LSU, UCLA Top Preseason College Baseball Super 16 Rankings

Coastal Carolina, Texas, and Georgia Tech also ranked in top 6 ahead of 2026 season

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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The USA Today Network has released its inaugural Preseason Super 16 college baseball rankings for the 2026 season. LSU, the defending national champions, claimed the top spot, followed closely by UCLA. Coastal Carolina, Texas, and Georgia Tech round out the top 6, with Mississippi State, Auburn, North Carolina, and Louisville also earning spots in the top 16.

Why it matters

The Super 16 rankings mirror the format of the NCAA tournament, with the top 16 teams hosting regionals. This provides an early look at which programs are expected to be among the nation's elite and have the best chances of making deep postseason runs.

The details

LSU, led by a talented roster that includes several key returning players from their 2025 championship team, received 4 first-place votes and a total of 92 points. UCLA, last year's national runner-up, earned 88 points and 1 first-place vote. Coastal Carolina, Texas, and Georgia Tech rounded out the top 5, while Mississippi State, Auburn, North Carolina, and Louisville also cracked the top 16.

  • The Preseason Super 16 rankings were released on February 10, 2026, ahead of the start of the 2026 college baseball season.

The players

LSU

The defending national champion, LSU is expected to be a top contender again in 2026 after reloading its roster.

UCLA

The 2025 national runner-up, UCLA is ranked second in the preseason Super 16 and is also considered a favorite to make a deep postseason run.

Coastal Carolina

The Chanticleers, who lost to LSU in the 2025 national championship series, are ranked 6th in the preseason Super 16 and are expected to have another strong season.

Texas

The Longhorns, who won 44 games in 2025, are ranked 4th in the preseason Super 16 and are viewed as a top contender in the Big 12.

Georgia Tech

The Yellow Jackets, who won 41 games in 2025, are ranked 5th in the preseason Super 16 and are expected to be a force in the ACC.

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What they’re saying

“Last year's college baseball season featured one of the most exciting NCAA tournaments in recent memory. Only five of the 16 regional hosts advanced to the College World Series, with only coming from the top 10.”

— Andrew Abadie (yahoo.com)

“The Tigers appear to be a program that has reloaded and is a legitimate contender for their third national title in four years.”

— Andrew Abadie (yahoo.com)

What’s next

The 2026 college baseball season will begin in the coming weeks, with the NCAA tournament and College World Series to follow later in the year. The preseason rankings will provide an early indication of which teams are expected to be among the nation's elite, but the on-field results will ultimately determine which programs advance deep into the postseason.

The takeaway

The preseason Super 16 rankings highlight the depth and parity in college baseball, with several traditional powerhouses and emerging contenders expected to battle for the national championship in 2026. Fans can look forward to an exciting season filled with competitive matchups and unpredictable outcomes.