LSU Baseball Loaded with Talent, Picked to Win SEC in 2026 Coaches Poll
The expectations in Baton Rouge are sky-high - and for good reason. LSU baseball enters the 2026 season not just as a contender, but as the team to beat in the SEC, according to the league’s head coaches. The Tigers earned nine first-place votes in the preseason coaches poll, the most of any program, and were picked to win the SEC regular-season title.
Texas, in its first season as a full-fledged SEC member, was projected to finish second overall, followed by Mississippi State, Arkansas, and Auburn rounding out the top five. But make no mistake - this is LSU’s spotlight, and they’re stepping into it with a roster stacked with proven stars.
Tigers Lead the Way in Preseason All-SEC Selections
LSU didn’t just top the preseason poll - they also led the league in First-Team All-SEC selections with three players earning top honors. In total, LSU and Texas tied for the most players named to the Preseason All-SEC First and Second Teams with five each, signaling the kind of elite depth that championship runs are built on.
First-Team All-SEC Tigers:
- OF Derek Curiel (Soph.)
- RHP Casan Evans (Soph.)
- RHP Zac Cowan (Sr.)
Second-Team All-SEC Tigers:
- SS Steven Milam (Jr.)
- OF Jake Brown (Jr.)
Let’s break down why these five are getting so much preseason love - and why they could be the backbone of another title push for LSU.
Derek Curiel: Sophomore Sensation
Derek Curiel isn’t just a rising star - he’s already a household name in college baseball circles. The sophomore outfielder from West Covina, California, was named the 2025 National Freshman of the Year after a debut season that was nothing short of electric.
Curiel led LSU with a .345 average, racking up 20 doubles, seven home runs, and 55 RBI while crossing the plate 67 times. His postseason play was just as impressive. He hit .571 in the Super Regional sweep over West Virginia and earned a spot on the College World Series All-Tournament Team after collecting six hits and three RBI in five games.
This is a guy who thrives under pressure and has already proven he can deliver on the biggest stage. If he takes another step forward in Year 2, he could be the best outfielder in the SEC - if not the country.
Casan Evans: Shutdown Arm in the Making
LSU’s bullpen was a weapon last season, and Casan Evans was a big reason why. The sophomore right-hander from Houston posted a 5-1 record with a 2.05 ERA and seven saves across 19 appearances - including three starts - in 2025.
Evans struck out 71 batters in 52.2 innings while holding opponents to a .228 average. He was nails in the postseason, earning a win against UCLA in the College World Series with 4.1 innings of two-run ball, and locking down a save against Arkansas in LSU’s CWS opener.
But his signature moment came in the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional title game against Little Rock, where he entered in the second inning and delivered six innings of one-run ball with a career-high 12 strikeouts. That outing alone cemented his status as one of the most clutch arms in college baseball.
Zac Cowan: Veteran Closer with Ice in His Veins
Senior right-hander Zac Cowan brings experience, poise, and power to the back end of LSU’s bullpen. The Blythewood, South Carolina native posted a 2.94 ERA with six saves last season, five of which came in SEC play. He struck out 60 batters in 52 innings while walking just 12 and holding opponents to a .226 average.
Cowan also showed he can handle a starting role when called upon. In the College World Series against Arkansas, he delivered 5.1 innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts and no walks - a masterclass in control and composure on the biggest stage.
With Cowan anchoring the bullpen, LSU has a reliable closer who’s already battle-tested in the postseason.
Steven Milam: Steady at Short, Dangerous at the Plate
Junior shortstop Steven Milam does a little bit of everything - and he does it all well. A key piece of LSU’s 2025 title run, Milam hit .295 over the season with 11 homers, 57 RBI, and 50 runs scored. But it was his postseason performance that really stood out.
Milam hit .385 in LSU’s 11 NCAA Tournament games, driving in 13 runs and scoring 13 more. He was named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team after going 7-for-20 with two doubles and four runs scored. Defensively, he was rock-solid, committing just five errors all season and posting a .979 fielding percentage.
Throw in his 3.72 GPA and Third-Team Academic All-American honors, and you’ve got a player who brings elite production on the field and in the classroom.
Jake Brown: Clutch Performer with Pop
Jake Brown might not always be the loudest name on the roster, but he’s one of LSU’s most reliable bats - especially when it matters most. The junior outfielder hit .320 last season with eight home runs and 48 RBI, and he came up big in the postseason.
Brown led the team with a .385 average in the College World Series, including a pivotal two-run single against Arkansas that gave LSU the lead in the semifinal. He also went 3-for-5 with two RBI in a CWS win over UCLA and launched a two-run homer in the Super Regional against West Virginia.
With a 3.68 GPA and Academic All-District honors, Brown is yet another example of LSU’s balance of brains and brawn.
SEC Coaches Poll: LSU Sets the Pace
Here’s how the coaches see the 2026 SEC race shaping up:
- LSU (9 first-place votes) - 231 points
- Texas (1) - 214
- Mississippi State (4) - 205
- Arkansas (2) - 203
- Auburn - 175
- Tennessee - 162
- Florida - 156
- Vanderbilt - 151
- Georgia - 133
- Ole Miss - 110
- Kentucky - 99
- Alabama - 87
- Texas A&M - 86
- Oklahoma - 84
- South Carolina - 49
- Missouri - 31
Final Word
LSU isn’t sneaking up on anyone this season - and they don’t need to. With five Preseason All-SEC selections and a roster full of proven postseason performers, the Tigers are built to handle the pressure that comes with being the favorite.
From Curiel’s explosive bat to the Evans-Cowan bullpen combo, LSU has the talent, depth, and experience to make another deep postseason run. The SEC is always a gauntlet, but right now, the road to the conference title runs through Baton Rouge.