Coastal Carolina Favored to Win Sun Belt Conference Baseball Title

Chanticleers Picked First in Preseason Coaches Poll, Earn Multiple Preseason All-Conference Selections

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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The 2026 Sun Belt Conference baseball preseason coaches poll has been released, with Coastal Carolina University picked as the favorite to win the league title. The Chanticleers received 12 of the 16 first-place votes and totaled 194 points in the poll. Southern Miss was picked second with 182 points and one first-place vote, followed by Troy, Marshall, Louisiana, and Texas State rounding out the top six.

Why it matters

The Sun Belt is one of the top mid-major baseball conferences in the country, and Coastal Carolina has established itself as a perennial power. The Chanticleers' preseason ranking and individual accolades highlight the program's continued success and their status as the team to beat in the league this upcoming season.

The details

In addition to being picked as the Sun Belt favorite, Coastal Carolina placed three players on the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team: junior starting pitcher Cameron Flukey, junior starting pitcher Hayden Johnson, and senior outfielder Dean Mihos. Troy first baseman Blake Cavill was named the Preseason Player of the Year, while Flukey was tabbed as the Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

  • The 2026 Sun Belt Conference baseball preseason coaches poll was released on February 9, 2026.

The players

Coastal Carolina University

A public university located in Conway, South Carolina, known for its successful baseball program that has won multiple Sun Belt Conference championships.

Cameron Flukey

A junior starting pitcher for Coastal Carolina University who was named the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Pitcher of the Year.

Hayden Johnson

A junior starting pitcher for Coastal Carolina University who was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.

Dean Mihos

A senior outfielder for Coastal Carolina University who was named to the Preseason All-Sun Belt Team.

Blake Cavill

A senior first baseman for Troy University who was named the Sun Belt Conference Preseason Player of the Year.

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What’s next

The 2026 Sun Belt Conference baseball season will begin in late February, with the conference tournament scheduled for late May. Coastal Carolina will look to defend its preseason favorite status and capture another Sun Belt title.

The takeaway

The Sun Belt Conference remains one of the top mid-major baseball leagues in the country, and Coastal Carolina's dominance in the preseason projections underscores the program's consistent excellence. The Chanticleers will be the team to beat as they aim to add another conference championship to their resume.