Tennessee Baseball Picked Sixth in SEC Preseason Poll as Josh Elander Era Begins
The Josh Elander era is officially underway in Knoxville, and expectations are cautiously optimistic for the new-look Tennessee baseball team. In the SEC preseason coaches poll released Monday, the Vols were picked to finish sixth in the conference-solid footing in a league that continues to be the gold standard in college baseball.
Tennessee didn’t receive any first-place votes, but that’s not entirely surprising given the depth of talent across the SEC and the transition at the top of the program. LSU, a perennial powerhouse, leads the pack with nine first-place votes, followed by Texas (1), Mississippi State (4), and Arkansas (2). Auburn rounds out the top five, just ahead of Tennessee.
2026 SEC Baseball Preseason Coaches Poll Rankings: 1.
LSU (9 first-place votes) - 231 points
2.
Texas (1) - 214
3.
Mississippi State (4) - 205
4.
Arkansas (2) - 203
5.
Auburn - 175
6.
Tennessee - 162
The rest of the top 10 includes Florida, Vanderbilt, Georgia, and Ole Miss, with Kentucky, Alabama, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Missouri rounding out the bottom half.
A Fresh Start Under Elander
Elander steps into the head coaching role following Tony Vitello’s departure for the San Francisco Giants, and he inherits a program that’s been a fixture in the postseason. Tennessee is coming off five straight super regional appearances, but the next step-Omaha-has remained elusive since 2021.
The Vols will open their 2026 campaign on February 13 with a three-game home series against Nicholls at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. That kicks off an eight-game homestand, including midweek matchups against UNC Asheville (Feb. 17) and Bellarmine (Feb. 24), as well as a weekend series against Kent State (Feb. 20-22).
Circle the Calendar: Globe Life Field Showdown
Tennessee’s first major test will come on the road at the end of February when it heads to Arlington, Texas, for The Amegy Bank College Baseball Series at Globe Life Field-home of the Texas Rangers. It’s a loaded weekend slate featuring some of the nation’s top programs.
The Vols will face No. 5 UCLA on Friday, Feb. 27, followed by Arizona State (Feb. 28) and Virginia Tech (March 1).
It’s a true early-season litmus test that should give fans a sense of how this team stacks up nationally.
After returning from Texas, Tennessee will host a six-game homestand leading into SEC play. That stretch includes midweek games against East Tennessee State and Oakland (March 3-4), a weekend series with Wright State (March 6-8), and a final non-conference tune-up against Tennessee Tech (March 10).
SEC Play: A Gauntlet Awaits
Once SEC play begins on March 13, the grind really starts. Tennessee’s conference slate includes home series against Missouri, LSU, Ole Miss, Alabama, and Texas.
On the road, they’ll travel to face Georgia, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, Kentucky, and Oklahoma. That’s a brutal stretch by any standard, but it’s nothing new for a program that’s been hardened by years of deep postseason runs.
Midweek games during SEC play will be plentiful and all at home, giving the Vols a chance to keep their pitching staff sharp and their bench players involved. Opponents include Eastern Kentucky, USC Upstate, Austin Peay, Northern Kentucky, Lipscomb, West Georgia, Presbyterian, Belmont, and a second game against UNC Asheville.
A Busy Offseason in the Portal
With a wave of talent departing for the pros, Tennessee was aggressive in the transfer portal. The Vols added arms and bats from across the country, including:
- Landon Mack (RHP, Rutgers)
- Henry Ford (OF/3B/1B, Virginia)
- Evan Blanco (LHP, Virginia)
- Blaine Brown (OF/LHP, Rice)
- Garrett Wright (C/CF, Bowling Green)
- Mark Hindy (LHP, Duke)
- Finley Bates (MIF, San Diego State)
- Brady Frederick (RHP, East Tennessee State)
- Bo Rhudy (RHP, Kennesaw State)
That kind of influx brings both excitement and uncertainty. The challenge for Elander and his staff will be blending this new group with the returning core, finding the right roles, and building chemistry quickly.
MLB Draft Success Continues
Tennessee’s reputation as a pipeline to the pros remains intact. Nine Vols were selected in the 2025 MLB Draft, tying for the fourth-most picks in the country and marking the second-highest total in program history-just one shy of the 2022 record.
Here’s a look at the Vols who heard their names called:
- Liam Doyle (LHP) - No. 5 overall (1st round), St. Louis Cardinals
- Gavin Kilen (INF) - No. 13 overall (1st round), San Francisco Giants
- Andrew Fischer (1B/3B) - No. 20 overall (1st round), Milwaukee Brewers
- Marcus Phillips (RHP) - No. 33 overall (1st round), Boston Red Sox
- AJ Russell (RHP) - No. 52 overall (2nd round), Texas Rangers
- Dean Curley (INF) - No. 64 overall (2nd round), Cleveland Guardians
- Tanner Franklin (RHP) - No. 72 overall (2nd round), St.
Louis Cardinals
- Nate Snead (RHP) - No. 105 overall (3rd round), Los Angeles Angels
- Cannon Peebles (C) - No. 522 overall (17th round), Cleveland Guardians
Since 2018, Tennessee has had 52 players drafted, with a staggering 45 coming since 2020-more than any other program in that span. The Vols have averaged over 6.5 picks per draft during that run, including 10 in 2022, eight in both 2023 and 2024, and now nine in 2025.
What’s Next?
There’s no sugarcoating the challenge ahead. A new head coach, a retooled roster, and a brutal SEC schedule make for a high-wire act in 2026. But Tennessee has built a foundation of success over the past half-decade, and the pieces are in place for Elander to keep the momentum going.
The Vols may not have cracked the top five in the preseason poll, but don’t be surprised if they’re making noise come May. This is a program that knows how to win-and now it’s Elander’s turn to steer the ship.