Link to my full rankings: 2026 Preseason Top 25

#2) Texas

D1Baseball Ranking: 3

Baseball America Ranking: 8

Perfect Game Ranking: 8

While the 2025 season didn’t end as planned, Jim Schlossnagle’s inaugural year at Texas was a success. In their debut SEC season, the Longhorns secured the regular-season title and earned the #2 overall national seed. Although a gritty UTSA team cut their postseason short in the Regional round, the expectations for 2026 high.

Pitching:

The Longhorns enter 2026 with one of the most formidable pitching inventories in college baseball. Last year, the staff ranked 6th nationally in ERA and 2nd in WHIP. More importantly, they return 76% of their total innings pitched.

• Dylan Volantis: The 2025 Baseball America Freshman of the Year will move into the Friday night starting role. The 6’6″ left-hander was dominant out of the bullpen last year, posting a 1.94 ERA with 74 strikeouts in 51 innings.
• Depth: Pitching coach Max Weiner has a wealth of options for the weekend. Veterans Luke Harrison, Ruger Riojas, and Max Grubbs provide proven experience, while Jason Flores is a high-upside arm to watch for a starting role. Kade Bing, Thomas Burns, and Ethan Walker are also experienced arms that add to one of the projected top staffs in college baseball.

Offense:

To reach Omaha, the offense must improve on its 2025 performance, where it ranked 173rd nationally in batting average. However, the pieces are in place for a significant jump:

Key Returners:

• The core is anchored by Casey Borba, Ethan Mendoza, and Adrian Rodriguez, who ranked 2nd, 3rd, and 4th on the team in wRC+ last season.

Impact Transfers:

• Aiden Robbins (Seton Hall): Finished 7th nationally in batting average (.422) and 11th in wRC+ (189).
• Carson Tinney (Notre Dame): A Buster Posey Award finalist who provided 17 home runs and a 168 wRC+ last year.
• Ashton Larson (LSU): Has the tools to earn a a full-time role. Larson was a starter in the Cape Cod All Star game this summer.

Concern:

This team is well-rounded. Can the offensive increase production? The Longhorns will face an SEC slate featuring trips to Auburn, Texas A&M, Vanderbilt, and Tennessee.

Summary:

With a roster that is elite on the mound and significantly upgraded at the plate, Texas is a legitimate favorite to win it all. Under Schlossnagle’s leadership and Weiner’s pitching development, the Longhorns have both the floor and the ceiling of a national champion. I have already invested in a future ticket.