Link to full Top 25: 2026 Preseason Top 25

#1) LSU

I have typically given the reigning champions the top spot in preseason rankings. LSU has firmly re-established itself as the gold standard of college baseball under Jay Johnson, capturing the program’s 8th National Championship last season.
The Tigers have eclipsed 40+ wins in each of Johnson’s 4 seasons as head coach, winning the National Championship in 2023 & 2025. In 2024, despite a sluggish start to the season, they found their rhythm late, finishing as runners-up in the SEC Tournament at Hoover. Their postseason run ultimately ended in a hard-fought Game 3 of the Regional Final against a very good North Carolina squad—a series that many believe was decided by just a few pivotal plays. Johnson truly does a great job of getting the most out of his players during the postseason.

Historical context highlights just how difficult it is to sustain this level of dominance:

• The Omaha Drought: No defending champion has returned to the College World Series in consecutive seasons since Florida in 2018.
• The Back-to-Back: Since the turn of the century, only two programs have successfully defended their national title: Oregon State (2006–2007) and South Carolina (2010–2011).

LSU’s overall consistency suggests they are positioned to challenge these historical trends as they remain the team to beat heading into the new season. While the Tigers must replace the massive production of Jared Jones, Ethan Frey, and Daniel Dickinson, the lineup is designed to reload rather than rebuild.

The lineup will be anchored by experienced high-level talents:

• Steven Milam & Jake Brown: Battle-tested veterans of the SEC gauntlet who provide the leadership and consistency needed for a deep postseason run.

• Derek Curiel: A premier talent who lived up to the hype after winning the D1Baseball 2025 Freshman of the Year Award. He finished 2nd on the team with a 127 wRC+. Currently projected as a high first-round pick in the 2026 MLB Draft, Curiel’s development makes him one of the most exciting players in the country.
• Cade Arrambide: A former top recruit that turned in a solid Freshman campaign behind the plate. Jay Johnson said Cade was the best player on the roster during the fall season. Look for him to man a pivotal spot in the lineup while managing behind the plate.

Coach Johnson was once again a force in the transfer portal, securing multiple key additions to bolster the offense. On top of that, LSU will be bringing in one of the top Freshmen classes in the country. The upside is there but how will these guys adjust to SEC level pitching?:

• Zach Yorke (Grand Canyon): A physical left-handed slugger who reportedly dominated during the fall. Yorke brings a career .328 average and proven power that should translate well to the middle of the order.
• Trent Caraway (Oregon State): A former top-tier high school recruit, Caraway arrives in Baton Rouge with elite raw power and bat speed. After an injury-hampered stint with the Beavers, he is a prime candidate for a breakout season under Johnson’s hitting tutelage.
• Brayden Simpson (High Point): Adds valuable depth and versatility to an infield after posting a .389 batting average and 172 wRC+ a year ago.
• Jack Ruckert & Mason Braun: Two top 20 freshmen to make it to campus according to Perfect Game.

On the mound, the Tigers will need to replace the deadly 1-2 punch from a year ago in Kade Anderson and Anthony Eyanson. Reliable bullpen arm Chase Shores was also drafted.

• Casan Evans will step in the Friday Night role after an impressive Freshman campaign where he posted a 2.05 ERA across 52.2 innings with 71 strikeouts. Evans projects as one of the best sophomore arms and will likely be a first round pick in the 2027 MLB Draft.
• Zac Cowan will likely throw Saturdays. He posted a 2.94 ERA across 52 innings with 60 strikeouts last season.
• On Sunday, LSU will likely roll with Cooper Moore, transfer from Kansas. Moore’s stuff is not overwhelming, but reports say he threw it well in the Fall. He posted a 7-3 record and 3.96 ERA a year ago for the Jayhawks.
• The depth of this staff is impressive. In the bullpen they will feature Cooper Williams, William Schmidt, Gavin Guidry, Jaden Noot, and more. I am looking forward to seeing William Schmidt make a huge jump this season after somewhat struggling during his Freshman year. He was a top recruit that was a projected first round pick out of high school. He will likely be a top pick in the 2027 draft as he features a fastball up to 98 with a nice slider and curveball to complement.

In the modern landscape of college baseball, it is very difficult to run the table in consecutive seasons but if a program was to do it, it would be LSU. Their non-conference slate is pretty weak, but the SEC schedule will be a bloodbath: