The 2026 college baseball season is set to commence on February 13, with teams eager to make their mark. This year, the spotlight is on the Tennessee Volunteers, who will be guided by new head coach Josh Elander following the departure of Tony Vitello to the San Francisco Giants. Fans are keen to see how the Volunteers adapt to this leadership change while last year’s champions, the LSU Tigers, look to maintain their momentum, currently holding a top-five ranking in the preseason.
Remarkably, the top spot in the D1Baseball preseason rankings is occupied by the UCLA Bruins, despite the Southeastern Conference (SEC) traditionally dominating college baseball, having won seven of the last eight Men’s College World Series (MCWS) titles. This shift in rankings adds an intriguing layer to the upcoming season as teams prepare for intense competition.
Viewing Options and Schedule
Fans can catch all college baseball action through various ESPN platforms, including ESPN, ESPN2, and the SEC Network. The complete schedule is accessible via the ESPN App, making it easier for fans to follow their favorite teams throughout the season.
The season kicks off with notable matchups, including the Bruins facing UC San Diego and the Tigers hosting Milwaukee. With all games scheduled on February 13, the excitement is palpable.
Here is the full preseason top 25 ranking along with each team’s first game details:
1. **UCLA Bruins**
– 2025 Record: 48-18
– 2025 Finish: Lost in MCWS
– First Game: vs. UC San Diego at 20:00 ET
2. **LSU Tigers**
– 2025 Record: 53-15
– 2025 Finish: MCWS Champions
– First Game: vs. Milwaukee at 15:00 ET
3. **Texas Longhorns**
– 2025 Record: 44-14
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Austin Regional
– First Game: vs. UC Davis at 19:30 ET
4. **Mississippi State Bulldogs**
– 2025 Record: 36-23
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Tallahassee Regional
– First Game: vs. Hofstra at 17:00 ET
5. **Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets**
– 2025 Record: 41-19
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Oxford Regional
– First Game: vs. Bowling Green at 16:00 ET
6. **Coastal Carolina Chanticleers**
– 2025 Record: 56-13
– 2025 Finish: MCWS Runner-up
– First Game: vs. Fairfield at 16:00 ET
7. **Arkansas Razorbacks**
– 2025 Record: 50-15
– 2025 Finish: Lost in MCWS Semifinals
– First Game: vs. Oklahoma State at 20:00 ET (Shriners Children’s College Showdown, Arlington, Texas)
8. **Louisville Cardinals**
– 2025 Record: 42-24
– 2025 Finish: Lost in MCWS Semifinals
– First Game: vs. Michigan State at 16:00 ET
9. **Auburn Tigers**
– 2025 Record: 41-20
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Auburn Super Regional
– First Game: vs. Youngstown State, time TBA
10. **TCU Horned Frogs**
– 2025 Record: 39-20
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Corvallis Regional
– First Game: vs. Vanderbilt at 16:00 ET (Shriners Children’s College Showdown, Arlington, Texas)
11. **North Carolina Tar Heels**
– 2025 Record: 46-15
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Chapel Hill Super Regional
– First Game: vs. Indiana at 16:00 ET
12. **Oregon State Beavers**
– 2025 Record: 48-16-1
– 2025 Finish: Lost in MCWS
– First Game: vs. Michigan at 16:00 ET (College Baseball Series, Surprise, Arizona)
13. **Florida Gators**
– 2025 Record: 39-22
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Conway Regional
– First Game: vs. UAB, time TBA
14. **Tennessee Volunteers**
– 2025 Record: 46-19
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Fayetteville Super Regional
– First Game: vs. Nicholls at 16:30 ET
15. **Georgia Bulldogs**
– 2025 Record: 43-17
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Athens Regional
– First Game: vs. Wright State at 15:00 ET
16. **Florida State Seminoles**
– 2025 Record: 42-16
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Corvallis Super Regional
– First Game: vs. James Madison at 17:00 ET
17. **NC State Wolfpack**
– 2025 Record: 35-21
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Auburn Regional
– First Game: vs. Washington at 14:30 ET (Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge, Ponce, Puerto Rico)
18. **Kentucky Wildcats**
– 2025 Record: 31-26
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Clemson Regional
– First Game: vs. UNC Greensboro at 16:00 ET
19. **Clemson Tigers**
– 2025 Record: 45-18
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Clemson Regional
– First Game: vs. Army at 16:00 ET
20. **Southern Miss Golden Eagles**
– 2025 Record: 47-16
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Hattiesburg Regional
– First Game: vs. UC Santa Barbara at 17:00 ET
21. **Wake Forest Demon Deacons**
– 2025 Record: 39-22
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Knoxville Regional
– First Game: vs. Houston at 09:30 ET (Puerto Rico Baseball Challenge, Ponce, Puerto Rico)
22. **Miami Hurricanes**
– 2025 Record: 35-27
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Louisville Super Regional
– First Game: vs. Lehigh at 19:00 ET
23. **Vanderbilt Commodores**
– 2025 Record: 43-18
– 2025 Finish: Lost in Nashville Regional
– First Game: vs. TCU at 16:00 ET (Shriners Children’s College Showdown, Arlington, Texas)
24. **Arizona Wildcats**
– 2025 Record: 44-21
– 2025 Finish: Lost in MCWS
– First Game: vs. Stanford at 20:00 ET (College Baseball Series, Surprise, Arizona)
25. **Texas A&M Aggies**
– 2025 Record: 30-26
– 2025 Finish: Did not make NCAA Tournament
– First Game: vs. Tennessee Tech, time TBA
As the season approaches, anticipation builds around these teams and their performances. With a mix of established powerhouses and emerging talents, the 2026 college baseball season promises to deliver exciting moments for fans and players alike.
