Clemson Baseball Coach Calls for Later Start to Season

Erik Bakich says pushing back the college baseball season would improve attendance and reduce costs for northern teams.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

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Clemson baseball head coach Erik Bakich has long advocated for pushing back the start of the college baseball season, arguing it would improve attendance and reduce travel costs for northern teams that have to play early-season games in warmer southern locations. Bakich says the current schedule, with most home games in February and March when attendance is lower, doesn't make financial sense for programs like Clemson.

Why it matters

Bakich's push to delay the start of the college baseball season is part of a broader effort by coaches to make the sport more profitable and sustainable, especially for programs that currently operate at a loss. Shifting the schedule could boost attendance and reduce costs, potentially turning money-losing baseball programs into contributors to their athletic departments.

The details

Bakich has been one of the leading advocates for pushing the college baseball season back, arguing it's not about avoiding cold weather but rather improving the financial model of the sport. He says northern teams spend around $50,000 per weekend traveling south for early-season games, and that warm-weather schools like Clemson see better attendance in April and May when they play fewer home games. Bakich also notes the overlap with basketball season in February hurts baseball attendance.

  • The 2026 college baseball season is scheduled to begin in February.
  • Bakich has been advocating for a later start to the season for several years, including during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when the season was canceled.

The players

Erik Bakich

The head baseball coach at Clemson University, who has been a leading proponent of pushing back the start of the college baseball season to improve attendance and reduce costs for northern teams.

Clemson University

A public research university in Clemson, South Carolina, with a Division I baseball program that Bakich has led since 2023.

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What they’re saying

“Let's not kid ourselves, this is not about weather. Nobody cares about competitive equity. That is not the needle mover to push the season back. It is 100% about money.”

— Erik Bakich, Head Baseball Coach (theclemsoninsider.com)

“When you look at how it improves everybody's bottom lines, the northern teams don't have to get on commercial airlines and travel as much early in the year. That is a big savings when the average spend for those trips is $50 thousand plus per weekend.”

— Erik Bakich, Head Baseball Coach (theclemsoninsider.com)

What’s next

The NCAA will consider proposals from coaches like Bakich to potentially push back the start of the 2027 college baseball season.

The takeaway

Bakich's push to delay the college baseball season reflects a broader effort by coaches to make the sport more financially viable, especially for programs that currently operate at a loss. Shifting the schedule could boost attendance and reduce costs, potentially turning money-losing baseball programs into contributors to their athletic departments.