Clemson baseball on Wednesday revealed which program the Tigers would be facing to open the 2026 college baseball season.
Clemson will start the season on Friday, Feb. 13 with a matchup against Army at Doug Kingsmore Stadium, the school announced. It will mark the first-ever meeting between the two programs.
The Tigers begin fall training this week and will have multiple events at Doug Kingsmore Stadium next month from Oct. 23-26, including a 12-inning exhibition game against the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. ET — the same date Clemson football has its second bye week before taking on Duke on Nov. 1.
Clemson visited Sewell-Thomas Stadium in Tuscaloosa last November for an exhibition game that marked the end of the fall schedule. The Tigers opened the 2025 season in Arlington, Texas, against Oklahoma State in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown at Globe Life Field.
The Savannah Bananas, the barnstorming sensation that played a game at Memorial Stadium back in April, will also return to Clemson for an exhibition game on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. ET.
Clemson finished 45-18 last season in Erik Bakich’s third year as coach. The Tigers hosted an NCAA Tournament regional and fell to West Virginia and Kentucky on back-to-back days to end their season. They were ranked No. 20 in the final USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll after being ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation earlier in the season.
Clemson also swept rival South Carolina in the regular season and reached the championship game of the ACC Baseball Tournament in Durham before falling to North Carolina.
Per Clemson Athletic Communications:
“Clemson has 20 returning lettermen from the 2025 team, including junior righthander Aidan Knaak, a two-time, First-Team All-ACC selection. He is the first Tiger pitcher in history to earn First-Team All-ACC honors in each of his first two seasons.”
The Tigers had two players selected in this summer’s MLB Draft. The Miami Marlins selected outfielder Cam Cannarella with the 43rd overall pick in the Competitive Balance Round of the draft, one pick before the second round began. Cannarella signed with Miami in July.
The Los Angeles Angels selected pitcher Lucas Mahlstedt in the seventh round of the draft with the 199th overall pick.
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