2026 College Baseball Preview: Sun Belt

We start with Coastal Carolina, the runner-up from the 2025 NCAA Division I season and, arguably, the front-runner for the Sun Belt Conference in 2026.

Even though the Chanticleers lost Caden Bodine and Jacob Morrison, CCU has two of the best college pitchers in the nation between left-handers Hayden Johnson and Cameron Flukey. Johnson struck out 55 over 38.1 IP last season as a junior, while Flukey, with a diverse arsenal and a booming fastball, should be a first or second-round pick this coming July.

Coastal Carolina’s offense should also be fine, led by senior Dean Mihos. Mihos, alongside Flukey and Johnson, was named to the Sun Belt all-preseason team.

Louisiana

The Ragin’ Cajuns have been a very strong team in the Sun Belt over the past few seasons. Louisiana won 40+ games in 2023 and 2024. However, the school went below .500 last season after losing talent after the 2024 campaign.

Things are expected to get better, as the school finished fifth in the preseason coaches poll for the Sun Belt. Lee Amedee, a senior, and sophomore infielder Owen Galt are among the notable returning hitters for the Ragin’ Cajuns in 2026.

However, no players made the all-preseason team.

Southern Miss

In the Sun Belt preseason poll, Coastal Carolina received the lion’s share of first-place votes. However, as far as the raw vote came, it was close between CCU and the Southern Miss Golden Eagles.

The Southern Eagles, like CCU, lost a marquee arm in the summer. However, senior Colby Allen – expected to be Southern Miss’ ace in 2026 – is back yet again. Allen was one of three starters named to the all-preseason team.

Their offense is littered with valuable transfers, including Ben Higdon, a redshirt senior. 

South Alabama

Even though South Alabama has done a good job of staying competitive and producing pro talent, this year may not be too kind if the preseason poll is any indication. The Jaguars finished 11th out of the 14 teams.

The Jaguars’ team is filled with juniors and seniors. Junior catcher Duncan Mathews, who hit .336 for South Alabama last season, is back for the 2026 season.

Troy

The Troy Trojans should be highly competitive in 2026.

Troy brought back 23-year-old slugger Blake Cavill, the preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year according to the conference’s coaches. Cavill, from Australia, hit .320 with 11 home runs and 24 extra-base hits last season, his first with Troy after coming over from Western Kentucky.

Utilityman Jammy Janicki, a sophomore who hit .280 last season over 54 games, is also back for 2026.

The Rest of the Pack

Here’s our look at the rest of the conference:

• App State: Two App State players, DH Kameron Miller and grad student Joseph Zamora, made the all-preseason team. App State is expected to finish 10th.
• Arkansas State: Arkansas State finished ninth in the preseason poll. Still, the school placed two players on the all-preseason team, as senior shortstop Patrick Engskov and redshirt senior outfielder Ashton Quller made it.
• Georgia Southern: Twenty-five new players are with Georgia Southern this season, including former Georgia Bulldog Lukas Farris. However, Bradley Pendley and Will Robbins returned for a pitching that will have several returning faces.
• Georgia State: Carter Bailey, Jae Williams, and Wills Maginnis are among the notable hitters returning for 2026.
• James Madison: JMU was voted to finish 13th in the Sun Belt Conference. No players made the all-conference preseason team.
• Marshall: Even though Marshall didn’t place a single player on the all-preseason team, Marshall finished fourth in the conference poll, ahead ot Louisiana.
• Old Dominion: Old Dominion lost three pitchers to the pros after the 2025 season. However, the school was able to return many of its top hitters, part of a 23-player class, back for 2026.
• Texas State: Thord baseman Chase Mora headlines a Texas State team expected to finish in the middle of the conference this season.
• ULM: ULM was voted to finish dead last in the conference.