Welcome to the 2026 college baseball season!
This opening weekend promises to be as thrilling as ever, showcasing star players from coast to coast. Leading the highly talented No. 1 UCLA Bruins is shortstop Roch Cholowsky, while Alabama’s Justin Lebron emerges as the SEC’s standout player. Georgia Tech’s Drew Burress is on track to continue his impressive performances.
We also have a number of new head coaches at prestigious programs eager to make their mark early, including Josh Elander at Tennessee and Chris Pollard at Virginia. So, what else awaits us this season? Our college baseball analysts delve into it all, offering some way-too-early predictions for the season’s conclusion.
Jump to:
Top storylines | Teams to watch
Under the radar | POY picks
MCWS predictions
What are you most excited about for 2026?
Ryan McGee: Take a look at all these new coaches stepping into high-profile roles! Last fall, I visited Starkville, Mississippi, for Marty & McGee, and seeing Brian O’Connor in maroon and white was surreal. With Chris Pollard at Virginia and Josh Elander and James Ramsey moving up the ranks at Tennessee and Georgia Tech respectively, there’s significant change in programs that know the way to Omaha.
Chris Burke: The intriguing storylines in college baseball as the 2026 season begins are countless, but two stand out. First, can UCLA dethrone the SEC and prevent them from securing a seventh consecutive national championship? While history isn’t kind to preseason No. 1 teams, UCLA has the talent and experience to make a serious run. Can the Bruins deliver on the expectations? Second, UCLA’s star player, Roch Cholowsky, is projected to be the No. 1 pick in the upcoming MLB draft, part of a trio of top shortstops that includes Alabama’s Justin Lebron and Kentucky’s Tyler Bell. This could be the strongest class of college shortstops we’ve seen in years!
David Dellucci: importantly, several programs in the preseason top 25 have yet to win a national championship. No. 16 Florida State, despite being one of the most historically successful teams with many Men’s College World Series appearances, has never claimed the title. Other teams that have not yet lifted the trophy include No. 5 Georgia Tech, No. 7 Arkansas, No. 8 Louisville, No. 9 Auburn, No. 10 TCU, No. 11 North Carolina, No. 17 NC State, No. 20 Southern Miss, and No. 25 Texas A&M. These teams, all with rich histories and near successes, must be inspired by Indiana’s recent football national championship to chase their ambitions this year.
Kiley McDaniel: My focus on the draft means I’ll be monitoring the competition between Cholowsky and Lebron for the top pick. Cholowsky currently holds the edge as the clear top prospect, boasting four of his five tools as plus. yet, if Lebron can improve his contact consistency this spring, he has the potential to contend.
Mike Rooney: Skip Bertman laid the foundation for an LSU baseball dynasty with five national titles from 1991 to 2000. Jay Johnson’s team has since won two titles in three years, but with Tony Vitello departing Tennessee for the San Francisco Giants, could this create a new era of LSU dominance in college baseball? Preseason No. 1 UCLA might have something to say about it, as will Mississippi State under new coach Brian O’Connor. Regardless, the LSU Tigers are currently the best program in the sport.
Which teams should we be watching?
McGee: The UCLA Bruins are captivating. They’ve gone from being outstanding to struggling, transitioning through player losses due to NIL, joining the Big Ten, and nearly losing their home field. Now, they’re back on top as preseason No. 1 with a No. 1 MLB draft pick. There’s much to be intrigued by, and everyone should pay attention.
Burke: Early attention will be on teams that have seen leadership changes. Three of the top 14 teams in the preseason poll have new head coaches: No. 4 Mississippi State, No. 5 Georgia Tech, and No. 14 Tennessee, each carrying high expectations this season. Mississippi State is under the leadership of O’Connor, a coach formerly at a national championship program, while Georgia Tech and Tennessee have entrusted their programs to former recruiting coordinators Ramsey and Elander, respectively, with all eyes on how they manage their rosters.
Dellucci: Both Mississippi State and Georgia Tech are in similar situations, entering with rich histories but coming off seasons that ended in regional eliminations. The fan bases of both programs value victories against in-state rivals just as much as trips to Omaha. although being new to their head coaching roles, O’Connor and Ramsey inherit some of the most talented rosters in college baseball. Georgia Tech boasts an elite position player group featuring top talents like outfielder Drew Burress, second baseman Jarren Advincula, and catcher Vahn Lackey, while Mississippi State showcases a powerful offense led by preseason All-Americans Ace Reese and Noah Sullivan, along with promising freshman Jacob Parker.
McDaniel: Anchored by Cholowsky, UCLA is the top team in the West alongside Oregon State, with Coastal Carolina emerging as a major mid-major threat, and TCU leading the Big 12. Other teams that could make a run for Omaha are found in the SEC and ACC. Traditional powers like LSU, Texas, Arkansas, Florida, Tennessee, and a revitalized Mississippi State dominate the SEC, while Georgia Tech, Louisville, and North Carolina stand strong in the ACC.
Rooney: UCLA has brought back most of its roster from the Omaha run and bolstered it by acquiring transfer ace Logan Reddemann (San Diego), center fielder Will Gasparino (Texas), and high school right-hander Angel Cervantes, who was the 50th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Pirates. Tricky challengers for the Bruins include an LSU team on the rise, a Texas squad with impressive pitchers, and two teams, Auburn and TCU, with outstanding sophomore classes.
What’s something or someone under the radar to keep tabs on?
McGee: Perhaps it’s a personal connection—my dad pitched at East Carolina—but I always highlight the Pirates here. They remain the greatest baseball program to never reach Omaha. After demonstrating significant improvements amidst transitions last year, could this finally be their chance to sail up the Missouri River?
Burke: Keep an eye on Kansas—the Jayhawks are making strides under coach Dan Fitzgerald, emerging as a legitimate contender for NCAA regionals. Their junior first baseman, Brady Ballinger, is one of the nation’s best hitters, having posted a 1.164 OPS last season with 16 home runs. Don’t be surprised if Kansas makes the tournament and Ballinger becomes the Big 12 player of the year.
Dellucci: Vanderbilt’s Connor Fennell is a player worth watching. He contrasts the typical starting pitcher mold with his lean frame and sub-90 mph fastball. What he lacks in modern day analytics, he compensates with pinpoint accuracy and competitiveness. His transition from a 4-4 record and 4.74 ERA at Dayton to 6-0 with a 2.53 ERA at Vanderbilt showcases his improvement, alongside a strikeout percentage that ranks among the nation’s leaders, yielding just 11 walks in 53.1 innings.
Arkansas Little Rock experienced a challenging end to the regular season with a 13-in-14 loss streak but bounced back by sweeping the Ohio Valley Conference tournament to earn an automatic bid to the regionals, where they recorded the program’s first regional win against Dallas Baptist. Riding that momentum, the Trojans managed to defeat LSU before narrowly losing in a rematch that sent LSU to super regionals.
Coach Chris Curry’s five-year contract extension reflects Little Rock’s dedication to its developing program, evidenced by retaining veterans such as Angel Cano, the Baton Rouge Regional MVP with three home runs and 14 RBIs, as well as adding a promising group of transfers, four of whom hail from the SEC.
McDaniel: Southern Miss consistently poses a threat as a mid-major, though they might be overshadowed by Coastal Carolina. Texas A&M is positioning to rebound after a down 2025 season, with Shane Sdao and Weston Moss anchoring the weekend rotation, Gavin Grahovac returning from injury in the lineup, Chris Hacopian emerging as one of the country’s best transfers, and Nico Partida showing potential as one of the top freshmen in the nation.
Rooney: Keep an eye on unranked teams Cal Poly and Arizona State from the West Coast. The Mustangs are bringing back nearly 70% of their last season’s production—having reached the regional finals—while shortstop Nate Castellon (.888 OPS) and third baseman Alejandro Garza (.889) could be the finest infield duo in the West. Meanwhile, Arizona State has made significant gains through the transfer portal and returned elite left-hander Cole Carlon alongside Landon Hairston, one of the biggest bats in the Big 12. Transfer outfielder Dean Toigo (UNLV) was named co-MVP of the Mountain West last year, and the Sun Devils’ bullpen is well-equipped with velocity and out pitches.
Who are your early player-of-the-year picks?
McGee: The consensus No. 1 MLB pick being mentioned by every expert here: Cholowsky. He’s the real deal. Meanwhile, in Omaha this past summer, Coastal Carolina’s Cameron Flukey demonstrated his dominance by striking out 117 batters last season.
Burke: While Cholowsky is the obvious choice, I’ll go with Mississippi State’s Reese. The slugging third baseman had an impressive .352/21/66 last year, particularly excelling in conference play. If MSU triumphs this year, Reese will be a key factor.
Dellucci: Cholowsky had a standout 2025, driving the Bruins to their first Men’s College World Series appearance since 2013 and gathering numerous accolades, including the Dick Howser Trophy. although his stellar stats of .353/25/74, he missed out on the national championship and the Golden Spikes Award. With only one hit and a single win at Omaha, he’s now motivated to surpass his previous performances and achieve greater success with his team.
Burress started his college journey with immense success, posting a .381/25/67 line, making his last season’s stats of .333/19/62 seem like a sophomore slump. His two consecutive Golden Spikes semifinalist nominations prove he’s among college baseball’s most feared hitters, plus he showcases game-changing speed in center field.
McDaniel: Cholowsky is the clear favorite, with Lebron also in the conversation, but I wouldn’t be surprised if Burress has a breakout spring and claims the honors. His stature may spark debate regarding his professional prospects, but his current performance certainly registers at the highest level of college baseball, and I believe he can succeed in the big leagues as well.
Rooney: Burress is an underappreciated outfielder with tremendous power, but player of the year accolades will be hotly contested this season. The year of the shortstop in college baseball includes Cholowsky, Lebron, and Bell, all projected as top-10 picks. Eric Becker (Virginia), Steven “Monster” Milam (LSU), and Maddox Molony (Oregon) would also headline a regular year. The talent pool is rich and only expands from here.
Give your way-too-early MCWS prediction!
McGee: LSU is set to continue its new dynasty, but it will face a significant challenge in the SEC vs. Big Ten showdown against UCLA.
Burke: At this early stage, predicting the entire Omaha field is a tall order, so I’ll keep it to conferences. Expect to see three teams from the SEC, two from the ACC, and UCLA in the mix, leaving two spots open for potential challengers like Coastal Carolina and TCU. Exciting times ahead!
Dellucci: My early prediction is that if the bracket aligns, LSU will triumph over UCLA in Game 3 of the Men’s College World Series finals, marking the first back-to-back championship since South Carolina, and the second repeat in LSU’s history after their dominant run in 1996-97.
McDaniel: I’m predicting LSU will outlast UCLA. The Bruins possess incredible talent and depth, but I’m concerned that they may not match up against LSU’s depth of high-level experience among pro-caliber pitchers as effectively. Each year, the team with a robust rotation of powerful arms tends to excel in the arduous postseason.
Rooney: The past two seasons have shown us unique patterns in the MCWS, with just two conferences represented in 2024 and then seven last season. For 2026, I foresee an ACC team making it to the finals for the first time since 2015, while teams like Clemson, Arizona State, Oklahoma State, and Georgia are looking to return to glory after painful postseason exits. Expect to see two of these four making their way back to Nebraska this June. plus, I predict a team from the Big West will finally reach the pinnacle of college baseball in 2026. Let the games commence!
