the College Baseball Showdown in Arlington went on sale Thursday and are being offered at $25 for a day pass or $50 for a weekend pass. The Rangers will cap attendance at between 14,000 and 15,000 per day to be in compliance with covid-19 guidelines.
The Razorbacks have been affiliated with several Texas-based college baseball events in recent years. Arkansas participated in the inaugural Frisco College Classic in 2017 and is scheduled to play in the Round Rock College Classic next year at Dell Diamond, the Astros' Class AAA home near Austin.
Van Horn said it is important to play in Texas -- and in particular in MLB stadiums -- because it helps the Razorbacks recruit the state. There are 12 Texans on Arkansas' roster this season.
"It does keep these kids motivated," Van Horn said. "They get to see a lot of friends and parents...and I'm sure there will be a lot of athletes that are in high school right now that would love to play for one of these six universities down the road."