2026 Big Ten Baseball Season Preview

HawkeyeReport breaks down the upcoming Big Ten Baseball season with a brief look at all 17 teams in the conference.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 8:47am

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College baseball is officially back with games getting underway a week from today. The Big Ten is coming off of a season where they sent four teams to the NCAA Tournament, led by UCLA who made their first College World Series appearance since 2013. The addition of the former Pac 12 schools provided a much-needed boost last season, with the Big Ten finishing as the clear 4th-best conference in the country ahead of the CUSA, AAC and Sun Belt.

Why it matters

The Big Ten has struggled to make an impact nationally in recent years, but the addition of the former Pac-12 schools has helped boost the conference's profile. With four teams making the NCAA Tournament last season, including UCLA's historic College World Series appearance, the Big Ten is looking to continue its upward trajectory and establish itself as one of the premier baseball conferences in the country.

The details

HawkeyeReport takes a brief look at all 17 teams, looking at key non-conference matchups, returners, transfers and finally giving a quick outlook on their season. All players mentioned in the article have a direct link to their respective roster page.

  • College baseball games get underway a week from today.
  • The Big Ten sent four teams to the NCAA Tournament last season.

The players

Ben Greenspan

The head coach of the Northwestern Wildcats baseball team.

Tracy Smith

The head coach of the Michigan Wolverines baseball team.

Ty McDevitt

The head coach of the Minnesota Golden Gophers baseball team.

Justin Haire

The head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes baseball team.

Steve Owens

The head coach of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights baseball team.

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What they’re saying

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— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.