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Roch Cholowsky (Photo by Eddie Kelly/ ProLook Photos)
While the 2026 season remains months away, much of the offseason’s most significant movement—coaching changes, the transfer portal and the MLB Draft—is now behind us. With that in mind, this ranking serves as an early look at how we believe the nation’s top programs stack up entering the fall.
We approached this exercise with a slightly higher tolerance for risk than we typically would come February, factoring in potential breakouts, coaching impact and unproven but high-upside transfers. This list will look different when our official preseason Top 25 is released, but for now, it reflects where things stand as the dust settles from a busy summer.
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1. UCLA (48-18, 22-8 Big Ten)
2025 result: Reached College World Series
End of season ranking: 6th
In an era when early rankings can at times hinge on splashy offseason moves, it’s UCLA’s relative inactivity that vaults it to the top of our ‘Way Too Early’ 2026 Rankings. The Bruins are coming off a resurgent season in which they shared the Big Ten regular season title with Oregon and reached the College World Series for the first time since 2013.
Much of the roster that powered coach John Savage’s team back into the national spotlight is slated to return to Westwood in 2026, including All-America selections Mulivai Levu and Roch Cholowsky, who became just the sixth non-draft eligible player to win Baseball America’s College Player of the Year Award in its 40-plus-year history. The Bruins also bring back all but one of their top offensive contributors, their weekend rotation and several key bullpen arms. Former Texas outfielder Will Gasparino, an early-round draft prospect, joins the fold via the portal.
No team in the country brings back more proven firepower than UCLA, which should garner plenty of preseason attention as a major title contender and thanks to Cholowsky’s candidacy to be selected first overall in the 2026 draft.
2. LSU (53-15, 19-11 SEC)
2025 result: Won National Championship
End of season ranking: 1st
It would have been easy—and widely accepted—if LSU topped this list after winning its second national title in three years with a roster largely put together by first-year Tigers. Coach Jay Johnson is a master team builder, and his staff is among the best in the country at extracting maximum value from their players. We expect them to keep doing so in 2026.
Much like the 2024 LSU team that failed to host a regional a year after winning it all, the Tigers’ 2026 squad has a ton of talent to replace. Gone are starting pitchers Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson, who arguably formed the best one-two punch in the country last year. Bullpen anchor Chase Shores is also off to pro ball. Offensively, Jared Jones, Ethan Frey, Daniel Dickinson and Luis Hernandez are set to begin their professional careers.
Grand Canyon slugger Zach Yorke, Oregon State third baseman Trent Caraway and Kansas State first baseman Seth Dardar headline a promising group of offensive transfers. On the mound, former Kansas righty Cooper Moore, former Oregon lefty Santiago Garcia and former North Dakota State lefty Danny Lachenmayer bring similarly-high upside.
It’s safe to once again expect a lot out of LSU, which has been nothing short of phenomenal under Johnson’s leadership.
3. Texas (44-1, 22-8 SEC)
2025 result: Eliminated in Austin Regional
End of season ranking: 18th
Jim Schlossnagle’s first season in Austin was a success. He guided the Longhorns to a regular-season SEC title in the school’s first year in the conference. While elimination from their own regional left a sour final note, the Longhorns wasted no time reinforcing their roster for a deeper run in 2026.
Though they lost key pieces like Will Gasparino, starter Jared Spencer, shortstop Jalin Flores, catcher Rylan Galvan and outfielder Max Belyeu, the Longhorns retained a critical core from their 2025 team and turned to the transfer portal to reload.
Pitchers Luke Harrison, Ruger Riojas and Max Grubbs all announced their returns for 2026, giving Texas valuable experience and physical maturity on the mound. Dylan Volantis, the BA College Freshman of the Year and Thomas Burns are also back, rounding out a pitching staff that looks formidable on paper. Texas made gains on the position player front as well, with Temo Becerra (Stanford) and Josh Livingston (Wichita State) going unselected in the draft. Third baseman and left fielder Adrian Rodriguez and second baseman Ethan Mendoza return.
4. Mississippi State (36-23, 15-15 SEC)
2025 result: Eliminated in Tallahassee Regional
End of season ranking: Not ranked
Mississippi State made the biggest coaching splash of the year when it hired longtime Virginia skipper Brian O’Connor to replace 2021 national title winner Chris Lemonis, who was fired partway through his seventh season. With the change comes massive expectations—ones that appear attainable for a star-studded roster.
The Bulldogs landed a loaded crop of transfers, including several who followed O’Connor from Charlottesville—Tomas Valincius, Aidan Teel and James Nunnallee—and others from across the country like Vytas Valincius, Tyler Pitzer, Jackson Logan, Maddox Webb and Drew Wyers. They also secured hard-throwing lefty Jack Bauer, a highly-regarded prospect many expected to begin his pro career this summer.
Mississippi State also held onto key pieces, most notably prized third baseman Ace Reese, who was at the center of transfer speculation after Lemonis’ departure but ultimately stayed committed to Starkville.
With its revamped roster and new leadership, Mississippi State has the talent to be a force in 2026. It was hard to justify ranking the Bulldogs much lower than No. 4.
5. Auburn (41-20, 17-13 SEC)
2025 result: Eliminated in Auburn Super Regional
End of season ranking: 10th
Auburn rapidly climbed from the SEC cellar back into the league’s elite in 2025, more than doubling its eight conference wins from the year prior. That success was fueled in part by key contributors no longer with the program—namely ace Samuel Dutton and outfielder Ike Irish—whose production will be tough to replicate. But returning talents Chris Rembert, Chase Fralick, Eric Guevara, Bub Terrell, Christian Chatterton and Andreas Alvarez provide a rock-solid foundation the Tigers have built upon through recruiting.
Auburn bolstered its pitching staff with the additions of Drew Whalen (Western Kentucky), Ethan Harden (Belmont) and Jake Marciano (Virginia Tech). Offensively, Ryan Farber (Texas State), Todd Clay (Alabama-Birmingham) and Logan Greggorio (Northern Illinois) are promising additions.
The Tigers put themselves back on a promising trajectory last year—and with a strong returning core and quality reinforcements, they appear poised to keep the momentum going.
6. Georgia (43-17, 18-12 SEC)
2025 result: Eliminated in Athens Regional
End of season ranking: 20th
Wes Johnson has won 86 games in his first two years atop the program—a new high-water mark for a coaching start in Athens. But despite a strong regular season in 2025, Georgia’s year ended in disappointment with a home regional exit, due in large part to persistent pitching struggles.
The Bulldogs responded with an aggressive and impressive transfer haul, including several players who passed up pro opportunities to head to Athens. Bryce Calloway (New Orleans), Caden Aoki (USC), Lane Pearson (West Georgia) and catcher Jack Arcamone (Richmond) all chose college over the draft. Georgia also added Stanford righties Joey Volchko and Matt Scott, two talented arms with premium stuff but inconsistent results thus far in their careers.
The Bulldogs return several key contributors as well, most notably Tre Phelps, who fielded pro interest before opting to come back.
Is this the year Georgia finally breaks through and returns to Omaha for the first time since 2008?
7. Tennessee (46-19, 16-14 SEC)
2025 result: Eliminated in Fayetteville Super Regional
End of season ranking: 12th
Tennessee looked like a potential repeat champion through the first three weeks of SEC play but steadily lost steam down the stretch, dropping six of its final seven series. The Volunteers still advanced to the super regional round, where they fell to Arkansas.
With several key contributors—Liam Doyle, Andrew Fischer, Gavin Kilen, Dean Curley and others—off to the pro ranks, it would be easy to assume a step back in 2026. But coach Tony Vitello once again reloaded with one of the nation’s strongest transfer classes, highlighted by Henry Ford, Evan Blanco, Landon Mack, Garrett Wright and Brady Frederick.
The return of Brandon Arvidson only strengthens what should be one of the SEC’s deepest pitching staffs, and Tennessee’s offense has a proven track record of producing—even when the faces change.
8. Georgia Tech (41-19, 19-11 ACC)
2025 result: Eliminated in Oxford Regional
End of season ranking: 25th
For the first time in more than three decades, Georgia Tech will have a new voice leading its program. Danny Hall, who guided the Yellow Jackets to over 1,300 wins across 31 seasons, stepped down following a resurgent 2025 campaign. In his place steps long-time assistant James Ramsey, tasked with both honoring Hall’s legacy and capitalizing on the momentum of a team that claimed its first outright ACC regular-season title since 2005.
Ramsey inherits a roster built to contend again in 2026. Georgia Tech returns a strong nucleus of position players in Kent Schmidt, Vahn Lackey, Alex Hernandez and Drew Burress, as well as key arms in Mason Patel, Tate McKee and Cooper McMullen. The Yellow Jackets also added impact through the portal, headlined by shortstop Jarren Advincula and lefthander Dylan Loy, two experienced pieces who could anchor the lineup and rotation, respectively.
With a balanced, veteran roster and continuity in the coaching staff, Georgia Tech appears well-positioned to remain an ACC power under Ramsey’s leadership.
9. Virginia (32-18, 16-11 ACC)
2025 result: Missed NCAA Tournament
End of season ranking: Not ranked
In a display of administrative commitment to baseball, Virginia moved swiftly following Brian O’Connor’s departure and landed one of the most respected names in the conference: long-time Duke coach Chris Pollard. A proven winner at a resource-challenged program, Pollard now takes the reins of an ACC blue blood with significantly more at his disposal—and wasted no time making his presence felt.
Pollard brought with him a core of Duke’s top talent, headlined by outfielder AJ Gracia, the top-ranked player in the transfer portal and a legitimate candidate to go first overall in the 2026 draft. Two-way standout Kyle Johnson and pitchers Henry Zatkowski and Max Stammel followed suit, giving Virginia an instant influx of high-end talent on both sides of the ball.
Pollard has guided teams to four super regionals in the past seven seasons—an impressive feat given Duke’s limitations relative to the ACC’s upper echelon from a resource standpoint. Now armed with top-tier resources and a transfer class that turned heads, he may have his clearest path yet to finally break through to Omaha.
10. TCU (39-20, 19-11 Big 12)
2025 result: Eliminated in Corvallis Regional
End of season ranking: Not ranked
After missing the NCAA Tournament in 2024, TCU responded with a strong season under Kirk Saarloos, reclaiming its place among the Big 12’s best. While the Horned Frogs fell short of Omaha—a destination they reached in 2023—they racked up 39 wins, including 19 in conference play, and appear well-positioned to soar even higher in 2026.
The program does have a few key holes to fill with the departures of Mason Bixby, Karson Bowen, Kole Klecker and Cohen Feser, all of whom played important roles during TCU’s 2025 resurgence. But the returning core remains among the strongest in the conference. Nolan Traeger, Sawyer Strosnider, Chase Brunson, Noah Franco and Tommy LaPour are all back in the fold. Strosnider was a Freshman of the Year contender and All-America selection, while LaPour earned All-America honors for his work on the mound.
Saarloos also reloaded effectively through the portal, landing Tanner Sagouspe (Cal Poly), Rob Liddington (Incarnate Word) and Walt Quinn (Grand Canyon), among others.
With a deep, balanced roster and no clear favorite in the Big 12, TCU looks poised to make a serious push for a conference title and a return to the College World Series.
11. Arkansas (50-15, 20-10 SEC)
2025 result: Reached College World Series
End of season ranking: 3rd
Arkansas returned to the national spotlight in 2025 with a run to the College World Series semifinals, reaffirming its status as one of the sport’s premier programs. But the challenge in 2026 will be entirely different, as the Razorbacks now face one of the most significant roster overhauls in the country.
The draft hit hard. Gage Wood, Wehiwa Aloy, Zach Root, Charles Davalan, Christian Foutch, Aiden Jimenez, Landon Beidelschies, Brent Iredale, Ben Bybee, Justin Thomas and Parker Coil are all gone. That group includes the entire weekend rotation, most of the bullpen, key bats throughout the lineup and a Golden Spikes Award-winning shortstop.
To their credit, the Razorbacks reloaded quickly. An impressive transfer class featuring Ethan McElvain, Maika Niu, Zack Stewart and Jackson Kircher joins the fold, while Kuhio Aloy leads an intriguing group of returners at the plate. On the mound, all eyes will be on Gabe Gaeckle as he enters his draft year.
It’s ill-advised to bet against coach Dave Van Horn and his staff. Arkansas will have to relearn how to win the way it did in 2025, but the blueprint remains—and so does the hunger to chase that elusive first national title.
12. Florida State (42-16, 17-10 ACC)
2025 result: Eliminated in Corvallis Super Regional
End of season ranking: 11th
The draft was as damaging for Florida State as it was for Arkansas. The Seminoles matched the Razorbacks with a nation-leading 11 players selected—Jamie Arnold, Alex Lodise, Cam Leiter, Max Williams, Drew Faurot, Peyton Prescott, Joey Volini, Evan Chrest, Gage Harrelson, Jaxson West and Maison Martinez. The group represents the majority of the Seminoles’ starting lineup, two-thirds of their weekend rotation and several key bullpen arms.
Replacing that kind of production is a monumental task. The Seminoles will lean on a solid transfer class headlined by former FAU lefthander Trey Beard, but many of their additions will be stepping up significantly in competition level—a calculated risk for a program with so much to replace.
Coach Link Jarrett has restored stability and national relevance to the program he once starred for as a player. But with the core of his Omaha team now off to pro ball, 2026 may present the toughest challenge of his young coaching tenure in Tallahassee.
13. North Carolina (46-15, 18-11 ACC)
2025 result: Eliminated in Chapel Hill Super Regional
End of season ranking: 9th
North Carolina fell one win shy of returning to the College World Series for the second-straight season, but it was still a successful season for head coach Scott Forbes who guided the Tar Heels to their third super regional appearance in the last four seasons. There’s plenty of production to replace, and Gavin Gallaher—whose 68 RBIs last spring led the team—will be the centerpiece of the offense, while the transfer quartet of Owen Hull, Erik Paulsen, Jake Schaffner and Macon Winslow are all valuable additions.
While the Heels will have to replace Jake Knapp (14-0, 2.02 ERA), their projected rotation of Jason DeCaro, Ryan Lynch and Walker McDuffie is a three-headed monster that could be one of the best in the ACC when all is said and done.
14. West Virginia (44-16, 19-9 Big 12)
2025 result: Eliminated in Baton Rouge Super Regional
End of season ranking: 13th
The Steve Sabins era is off to a roaring start in Morgantown, as the first-year head coach hit the ground running and led West Virginia to its second-straight super regional. There’s plenty of veteran production to replace on both sides of the baseball, but Sabins has a solid group of returners to build around in addition to an impressive transfer portal class. Sophomore Gavin Kelly headlines the returning core offensively, while live-armed righthander Chase Meyer figures to compete for the Friday starter role after pitching predominantly in relief in 2025.
Division II standout Dawson Montesa is in line to earn a spot in the Mountaineers’ weekend rotation, and keep an eye on lefthander Andrew Middleton, as well. Middleton is perhaps the biggest wild card in this year’s portal cycle and logged a whopping 29 strikeouts across 11.2 innings this spring. His health is a question mark, but he could be a high-impact arm if everything clicks.
15. Vanderbilt (43-18, 19-11 SEC)
2025 result: Eliminated in Nashville Regional
End of season ranking: 17th
Vanderbilt earned the No. 1 overall seed in this year’s tournament, but its season came to a screeching halt as it was eliminated by No. 4 seed Wright State on its home field. The Commodores have fit in the “reload, not rebuild” bucket for quite some time and this offseason is no different. Key pieces are departing on either side of the baseball—particularly the rotation—but Connor Fennell and Austin Nye project as a dynamic one-two punch, while Brodie Johnston and Braden Holcomb are in line to lead the offense.
The Commodores have a “quality over quantity” approach in the transfer portal, but Carter and Logan Johnstone are each high-impact additions. A name to circle is shortstop Ryker Waite. He logged just six at-bats as a freshman but was recently named a Cape Cod League all-star and is in line to fill the void left at shortstop by Jonathan Vastine.
16. Miami (35-27, 15-14 ACC)
2025 result: Eliminated in Louisville Super Regional
End of season ranking: 16th
Miami got off to a slow start and appeared dead in the water in early April, but the Hurricanes righted the ship, played their way back into the field of 64 and made their first super regional since 2016. The 2026 ‘Canes will look different than this year’s group, but there are still plenty of reasons to be excited about Miami baseball.
Coach J.D. Arteaga’s offense will again be led by first team all-American Daniel Cuvet. The physical corner infielder has some of the most prolific power of any hitter in the country, and he’ll be joined by veteran infielder Jake Ogden. Ogden had plenty of draft buzz and likely could have signed if he wanted to, but he instead opted to return to school. Transfers Vance Sheahan, Alex Sosa and Brylan West will provide thump to the middle of the order, while AJ Ciscar and Tate DeRias—following strong freshman campaigns—are in line to step into the weekend rotation full-time.
Not only does Miami have an impressive nucleus of returners, but it also boasts a standout transfer class. The Hurricanes will be on a mission to prove that 2025 wasn’t a fluke, but rather the new standard for Miami baseball.
17. Oregon State (48-16-1 Independent)
2025 result: Reached College World Series
End of season ranking: 5th
2025 was a wildly successful season in Corvallis, as the Beavers returned to Omaha for the first time since 2018. While they’ll look to carry that momentum into 2026, they’ll need to do so without a litany of key pieces. Coach Mitch Canham’s offense was decimated and a number of bats will need to rise to the occasion in their newfound elevated roles.
While there are question marks offensively, the Beavers will have one of the better one-two rotation punches of any team in the country. Righthander Dax Whitney was the best freshman arm in college baseball last spring, while southpaw Ethan Kleinschmit was outstanding in his first year at the Division I level. In addition to their rotation duo, the Beavers have a handful of quality bullpen arms who are in line to throw meaningful innings.
The 2026 Oregon State Beavers have the look of a pitching-centric team, but it’s a staff who could carry this team right back to Omaha.
18. Clemson (45-18, 18-12 ACC)
2025 result: Eliminated in Clemson Regional
End of season ranking: 24th
Clemson won 40-plus games for the third-straight season, but its season again came to an end on its home field. Star center fielder Cam Cannarella served as the heartbeat of the program for the last three seasons and, while irreplaceable, the Tigers have both a returning core and transfer class to be excited about. Jarren Purify and Tryston McCladdie return to the lineup while the transfer trio of Ty Dalley, Tyler Lichtenberger and Nate Savoie all project as middle-of-the-order bats.
On the mound, righthander Aidan Knaak will again headline the rotation, but look for talented southpaw Talan Bell to also make a big-time impact. He showed flashes as a freshman across a 22.2-inning sample, but he will likely be let off the leash a bit in 2026. It’s unclear what roles they’ll have next spring, but Joe Allen, Justin LeGuernic and Drew Titsworth will all log meaningful innings.
Clemson hasn’t made the College World Series since 2010, but it will again have Omaha upside in 2026.
19. Alabama (41-18, 16-14 SEC)
2025 result: Eliminated in Hattiesburg Regional
End of season ranking: Not ranked
For the second time in as many seasons at the helm, coach Rob Vaughn guided Alabama to a regional. As everyone’s focus begins to shift towards 2026, the Crimson Tide again look like a team to be reckoned with. Shortstop Justin Lebron blossomed into a star this spring, and the potential top 10 overall pick will spearhead the Tide’s offense. There’s certainly production to replace, but transfers Sam Christiansen, Logen Devenport, John Lemm and Justin Osterhouse bring plenty of thump to Tuscaloosa.
With Riley Quick will no longer around to anchor the rotation, southpaw Zane Adams projects to slide into the Friday starter role. Fellow lefthander Matthew Heiberger could join Adams in the weekend rotation, but there are also a handful of weekend-caliber transfer arms.
Instead of taking a step back, Vaughn and his staff will look to use 2025 as a building block towards the program’s first College World Series appearance this century.
20. Louisville (42-24, 15-15 ACC)
2025 result: Reached College World Series
End of season ranking: 4th
After not appearing in a regional in each of the last two seasons, 2025 was a big year for coach Dan McDonnell and his staff. To say they lived up to expectations would be an understatement. Not only did the Cardinals return to the tournament, but they also returned to the College World Series for the first time since 2019.
The 2026 Cardinals—at least on paper—have the look of a team with similar upside. The quartet of Alex Alicea, Tague Davis, Lucas Moore and Zion Rose is an outstanding offensive core to build around, while a plethora of key arms also return.
Louisville wasn’t overly aggressive in the portal, but that’s because it didn’t need to be. Former Ohio outfielder Ben Slanker slugged 21 home runs last spring and is in line to man a corner spot, while former Kent State righthander Jacob Bean projects to compete for a spot in the weekend rotation. It’s hard to not get excited and dream on the Cardinals’ upside, and 2026 has the chance to be a special season.
21. Florida (39-22, 15-15 SEC)
2025 result: Eliminated in Conway Regional
End of season ranking: 23rd
Like its Sunshine State counterpart, Florida’s outlook in early April was bleak, and it looked as if it would miss the tournament for the first time since 2007. However, the Gators’ sweep of Missouri served as a “get right” series and they proceeded to win each of their last six SEC series.
Coach Kevin O’Sullivan and his staff would like 2026 to be far less stressful than this spring, and they have the personnel to accomplish that and then some. Freshman Brendan Lawson has blossomed into a star and could be the No. 1 overall pick in 2027, while Blake Cyr, Hayden Yost and a healthy Kyle Jones and Cade Kurland make for a high-level group of returners. Columbia standout Sam Miller will also be a regular in O’Sullivan’s starting nine, while former Jacksonville outfielder Jaden Bastian is a plus defender in center field whose offensive skillset profiles well at the top of the order.
Liam Peterson and Aidan King are about as good of a rotation duo to build around, and there are a handful of viable options to join them. Luke McNeillie could be elevated to a starting role, Jackson Barberi could do the same after showing flashes as a freshman, or Central Florida transfer Russell Sandefer could earn the third starter spot. It’s a good problem to have as Florida looks to make its third College World Series appearance in the last four seasons.
22. Arizona State (36-24, 18-12 Big 12)
2025 result: Eliminated in Los Angeles Regional
End of season ranking: Not ranked
It wasn’t easy, but Arizona State last spring made the tournament for the first time since 2021. The Sun Devils made some noise and knocked off UC Irvine, but that was all they could muster. Losing nine players from last year’s team to the draft—the program’s most draft picks since 1981—is a sizable blow, but coach Willie Bloomquist and his staff have had a mighty productive offseason.
Before focusing on ASU’s impressive portal class, it’s important to discuss its impact returners. Landon Hairston raked his way into a starting role last spring, while Beckett Zavorek—who went 10-for-26 (.385)—is in the midst of an exceptional summer in the Northwoods League and is a prime breakout candidate. Former California shortstop P.J. Moutzouridis is a plus defender who will anchor the left side of the infield, while Dean Toigo and Dominic Longo also profile as impact bats.
On the bump, strapping lefthander Cole Carlon is in line to jump into the Friday starter role. There are a number of viable options the team could turn to fill out the rest of the rotation, and the depth of next year’s pitching staff is apparent. Not only does Arizona State have the talent to return to the tournament in back-to-back seasons since 2019 and 2021, but it very well could host a regional.
23. Coastal Carolina (56-13, 26-4 Sun Belt)
2025 result: Reached College World Series Final
End of season ranking: 2nd
2025 was a storybook season for Coastal Carolina, which reached the College World Series final for the first time since its National Championship season in 2016. While the Chanticleers fell just short of their ultimate goal, they still enjoyed the second-best season in program history. They set numerous program records and first-year head coach Kevin Schnall was named BA’s Coach of the Year.
While there are a lot of key pieces to try and replace from last year’s team, there is an impressive foundation in place for Coastal Carolina to make another deep postseason run. Its pitching staff will be led by potential first-rounder Cameron Flukey, though Dominick Carbone, Scott Doran, Hayden Johnson, Luke Jones and Ryan Lynch make for an exciting group of returners.
There are more question marks offensively, but leading hitter Dean Mihos will again set the table atop the order, and transfers Lukas Buckner, Cole Chamberlain and Jordan Taylor are all in line for prominent roles.
24. Mississippi (43-21, 16-14 SEC)
2025 result: Eliminated in Oxford Regional
End of season ranking: 19th
Mississippi was in a similar position as Louisville heading into 2025. The Rebels had failed to make a regional in both 2023 and 2024, and their fanbase was restless. Coach Mike Bianco and his players did an excellent job of blocking out the outside noise and won 43 games en route to hosting a regional. While they were eliminated by Murray State, the 2025 season was far more indicative of Ole Miss’ identity than 2023 or 2024 were.
The Rebels will be without their two leading hitters—Luke Hill and Mitchell Sanford—from last year, but they return a ton of production via Judd Utermark, Austin Fawley, Will Furniss and Hayden Federico. On top of what they return, the Rebels also netted transfer portal commitments from Illinois State outfielder Daniel Pacella (.355/.429/.714, 39 extra-base hits) and Murray State standout Dom Decker (.351/.496/.464).
For as formidable a unit as Ole Miss’ offense is shaping up to be, its pitching staff is in a similar boat. After returning to form this spring, lefthander Hunter Elliott announced he would be returning to Oxford. He’ll again be the centerpiece of the Rebels’ rotation, while Owen Kelly, Grant Richardson, Cade Townsend and others will compete to earn the final two spots.
25. Texas A&M (30-26, 11-19 SEC)
2025 result: Missed NCAA Tournament
End of season ranking: Not ranked
2025 was quite the season in College Station, but for all the wrong reasons. Texas A&M entered the year as the No. 1 team in the country and national champion favorite, but the wheels fell off in rather short order, and the Aggies failed to make the tournament for just the second time since 2006. There’s no doubt 2026 is a big year for the program, and coach Michael Earley spent the offseason reloading.
The dynamic duo of Gavin Grahovac and Caden Sorrell logged just 117 total at-bats in 2025 due to injuries. They each have a chance to be selected in the first round next July, and they collectively will serve as the straw that stirs the drink within A&M’s lineup. Dynamic outfielder Terrence Kiel II enjoyed a productive freshman campaign in which he flashed his exciting toolset, while both Bear Harrison and Sawyer Farr are key returners.
Landing star infielder Chris Hacopian was one of the biggest portal additions of this year’s cycle, and he very well could be the Aggies’ most productive hitter in 2026. Outfielders Jake Duer and Wesley Jordan will also have prominent roles, while Carson Bailey, M.J. Bollinger and Ethan Darden will be key cogs within the pitching staff.
2026 is a “prove it” year for Texas A&M, and the Aggies will look to flush the season that was and return to form.
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