Now that the college football season has ended, baseball season is officially right around the corner. After winning a pair of national titles over the last 3 seasons, Jay Johnson has LSU well-positioned to capture another title in 2026. Johnson and the Tigers return 19 players from last year's championship team, and bring in 11 players through the transfer portal and 20 from the incoming recruiting class.
LSU has Nick Saban to thank for prying Lane Kiffin from Ole Miss
LSU begins the 2026 season in less than a month by welcoming Milwaukee to Alex Box Stadium on Friday, February 13. With first pitch quickly approaching, preseason rankings are starting to roll in. Not surprisingly, LSU is near the top.
LSU lands at No. 2 in the Baseball America Preseason Rankings
Earlier this month, LSU claimed the top spot in the Perfect Game USA Preseason College Baseball Top-25 rankings. The expectations continue to soar as LSU has now received the No. 2 spot in the Baseball America Preseason Top-25 rankings.
Entering his 5th season in Baton Rouge, Johnson owns an impressive overall record of 190-77 (.712), which includes a 68-51 (.571) mark in SEC play. In addition to leading the Tigers to a pair of National Championships, he's also been named the National Coach of the Year in both 2023 and 2025.
Johnson received well-deserved contract extension and raise during the offseason, and is set to make $3.05 million in 2026. That makes him the highest-paid coach in all of college baseball. With an influx of talent once again, LSU fans everywhere are excited to see what Johnson and the Tigers can do in 2026.
Baseball America Preseason top 25 rankings
1. UCLA
- Last season: 48-18 (22-8 Big Ten)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 6
2. LSU
- Last season: 53-15 (19-11 SEC)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 1
3. Mississippi State
- Last season: 36-23 (15-15 SEC)
- Final 2025 ranking: Unranked
4. Georgia Tech
- Last season: 41-19 (19-11 ACC)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 25
5. Auburn
- Last season: 41-20 (17-13 SEC)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 10
6. Georgia
- Last season: 43-17 (18-12 SEC)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 20
7. North Carolina
- Last season: 46-15 (18-11 ACC)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 9
8. Texas
- Last season: 44-14 (22-8 SEC)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 18
9. TCU
- Last season: 39-20 (19-11 Big 12)
- Final 2025 ranking: Unranked
10. Arkansas
- Last season: 50-15 (20-10 SEC)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 3
11. Coastal Carolina
- Last season: 56-14 (26-4 Sun Belt)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 2
12. Florida State
- Last season: 42-16 (17-10 ACC)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 11
13. Tennessee
- Last season: 46-19 (16-14 SEC)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 12
14. Virginia
- Last season: 32-18 (16-11 ACC)
- Final 2025 ranking: Unranked
15. Oregon State
- Last season: 48-16-1
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 5
16. Ole Miss
- Last season: 43-21 (16-14 SEC)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 19
17. Vanderbilt
- Last season: 43-18 (19-11 SEC)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 17
18. Louisville
- Last season: 42-24 (15-15 ACC)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 4
19. Oklahoma
- Last season: 38-22 (14-16 SEC)
- Final 2025 ranking: Unranked
20. Clemson
- Last season: 45-18 (18-12 ACC)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 24
21. West Virginia
- Last season: 44-16 (19-9 Big 12)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 13
22. Florida
- Last season: 39-22 (15-15 SEC)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 23
23. Southern Miss
- Last season: 47-16 (24-6 Sun Belt)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 21
24. East Carolina
- Last season: 35-27 (13-14 American)
- Final 2025 ranking: Unranked
25. Miami (FL)
- Last season: 35-27 (15-14 ACC)
- Final 2025 ranking: No. 16