College Baseball 2026: New Coaches and Top Teams Ready to Play

The 2026 college baseball season is about to begin. Many teams have new coaches. UCLA is ranked number 1. LSU is also a strong team to watch. We will see who wins the big games.
By Newsroom | College Sports, Baseball |

The upcoming 2026 college baseball season is poised to feature significant storylines, from coaching changes to top player prospects and predictions for championship contenders. With preseason rankings already established and early-season matchups scheduled, the focus is on which teams and individuals will rise to prominence.

College baseball 2026: Top storylines, POY picks and MCWS predictions - 1

Coaching Transitions and Program Dynamics

Several programs are navigating significant coaching shifts that could redefine their competitive trajectories.

College baseball 2026: Top storylines, POY picks and MCWS predictions - 2

  • Mississippi State has a new leader in Brian O’Connor, who previously held the title of all-time winningest coach at Virginia. His arrival follows a successful tenure and is generating expectations for the Bulldogs. O'Connor's move from Virginia to Mississippi State, occurring in June, places him at the helm of a program that has seen offseason transfer portal activity, with Ace Reese remaining a key figure and central to the team's national championship aspirations.

  • Tennessee sees Josh Elander step up as head coach, taking over from Tony Vitello. Vitello's departure for a managerial role with the San Francisco Giants marks a notable transition, making him the first college coach to move directly to a professional management position.

  • Virginia has appointed Chris Pollard, the former head coach at Duke, to lead their program.

Top Teams and Championship Aspirations

Preseason rankings highlight several teams with strong expectations for the 2026 season, with particular attention on their potential to reach the College World Series.

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College baseball 2026: Top storylines, POY picks and MCWS predictions - 3

  • UCLA is positioned as the d1baseball preseason No. 1 team. Their fall preparations are focused on establishing continuity and solidifying their national standing, leveraging transfer portal talent to support their vision.

  • LSU is frequently cited as a contender, with predictions suggesting they could face UCLA in the College World Series finals. They are also projected as the team to beat in the SEC.

  • Other highly ranked teams with championship hopes include:

  • Georgia Tech (ranked No. 5)

  • Arkansas (ranked No. 7)

  • Louisville (ranked No. 8)

  • Auburn (ranked No. 9)

  • TCU (ranked No. 10)

  • North Carolina (ranked No. 11)

  • NC State (ranked No. 17)

  • Southern Miss (ranked No. 20)

  • Texas A&M (ranked No. 25)

  • Coastal Carolina, under head coach Kevin Schnall, made a historic run to the College World Series final in his debut season, indicating strong potential for continued success.

Standout Players and Draft Prospects

The upcoming season features several players anticipated to make a significant impact and are projected as top MLB draft prospects.

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College baseball 2026: Top storylines, POY picks and MCWS predictions - 4

  • Ace Reese, a third baseman at Mississippi State, is a focal point. After drawing attention in the offseason transfer portal, he remains with the Bulldogs and is considered a strong candidate for Preseason SEC Player of the Year. His performance in his draft year is expected to be substantial.

  • Drew Burress, an outfielder from Georgia Tech, is frequently mentioned as potentially the most electric player in college baseball and is the Just Baseball Preseason Player of the Year.

  • Kade Anderson (LSU) and Justin Lebron (Alabama) are also highlighted as top talents with dynamic capabilities.

  • Cameron Flukey, a right-handed pitcher for Coastal Carolina, is recognized as a top prospect and Just Baseball Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

  • Jake Bauer, a left-handed pitcher at Mississippi State, is named Just Baseball Freshman of the Year, having made an impression during his collegiate fall.

  • Other notable prospects mentioned include:

  • Derek Curiel (OF, LSU)

  • Liam Peterson (RHP, Florida)

  • Gage Wood (Arkansas), whose no-hitter was a memorable moment.

  • TJ Pompey (Texas Tech)

  • Maika Niu (Marshall)

  • Damian Ruiz (Lamar)

  • Ryder Helfrick (C, Arkansas), Cam Kozeal (2B, Arkansas), and Kuhio Aloy (OF, Arkansas) are noted for their offensive contributions.

Early Season Matchups and Broadcast Information

The 2026 season will commence with several notable matchups across different event series.

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  • College Baseball Series (Surprise, Arizona): Features Michigan and Stanford.

  • Shriners Children's College Showdown (Arlington, Texas): Includes Oklahoma State and TCU.

  • Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge (Ponce, Puerto Rico): Features Washington.

  • A significant game will be No. 2 LSU vs. Penn State at Sloan Park. Other scheduled games include No. 10 TCU vs. UC Davis, No. 4 Mississippi State vs. Bowling Green, and No. 6 Coastal Carolina vs. UC San Diego.

Conference Previews and Projections

Key conferences are setting the stage for competitive seasons, with projections and top performers identified.

  • SEC Conference: LSU is the projected champion and Derek Curiel (OF) is the projected Player of the Year. Liam Peterson (RHP, Florida) is the projected Pitcher of the Year.

  • ACC Conference: Georgia Tech is the predicted champion, with Drew Burress (OF) as Player of the Year and Aidan Knaak (RHP, Clemson) as Pitcher of the Year.

  • Big Ten Conference: UCLA is the predicted champion. Roch Cholowsky (SS, UCLA) is the Player of the Year, and Tate Carey (RHP, Michigan) is the Pitcher of the Year.

  • Big 12 Conference: TCU is the projected champion, with Sawyer Strosnider (OF) as Player of the Year and Owen Kramkowsky (RHP, Arizona) as Pitcher of the Year.

  • Sun Belt Conference: Coastal Carolina is the predicted champion. Matthew Russo (1B, Southern Miss) is the Preseason Player of the Year, and Cameron Flukey (RHP, Coastal Carolina) is the Preseason Pitcher of the Year. Blaze Rodriguez (SS, Louisiana) is the Preseason Freshman of the Year.

  • Conference USA: Dallas Baptist is a notable team nearing the end of its run in the conference, with Missouri State and Delaware joining as new members.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who are the top teams for the 2026 college baseball season?
UCLA is ranked number 1. LSU, Georgia Tech, and Arkansas are also expected to do well.
Q: Are there new coaches this season?
Yes, Mississippi State, Tennessee, and Virginia have new head coaches.
Q: Who are some of the best players to watch?
Ace Reese from Mississippi State and Drew Burress from Georgia Tech are top players.
Q: When does the season start?
The season begins with several games in late February 2026.