Week 1: What to Watch
The matchups, pitching duels, and storylines that matter most as 300+ programs open the 2026 college baseball season.
Six Series to Watch
Schlossnagle debuts a portal-loaded roster. Riojas on Friday, Harrison on Saturday, Volantis on Sunday. The Longhorns are built to win it all — this is the first data point.
The defending national champions open at Blue Bell Park. Can Schlottman pick up where he left off in Omaha? The most talent-rich roster in America takes the field.
Alex Box Stadium on a Friday night in February is already electric. Johnson on the bump. The Tigers have Omaha tattooed on their eyelids.
One game from a national title last year. Bennett, Wilken, and Hartle return. The Deacs open as the ACC favorite and the second-best team in the country.
Sullivan is the truth. The Gators have the pitching to compete with anyone in the country and Gainesville is already dreaming about June.
The Cardinal open their ACC era at home. Montgomery and Dowd carry the offense. Esquer has Omaha talent — can it translate in a new conference?
Pitching Duels
Riojas takes the Friday mantle for the Longhorns. Slider-fastball combo, mid-90s. UC Davis counters with Valdez — a crafty lefty with command.
Hartle is a projected top-10 draft pick. Electric stuff, 97 mph heater. The best Friday night arm in the ACC.
Two-way star. Throws 100 and hits it 450. The most dynamic player in college baseball opens his junior season.
The Storylines
Transfer Portal Report Cards
Texas (Robbins, Becerra, Tinney), A&M (selective retention), LSU (ACC poaching), Wake Forest (targeted additions). Opening weekend is the first live look at whether portal rosters have chemistry or just talent.
The SEC Gauntlet Begins
13 ranked teams in one conference. The depth is unprecedented. Opening weekend sets the tone — which programs are ready for the grind and which ones need time to gel.
ACC Realignment, Day One
Stanford and Cal play their first ACC games. Coast-to-coast conference play begins. The travel, the competition, the culture shock — it all starts this weekend.
Freshman Impact Players
Every February reveals the freshmen who are ready. Watch the lineup cards carefully — the programs trusting true freshmen in opening weekend are the ones who believe they have special talent.