LSU Baseball Aims for Third Title in Four Years Under Coach Jay Johnson

The Tigers have built a potential college baseball dynasty, but their coach refuses to use that word.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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LSU baseball is on the brink of something rare in college baseball - winning three national championships in four years. Under head coach Jay Johnson, who took over the program in 2022, the Tigers have quickly built a powerhouse that has won titles in 2023 and 2025. With a talented roster led by stars like Dylan Crews and Paul Skenes, LSU is poised to make history, but coach Johnson is hesitant to call his team's success a "dynasty", preferring to focus on the daily work of recruiting, developing players, and maintaining a culture of toughness and togetherness.

Why it matters

LSU's sustained success under Jay Johnson has made them one of the premier college baseball programs in the country. Their potential to win a third title in four years would cement their status as a modern dynasty, a feat only accomplished once before in college baseball history. This run of excellence has transformed LSU into a destination for elite talent, shifting the balance of power in the sport.

The details

When Johnson arrived at LSU in 2022, he inherited a talented core of position players but had to completely rebuild the pitching staff. Through relentless recruiting, development, and a focus on building a culture of toughness and togetherness, Johnson has quickly turned LSU into a juggernaut. The 2023 team, led by generational talents like Skenes and Crews, won the national title. After losing 13 players to the pros, the 2024 team faced adversity but still won 43 games. In 2025, LSU's identity as a tough, together team coalesced around pitchers Anthony Eyanson and Kade Anderson, leading to another championship.

  • LSU won the national championship in 2023.
  • LSU won the national championship again in 2025.
  • LSU is aiming to win its third national title in four years in 2026.

The players

Jay Johnson

The head coach of the LSU baseball team who has quickly built the program into a potential dynasty.

Dylan Crews

A star outfielder for LSU who was part of the Tigers' 2023 national championship team.

Paul Skenes

A dominant pitcher who had one of the best seasons ever by a college pitcher in 2023, helping LSU win the national title.

Anthony Eyanson

A key pitcher for LSU's 2025 national championship team, forming a formidable front of the rotation with Kade Anderson.

Kade Anderson

A talented pitcher for LSU whose character and leadership were transformational for the 2025 championship team.

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What they’re saying

“This is different”

— Jay Johnson, Head Coach (N/A)

“If you give one inch in this league, everybody is going to take a mile.”

— Jay Johnson, Head Coach (N/A)

What’s next

If LSU wins the 2026 national championship, it would become just the second program in college baseball history to capture three titles in four years.

The takeaway

Jay Johnson has quickly built LSU baseball into one of the premier programs in the country, with the potential to cement a modern dynasty. His focus on recruiting elite talent, developing players, and instilling a culture of toughness and togetherness has transformed the Tigers into a destination for top prospects and a force to be reckoned with in college baseball.