Conference USA enters the 2026 season at a crossroads. The league continues to field proven postseason programs, high-end draft talent and upwardly mobile coaches, even as it prepares for the looming departure of its most nationally visible baseball brand, Dallas Baptist, which is headed to the Pac-12 in 2027.

The Patriots remain the standard bearer for now, but real change is already underway, with new members joining the fold, established contenders reshaping their rosters and evaluators keeping close tabs on a conference that continues to punch above its weight in player development.

Baseball America subscribers can find our complete 2026 Conference USA preview below, featuring projected order of finish, top 2026 MLB Draft prospects and conference award picks.

Projected Conference USA Standings (2025 Record)

Dallas Baptist (41-18; 21-6 CUSA)

Louisiana Tech (32-25; 14-12)

Western Kentucky (46-14; 18-9)

Kennesaw State (31-27; 17-9)

Jax State (37-25; 15-12)

Liberty (30-27; 10-17)

Missouri State (30-25; 17-8 Missouri Valley Conference)

Florida International (31-27; 13-13)

Middle Tennessee State (23-32; 8-19)

New Mexico State (23-33; 11-15)

Delaware (28-25; 12-15 CAA)

Sam Houston State (12-43; 6-21)

Top 10 Conference USA Draft Prospects For 2026

Ben Blair, RHP, Liberty

Caden Bogenpohl, OF, Missouri State

Drew Horn, RHP, Middle Tennessee State

Luke Pettitte, RHP, Dallas Baptist

Michael Benzor, LHP, Dallas Baptist

Max Knight, 1B/LHP, Missouri State

Trey Hawsey, 1B, Louisiana Tech

Keaton Grady, 2B, Dallas Baptist

Zach Lyles, LHP, Western Kentucky

Chayton Krauss, 1B, Dallas Baptist

Want more draft rankings? You can find BA’s Top 200 board here.

Conference USA Team to Beat: Dallas Baptist

Year after year, Dallas Baptist sets the standard in its league and finds its way into the national picture by season’s end. Even with turnover, the expectation rarely changes, and 2026 is no different.

First baseman Chayton Krauss is back after establishing himself as one of the loudest bats in college baseball in 2025. Second baseman Keaton Grady provides a stabilizing presence at the top of the lineup. With several other regulars returning and portal additions supplementing the depth, run production should once again be a defining trait. The loss of pitchers James Ellwanger, Micah Bucknam and Mason Peters removes the bulk of last year’s weekend innings and the staff’s most trusted relief arm, leaving meaningful questions about how the rotation and bullpen will take shape.

There are answers in the room. Ryan Borberg, Luke Pettitte and Athan Kroll return, while newcomers Jared Shaeffer and Russ Smith have drawn internal optimism, and Houston transfer Michael Benzor adds another variable. Still, the group remains largely unproven. The margin between another league title run and a more modest outcome likely rests on how quickly those pieces settle. The offensive floor and program stability keep Dallas Baptist squarely at the top of the league conversation.

Preseason Conference USA Player of the Year

Caden Bogenpohl, OF, Missouri State

This season represents an inflection point for Bogenpohl, whose physical profile and raw power have drawn comparisons to former lefthanded college sluggers like Jace LaViolette and Nolan Schubart. Like those two, Bogenpohl pairs outstanding size with top-of-the-scale raw power and the ability to alter games with a single swing.

Few hitters in his new league possess his combination of strength, leverage and damage potential. Bogenpohl’s 2025 production—a .296/.449/.558 line with 13 home runs and 15 doubles—represented a modest step back from his standout freshman campaign, though the underlying indicators remain loud. He walked 55 times against 63 strikeouts, continuing to show strong zone awareness, and his elite exit velocities confirm that the ball comes off his bat differently than most.

If Bogenpohl can elevate the ball much more consistently and be less passive and selective at times, the ceiling is obvious. In a new conference environment, that version of Bogenpohl would give Missouri State the most dangerous bat in the league and place him squarely at the front of the CUSA Player of the Year conversation.

Preseason Conference USA Pitcher Of The Year

Ben Blair, RHP, Liberty

Set to take over as Liberty’s ace, Blair offers the highest upside of any arm in the league according to multiple evaluators. The foundation is a dominant fastball delivered from a low release with above-average extension, ride-and-run life and upper-90s velocity that overwhelms hitters. A sharp, low-to-mid-80s slider gives him a true swing-and-miss complement, with the ability to manipulate shape and steal different looks. With an offseason focused on refining how those two pitches tunnel, the ingredients are in place for Blair to turn upside into production and push firmly into the early draft rounds.

Preseason Conference USA Freshman Of The Year

Reagan McCluskey, OF, Dallas Baptist

McCluskey enters the season as one of the most polished freshman bats in the league after an impressive fall where he led Dallas Baptist in several zone-discipline metrics. That approach-driven profile has already positioned him for early playing time on a roster built to contend. A versatile and athletic defender, McCluskey gives the staff flexibility across multiple positions, including behind the plate. 

Notable Conference USA Storylines

DBU’s next chapter: Conference USA is nearing the end of its run with its strongest national baseball brand. Dallas Baptist, a baseball-only member, is set to depart for the new Pac-12 beginning in 2027, a move that will materially alter the league’s postseason outlook. Since joining CUSA, DBU has won two regular-season titles in three years and captured the conference tournament crown in 2024, serving as the league’s most reliable path to multi-bid NCAA Tournament representation.

Once the Patriots exit, Conference USA’s margin for earning multiple bids narrows considerably. While Dallas Baptist prepares to move on, Conference USA welcomes new members Missouri State and Delaware this season. Both arrive from mid-major leagues and face a modest but meaningful step up in competition. Neither program dominated its previous conference, making their early positioning within CUSA one of the more intriguing variables to monitor as the league recalibrates.

Coaches on Power 4 radars? Conference USA could emerge as fertile ground for coaching movement following the 2026 season. The league enters the year with several head coaches who elevated their profiles in 2025 and now sit squarely on watch lists ahead of what projects to be an active hiring cycle.

Dan Heefner remains the subject of annual speculation given his sustained success at Dallas Baptist, while Marc Rardin guided Western Kentucky to historic heights in 2025 and would further elevate his standing by winning again despite significant portal attrition. Joey Hawkins enters his second season at Missouri State with a deepening talent base and the opportunity to win immediately in a higher-visibility mid-major league.

After Conference USA served as a major exporter of playing talent to the high majors this offseason, it is fair to ask whether its coaches could soon follow the same path.