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College  | Story | 1/9/2026

LSU Reloads & Returns; Opens No. 1

Photo: Jay Johnson (Perfect Game)
“How do you get to success? You have to honor the process that you built to get to that success…The standard is how we operate, train, and get better each day.””

Process-oriented leadership is a popular coaching strategy here in the mid-2020s but no one exemplifies that more than LSU head coach Jay Johnson. He’s won the Tigers two national titles during his time in Baton Rouge and expectations won’t be any lower in 2026 as LSU is the No. 1 team in the country in Perfect Game’s Preseason Top 25. 



Johnson is heading into his fifth season at the helm in Baton Rouge and it’s fair to say that he has already experienced enormous success. There have been two national titles in four years (2023, 2025), a Golden Spikes winner (Dylan Crews, 2023), a first overall MLB Draft pick (Paul Skenes, 2023), and five first-round MLB Draft picks during his time leading the Tigers. Defending a national title and starting the season with No. 1 expectations but Johnson is confident in his team’s ability to turn the page and focus on the mission for 2026. 

“We’ve done a good job of moving past the 2025 championship,” comments Johnson. “I credit a lot of returning players having the maturity to do that. They’ve set a good example for the new players in the program of what it takes. It takes a lot in our league with the schedule.”

Johnson made sure to stress that while having the veteran leadership and experience from returning players who were able to win-it-all in 2025 is invaluable, that the 2026 LSU Tigers have to find an identity themselves.

“How do you get to success? You have to honor the process that you built to get to that success. That has to be recreated every year,” said Johnson. “There’s no win over the last 4 years that means anything for this team. This team has to reinvest and that’s challenging with the schedule they have to play. It’s a very high standard. The immediate thought goes to Omaha or National Championships, but we don’t look at it that way. The standard is how we operate, train and get better each day.”

LSU is tied for second nationally in terms of Perfect Game Preseason All-Americans, highlighted by First Team All-American and potential first-round pick Derek Curiel. Casan Evans and Zac Cowan join Curiel on the prestigious list but fellow returnees Jake Brown and Steven Milam are also key cogs to this team. 

“Lots of strong feelings toward all returners, they’re very good players across the board,” Johnson said. “The big separator for last year’s team was character. Derek (Curiel), Casan (Evans), and Zac (Cowan) exhibit that. When you dive into recruiting, all three of those guys are winners. As are Jake Brown, Steven Milam, William Schmidt, Cooper Williams. We have a big challenge in front of us but I have good peace of mind in the character and the leadership as far as those people.”

Having the winning character and leadership is one component of any championship contender but LSU has the benefit of being able to rely on past experiences as well. Who would know better how to take home a national title than those who were able to achieve that goal just 6 months ago?

“There’s guys who have overcome challenges and come out the other side of it,” Johnson tells me. “They’ve been in Game 7 of a Regional and come through. There are enough guys a part of those games that can draw from it. We have infused ourselves with some really good new talent. It’s about putting the hay in the barn and taking that talent and really becoming a team. Setting our own course. Everyone needs to be all in on now. I think they’re excited to do that. I get a sense that the players are ready to go for it.”

LSU earned this No. 1 preseason ranking based on the merits of their roster and coaching staff, not only because they were the last team standing in 2025. They feature a very strong core of veteran, battle-tested players while also hitting the high school and transfer portal recruiting very hard. There will undoubtedly be a target on their back, but at this point it’s fair to assume that Johnson and company operate best under fire. 

“(It’s about) having it all in perspective,” declares Johnson. “Those rankings are validation of something another team did (last year’s team), the projections of what some guys on this year’s team can do. We’re never going to validate ourselves based on what others say about us. We’ll validate ourselves by how we train, prepare, and execute baseball.”

The focus for Johnson heading into Year 5 in Baton Rouge? Stay committed to the process, control the controllables, and position yourself for success. 

“Attack what’s relevant. We put a lot of work into that and we have a group that went through a lot of positive things. If we can emulate some of the qualities of the 2025 team we’ll be in a good position for success.”

LSU opens the season at home on Skip Bertman Field at Alex Box Stadium on Friday, February 13th. The Tigers will host the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee for a three game set that weekend. For more 2026 college baseball content, stay plugged in at perfectgame.org where we will be unveiling our full preseason content schedule starting next week.

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