Way-Too-Early Omaha 8 (Pre-Fall Ball)

Question is, do the Vols of 2026 have enough talent and edge to get back to Omaha following a solid but disappointing ’25 campaign?

Last year was filled with ups and downs. While the squad appeared to be fully loaded with talent, they never really seemed to click, especially in the infield. Some arm injuries and an overload of errors kept the Vols from making their typically annual trip to Omaha under Vitello.

However, I think that this offseason has proved to be favorable, and this team will once again look like the Tony teams of the past, with an edge or chip on the shoulder. This season will prove what I have said for a long time: Coach V is among the very best in the country and has built something very special between the lines of Lindsey Nelson. 

Key returning position players – Reese Chapman, Manny Marin, Jay Abernathy, Chris Newstrom, Levi Clark, Ariel Antigua

Key returning pitchers – Brayden Krenzel, Tanner Franklin

Additions – Henry Ford OF/1B (Virginia, huge talent who had a dip in his sophomore season), Evan Blanco LHP (Virginia, ace stuff dealt with injuries for much of 2025), Finley Bates SS (SDSU), Landon Mack RHP (Rutgers). Freshmen include the best incoming class of top-100 players making it to campus: Cameron Appenzeller LHP, Trent Grindlinger C, Ethan Baiotto RHP, Nathan Eisfelder INF, Taylor Tracey OF, Cash Williams C, and Ethan Moore SS.

X-Factor – While this team is getting a ton of new faces, they are loaded with potential talent. The incoming freshman class has a ton of promise to mix with the returning leadership, but the Vols will need time to find their footing. Can Tony get these guys to buy into the program and be a solid unit by the time SEC play rolls around? This will determine the kind of season we see in Knoxville in 2026. 

Mississippi State – 36-23, 10th in SEC

Head coach: Brian O’Connor

While Mississippi State might have won a title in 2021, the team has had its struggles since then. While no previous year’s winner has reached the CWS since Florida in 2018, the Bulldogs have struggled to find success and now turn to former Virginia head coach Brian O’Connor.

Oak brings a much-needed shot of energy to this school and a ton of talent. With all the resources Mississippi State makes available, and a new man at the helm, it’s hard to believe that the Bulldogs won’t find a lot of success in 2026. 

Key returning position players – Ace Reese, Noah Sullivan, Gehrig Frei, Bryce Chance

Key returning pitchers – Noah Sullivan, Ben Davis, Jack Gleason, Ryan McPherson

Additions – Aidan Teel UTL (Virginia), Tomas Valincius LHP (Virginia), James Nunnallee RF (Virginia), Chone James UTL (Virginia), Blake Bevis 1B (Ball State), Tyler Pitzer RHP (South Carolina), Brenden Sweeney RHP (South Carolina). Four of the top 100 freshmen: LHP Jack Bauer, OF Jacob Parker, RHP Parker Rhodes, and LHP Maddox Miller.

X-Factor – Can all the former Virginia talent coming onto campus mix with the remains of a solid base of Bulldog players, which is adding in some true freshmen as well? I believe in the leadership that O’Connor provides, and I think he can steer this ship loaded with All-American potential. With the additional support of the athletics department at Mississippi State and the talent this team holds, there is no reason to believe they are not an instant title contender. 

Oregon State – 48-16-1, Independent

Head coach: Mitch Canham

The Beavers of Oregon State competed as an independent for the first time in 2025, and they made a run all the way to Omaha. This team was loaded with talent, and perhaps too much, as playing time issues and other factors led to a large amount of change in the portal this summer.

However, Canham and staff have probably the best weekend rotation in college baseball coming back for the 2026 season and have added in some truly talented and fast ball players. Returning a great mix of players, and adding some very talented freshmen, OSU will look to return to Omaha on the arms like the squads of old. 

Key returning position players – AJ Singer INF, Easton Taft OF, Jacob Krieg 1B, Bryce Hubbard C, Paul Vazquez 3B, Adam Haight UTL, Ryan VandenBrink C/INF

Key returning pitchers -Dax Whitney RHP, Ethan Kleinschmit LHP, Eric Segura RHP, Wyatt Queen RHP, Zach Kmatz RHP, AJ Hutcheson RHP, Zach Edward’s RHP

Additions – Isaac Yeager RHP (Washington), Jacob Galloway C (Texas A&M), Albert Roblez RHP (Long Beach State), Nyan Hayes OF (Grambling), Eli Gries-Smith OF (Arkansas Pine-Bluff), Jace Miller OF (Portland), Bryan Glassco SS (Clackamas CC), Tyler Inge SS (Michigan), Jack Giordano RHP (San Diego), Cooper Vance SS (Eastern Michigan), and incoming freshman talent Ethan Porter 3B, Mason Pike RHP/SS, Josh Proctor INF

X-Factor – I think we see an Oregon State team that resembles the teams of old: We’ll see the terrific group of arms that pitching coach Rich Dorman has collected, in addition to seeing more small ball and speed from the offense. Pitching and defense win championships… Just check out OSU and all three of their titles over the past 20 seasons. Will the amazing starting pitching and bullpen be enough (and stay healthy enough) for OSU to make a run at Omaha in ‘26?

TCU – 39-20, 3rd in Big 12

Head coach: Kirk Saarloos

The Horned Frogs finished last season riding high headed into the postseason. Unfortunately, they ran into the Corvallis Regional and were slightly outmatched.

However, this squad has a ton of positives to build off of and added an immense amount of talent. I believe Saarloos gets this team back to Omaha in 2026, and they have a great chance of winning the Big12 along the way. Sawyer Strosnider is a certified stud and should be a preseason first-team All-American. 

Key returning position players – Sawyer Strosnider OF, Jack Bell INF, Cole Cramer INF, Noah Franco UTL, Colton Griffin INF, Nolan Traeger C, Jack Arthur OF, Cole Eaton OF, Chase Brunson OF, Preston Gamster INF

Key returning pitchers – Tommy LaPour RHP, Mason Brassfield LHP, Louis Rodriguez RHP, Kade Eudy RHP, Noah Franco LHP, Nate Stern RHP, Tyler Phenow RHP, Zach James RHP, Trever Baumler RHP

Additions – Lance Davis RHP (Arkansas), Walter Quinn RHP (Grand Canyon), Kyushu Garrett INF (Kentucky), Nolan Johnson LHP (NDSU), Tanner Sagouspe RHP (Cal Poly). Freshman class includes three players in top 25: Lucas Franco 3B, Uli Fernsler LHP, and Brady Dallimore C.

X-Factor – Can Saarloos get more production from the offense this season, and does Strosnider take a leap forward in his sophomore campaign? If the addition of the freshmen Franco and Dallimore can add to a prolific returning offense, this team will find its way through the postseason and back at the CWS in June. 

Honorable Mentions

 … and why I left them off the list

LSU – Listen, I know that they have a crazy amount of talent still and some really good incoming players, both freshmen and transfers… But no one has won the CWS title and returned to Omaha the following year since 2018 Florida (after the 2017 championship). I believe in Jay Johnson and think he could very well bring this Tigers team back to Omaha, but I’m going with the odds and saying they miss just like the ‘24 team did after the title in 2023. 

Oregon – I feel like I have the Ducks right here every year, and while they haven’t been to Omaha in a very long time, I think it is only a matter of time before head coach Mark Wazikowski leads the Ducks to the CWS. A ton of returning talent and a very impressive transfer/freshman class have a lot of people buzzing on the Eugene campus. But I want to see more in the fall before I add them to this list.

Arkansas – While I am amongst those that want to see DVH get a title soon, I feel that this team is going to have to replace too many arms for a return trip this season. You don’t lose that much arm talent, and a Golden Spikes winner, and just waltz back to Omaha. Maybe they surprise me, but while the talent is definitely there, I think this year the Razorbacks just don’t have the arms to make a run. 

Kentucky – I’ve said it before that I think head coach Nick Mingione is among the very elite in college sports, and he is 100% genuine all the time. I believe this team is going to be very good, and after last year’s postseason run, I think the young squad learned a lot. Coach told me last offseason he wished he had more practice time to get this team ready, but now they have a season under their belts and just might make that run. Talent will need to show up consistently for me to add them early in the fall.