Burn the Ships Sports: 2026 Preseason College Baseball Top 25

By Ryan | Burn the Ships Sports | February 2026

With Opening Day almost here, the 2026 college baseball season appears to be set up for an exciting campaign. LSU seeks a third national title in four years, Tennessee attempts to replace now Giants manager Tony Vitello, and the transfer portal reinvigorated teams who struggled last year.

Before we dive into the ranking, a few notes: these are my own rankings, not a composite score or based upon any other source. I place immense value on returning production and a team's track record of replacing top level talent, which is why some teams may appear higher or lower than in other preseason polls. Finally, these rankings have been based on projectional data for the 2026 season, and are ultimately evaluated in a vacuum of last year's successes (returning players and development track record is valued differently from actual win totals).

1. LSU Tigers

2025: 53-15 | National Champions

The defending champs lost a number of players to the draft, including Friday and Saturday arms Anderson and Eyanson. However, Jay Johnson has built a machine that reloads, not rebuilds. Until someone beats them in June, LSU remains at the head of the pack.

Key Returners: OF Derek Curiel is a potential top-10 pick who slashed .345/.470/.519 as a freshman with 29 extra-base hits and nearly as many walks as strikeouts. RHP Casan Evans returns to transition from Freshman All-America reliever to the Friday rotation role, with an updated repertoire. SS Steven Milam is a top-100 MLB prospect who provides middle-infield stability, and C Cade Arrambide tracked closely with Curiel offensively throughout the fall. Oregon State transfer 3B Trent Caraway brings a big bat, and the freshman class is headlined by RHP Marcos Paz and C Omar Serna Jr.

Question Mark: The rotation is unproven beyond Evans. Zac Cowan and Cooper Moore need to deliver as the No. 2 and No. 3 starters, and infield defense remains a concern as Caraway committed 12 errors at third base last year.

2. Arkansas Razorbacks

2025: 50-15 | CWS Appearance

Arkansas earned four Baseball America preseason All-American selections, the most of any program. The Razorbacks fought valiantly last June, and the returning core suggests a team that could be even more dangerous in 2026. Dave Van Horn's track record of replacing talent at an elite level is a major factor in this ranking.

Key Returners: RHP Gabe Gaeckle dominated out of the bullpen (2.06 ERA, 35 relief IP) after struggling as a starter early on, then struck out 10 over six CWS innings against LSU. His transition to full-time Friday starter is one of the more compelling pitching storylines this season. C Ryder Helfrick is one of the nation's premier two-way catchers (15 HR, 38 RBI, .995 FPCT), and he and Gaeckle have been battery mates since eighth grade. INF Cam Kozeal (Vanderbilt transfer) earned first-team NCBWA preseason All-American honors. OF Kuhio Aloy moves from DH to the outfield after leading the team with 70 RBI. RHP Carson Wiggins is a first-team BA preseason All-American returning from elbow surgery who held hitters to a .152 average before the injury. Transfer OF Maika Niu (Marshall) earned preseason All-America honors from Perfect Game.

Question Mark: The entire starting outfield and weekend rotation were drafted. Gaeckle's conversion from reliever to starter carries risk given his early-season struggles in that role, and Wiggins' health requires close monitoring.

3. Oregon State Beavers

2025: 48-16-1 | CWS Appearance

Oregon State validated its independent path in year one, reaching Omaha under Mitch Canham. The reason for a top-three ranking starts and ends on the mound — Whitney and Kleinschmit may be the best starting duo in college baseball, and elite pitching tends to travel deeper into the postseason than elite hitting.

Key Returners: RHP Dax Whitney posted a 3.40 ERA with 120 strikeouts as a Freshman All-American, sitting mid-90s and touching 98 with a sweeping slider that generated a 42% whiff rate. LHP Ethan Kleinschmit posted a 3.56 ERA with 113 strikeouts across 91 innings. Together they formed the second-most prolific strikeout pairing in the country. 2B AJ Singer returns as an elite defender winner, and 1B Jacob Krieg is the team's leading returning bat.

Question Mark: The lineup lost 82 of 107 of their total home runs from last season. The offense projects to be speed-and-contact oriented, and at least one breakout bat will need to emerge.

4. Tennessee Volunteers

2025: 46-19 | Super Regional

Josh Elander steps in after Vitello's departure and inherits a roster with top-five talent. The addition of Henry Ford from the portal gives Tennessee an immediate impact bat, and the pitching staff returns enough SEC experience to remain competitive.

Key Returners: 3B Henry Ford hit .362/.420/.575 with 11 homers at Virginia before electing to transfer. He slots into the middle of the order immediately. RHP Brandon Arvidson and RHP Tegan Kuhns provide rotation stability. C Stone Lawless, 1B Levi Clark, and INF Manny Marin lead the returning position player group. Portal pitching additions Evan Blanco, Landon Mack, and Brady Frederick add potential for breakout stars or depth.

Question Mark: First-time head coach replacing a program-defining figure. Six of nine everyday starters from 2025 need to be replaced.

5. Mississippi State Bulldogs

2025: 36-23 | Regional

Brian O'Connor left Virginia after 22 years to take over in Starkville and moved quickly to assemble a competitive roster. The combination of a proven coach, an All-American cornerstone in Reese, and one of the nation's strongest portal classes makes Mississippi State a fascinating team to project.

Key Returners: 3B Ace Reese posted 21 homers, 18 doubles, and a 1.140 OPS as a sophomore to earn second-team All-America honors. He stayed in Starkville despite portal speculation. UTL Noah Sullivan is a third-team All-American with two-way ability. O'Connor also added several former UVA players — OF James Nunnallee, OF Aidan Teel, LHP Tomas Valincius — plus 1B Blake Bevis and freshman LHP Jack Bauer.

Question Mark: Outside of Reese and Sullivan, this is largely a new roster under a new staff. The integration timeline is the biggest question for a largely unfamiliar roster.

6. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

2025: 41-19 | ACC Regular Season Champs

Multiple national scouts have called Georgia Tech's position player group the most intriguing in college baseball. First-year head coach James Ramsey served as a GT assistant for seven years, which should ease the transition. If the pitching can support the lineup, this team has the offensive floor to compete with anyone.

Key Returners: OF Drew Burress is a Golden Spikes Award candidate. C Vahn Lackey was a Buster Posey Award semifinalist. Freshman All-Americans INF Alex Hernandez and INF Caleb Daniel both return. Portal additions SS Jarren Advincula (second-team All-ACC) and slugger Ryan Zuckerman fill key spots. Friday starter Tate McKee and Stopper of the Year finalist Mason Patel lead the pitching staff.

Question Mark: The lineup projects to produce at an elite level. The pitching is the uncertainty — if the staff can hold leads, the path to Omaha is there.

7. Georgia Bulldogs

2025: 43-17 | Regional

Wes Johnson has won 86 games in two years, but a home regional exit exposed pitching limitations. He responded with one of the most aggressive portal hauls in the country, particularly on the mound, where eight drafted pitchers needed replacing.

Key Returners: OF Tre Phelps turned down professional interest to return. 1B Bryce Calloway transfers in from New Orleans (.390, 18 HR, 1.206 OPS). INF Rylan Lujo (Dayton, .361/9 HR/56 RBI as a freshman) and OF Scott Newman (USC Upstate, 19 HR) bolster the lineup. Stanford's RHP Joey Volchko and RHP Matt Scott headline the rebuilt pitching staff.

Question Mark: The pitching staff is essentially built from scratch. An entirely new group needs to develop chemistry quickly against the SEC schedule.

8. Florida State Seminoles

2025: 42-16 | Super Regional

Link Jarrett's trajectory has been steady — CWS in 2024, super regional in 2025 — and the program enters 2026 with the depth to compete at the top of the ACC.

Key Returners: 1B Myles Bailey is a preseason All-American. LHP Trey Beard possesses one of the ACC's better changeups and projects as a dependable weekend arm. The Seminoles return significant offensive production and have maintained pitching depth despite losing ace Jamie Arnold and Joey Volini.

Question Mark: Replacing Arnold's workload atop the rotation. A nice transfer haul of pitching depth, but will need to gel to find success across the season.

9. Auburn Tigers

2025: 41-20 | Super Regional

Auburn's resurgence in 2025 was one of the better stories in the SEC, and the offensive core returning suggests the momentum should carry forward.

Key Returners: 2B Chris Rembert earned preseason All-American honors and leads the offense. OF Chase Fralick, INF Eric Guevara, C Bub Terrell, and INF Andreas Alvarez form a deep returning core. RHP Christian Chatterton provides pitching continuity, and portal additions RHP Drew Whalen (Western Kentucky) and RHP Jake Marciano (Virginia Tech) bolster the staff.

Question Mark: Losing ace Samuel Dutton and OF Ike Irish leaves notable production to replace. The portal pitching needs to translate at the SEC level.

10. UCLA Bruins

2025: 48-18 | CWS Appearance

UCLA returns arguably the most talented roster in the country, headlined by the consensus top pick in July's draft. Most outlets have them within the top 3 — and the 19-to-48-win turnaround was historically unprecedented. I want to see them sustain it in year two with a target on their back before ranking them that highly.

Key Returners: SS Roch Cholowsky won the Brooks Wallace Award and D1Baseball Player of the Year after slashing .353/.480/.710 with 23 homers. He is the consensus No. 1 overall pick. OF Mulivai Levu returns as an All-America selection. C Cashel Dugger provides strong defense behind the plate.

Question Mark: Can the program handle being the hunted rather than the hunter? The weight of unanimous preseason expectations is real.

11. Florida Gators

2025: 39-22 | Regional

Florida's offseason was turbulent — Kevin O'Sullivan stepped away during the fall and assistant Chuck Jeroloman departed for Tennessee. The talent is still there, but stability questions are real.

Key Returners: RHP Luke McNeillie's fastball movement makes him one of the more intriguing arms in the SEC. The Gators return enough offensive contributors and added through the portal to remain competitive.

Question Mark: Coaching continuity and locker room culture after a chaotic fall.

12. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

2025: 56-13 | CWS Finals

The pitching staff that powered a CWS Finals run returns significant pieces. This ranking is lower than the 2025 finish because the lineup needs to take a step forward, but the arms are legitimate enough to keep the Chanticleers in every game.

Key Returners: RHP Cameron Flukey projects as a potential top-of-the-first-round selection. The 6-foot-6 right-hander posted a 3.28 ERA with a 28.3% strikeout rate and 5.8% walk rate across 17 starts, pairing a mid-90s fastball with elite command.

Question Mark: The offense needs to improve to support the pitching at a championship level. Sun Belt schedule limitations add pressure to non-conference results.

13. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

2025: 39-22 | Regional

Tom Walter continues to produce competitive teams, and the 2026 roster has the look of a squad that could push into the super regional conversation.

Key Returners: 1B Kade Lewis is a preseason All-American who anchors the lineup. Wake returns a solid group of position players and enough pitching depth to compete in the upper half of the ACC.

Question Mark: Weekend pitching consistency. The ACC features eight ranked teams, and holding serve in conference series requires reliable arms.

14. Southern Miss Golden Eagles

2025: 47-16 | Regional

Scott Berry has built one of the more reliable programs outside the power conferences. A 47-win season and a share of the Sun Belt title speak to sustained competitiveness.

Key Returners: Southern Miss brings back significant contributors from a team that shared the Sun Belt regular season crown with Coastal Carolina.

Question Mark: Postseason breakthrough. Southern Miss has earned bids consistently but has struggled to advance in the NCAA Tournament.

15. Clemson Tigers

2025: 45-18 | Regional Host

Erik Bakich has hosted a regional in each of his three seasons. The next step — pushing into super regionals — requires offensive improvement, and the portal additions suggest the staff is aware of that need.

Key Returners: RHP Aidan Knaak has been Clemson's most reliable starter for two years, built around one of the best changeups in college baseball. 2B Jarren Purify provides speed and a .298/.417 line with 29 steals. Portal additions OF Nate Savoie (WCC Freshman of the Year, 20 HR) and OF Ty Dalley (58 career HR at Mercer) address the power void left by Cam Cannarella.

Question Mark: Key offensive additions come from mid-major backgrounds. Translating that production against ACC pitching is not guaranteed.

16. TCU Horned Frogs

2025: 39-20 | Regional

Kirk Saarloos retained nearly everyone from 2025, giving TCU one of the most experienced cores in the Big 12. The talent is undeniable — the 2025 postseason exit (zero wins) tempers expectations slightly.

Key Returners: OF Sawyer Strosnider earned Big 12 Freshman of the Year after slashing .350/.420/.650 with 11 homers and a nation-leading 10 triples. OF Tommy LaPour and RHP Chase Brunson are draft-eligible talents. INF Cole Cramer (.320/.433) adds infield stability.

Question Mark: Returning experience does not automatically translate to postseason success. Zero postseason wins last year is a real data point.

17. North Carolina Tar Heels

2025: 46-15 | Super Regional

Scott Forbes had UNC at 46 wins and a super regional host. The Tar Heels return enough from that roster to remain competitive at the top of the ACC.

Key Returners: The return of Jason DeCaro allows for top of the rotation consistency, and the return of Walker McDuffie will bolster their bullpen.

Question Mark: The gap between super regional host and Omaha participant has been difficult for UNC to close. New offensive pieces will need to emerge to find themselves in a deep postseason run.

18. Louisville Cardinals

2025: 42-24 | CWS Semifinals

The ACC's lone Omaha representative returns a talented lineup and deep pitching staff. The experience from that postseason run should not be underestimated.

Key Returners: OF Lucas Moore leads a returning lineup with significant CWS experience. The pitching staff returns enough depth to provide multiple rotation and bullpen options. Zion Rose and Tague Davis also are an interesting middle of the order duo.

Question Mark: Back-to-back deep postseason runs are exceptionally difficult. Louisville needs to prove the 2025 Omaha trip established a new baseline.

19. Texas Longhorns

2025: 44-14 | Lost in Austin Regional

The pitching staff is among the deepest in the country, and Schlossnagle won the SEC regular season in year one. The arms make Texas dangerous. This ranking is lower than consensus due to questions surrounding the lineup and the lingering effect of a home regional upset.

Key Returners: RHP Luke Harrison posted a 3.06 ERA with 72 strikeouts in 15 starts. RHP Ruger Riojas and RHP Max Grubbs round out a deep staff. C Carson Tinney earned a Golden Spikes preseason watch list nod. Portal additions include Temo Becerra (Stanford) and Josh Livingston (Wichita State).

Question Mark: The home regional upset against UTSA raised legitimate questions. Significant offensive production was lost, and the new lineup needs to come together.

20. Texas A&M Aggies

2025: 30-26 | Missed NCAA Tournament

Michael Earley's first year in College Station produced a disappointing record, but the offensive talent suggests a step forward is possible. The Aggies tied with Arkansas for the most BA preseason All-American selections.

Key Returners: OF Caden Sorrell leads the offense with draft-caliber tools and one of the best outfield arms in the country.

Question Mark: The pitching staff needs to catch up to the offense. A 30-26 record in the SEC creates urgency for year-two improvement.

21. Arizona Wildcats

2025: 44-21 | Regional

Arizona returns a deep pitching core from a 44-win team, providing a high floor. If the overhauled lineup produces, the Wildcats could climb these rankings quickly.

Key Returners: Arizona returns the bulk of a pitching staff that powered a 44-win season. The arms are proven and provide reliability in weekend series.

Question Mark: The lineup is almost entirely reconstructed through the portal and incoming freshmen. The offense is the swing variable.

22. NC State Wolfpack

2025: 35-21 | Regional

Elliott Avent has built a consistent NCAA Tournament program, and the 2026 roster returns enough ACC-tested contributors to remain in the postseason conversation.

Key Returners: NC State brings back a solid core from a regional team, and Avent's development track record is well-established. The return of Jacob Dudan and Cooper Consiglio provides a stability for the Wolfpack pitching staff.

Question Mark: The ACC's depth makes separation difficult. The margin between hosting and traveling is thin.

23. Vanderbilt Commodores

2025: 43-18 | Super Regional

Tim Corbin's identity — pitching, defense, disciplined baseball — provides a reliable floor year after year. The Commodores should again be in the postseason mix.

Key Returners: DH/UTL Braden Holcomb earned preseason All-SEC recognition. Vanderbilt returns a strong pitching staff and defensive foundation including spark plug Cooper Fennel.

Question Mark: Offensive ceiling. The SEC's offensive talent level continues to rise, and the lineup needs to generate enough production to keep pace.

24. Dallas Baptist Patriots

One of the most consistently excellent mid-major programs in college baseball. The Patriots develop talent, play fundamentally sound baseball, and compete in the NCAA Tournament setting regularly.

Key Returners: Dallas Baptist returns a strong core from a regional-caliber squad. The program's development pipeline continues to produce reliable contributors.

Question Mark: The mid-major resume challenge. Near-perfection is required in conference play, and a single bad non-conference series can be damaging.

25. High Point Panthers

High Point has established itself as the Big South's premier program and enters 2026 with realistic aspirations of making noise nationally.

Key Returners: High Point returns a talented roster from a Big South contender. The program has built real depth and the returning experience should help manage expectations.

Question Mark: The Big South's RPI limitations likely require winning the conference tournament to earn an NCAA bid. That concentrates the entire season's success into a single weekend.

Just Missed

Kentucky, Miami, Ole Miss, Murray State, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara

Kentucky's pitching development under Nick Mingione continues to produce results. Miami (led by Daniel Cuvet) reloads annually. Ole Miss has the SEC talent to surge, and Hunter Elliot to lead their staff. Murray State returns significant production from a CWS squad. And the UC Irvine / UC Santa Barbara pitching pipelines merit attention.

It all starts February 13th. Let's play ball.