2026 Baseball - General

[Eli]

I’m still relatively new to following college baseball more closely, but does it feel like there’s more uncertainty around regional hosts at this point in the year than normal? I think there’s 10 teams that are “locks” for hosting. My order today would be:

1. UCLA
2. GT
3. UGA
4. UNC
5. Texas
6. Auburn
7. FSU
8. A&M/Miss St winner today
9. Southern Miss
10. A&M/Miss St loser today

For the final 6 spots I think there’s 10 teams that have a legitimate argument depending on what you value. No idea where they will land. To have almost 40% of host spots still a question mark at this point seems kind of high, but maybe not:

• Alabama
• Florida
• Ole Miss
• Wake Forest
• Nebraska
• Kansas
• West Virginia
• USC
• Oregon
• Oregon St

USC has to be the biggest beneficiary to RPI. They are 1-9 in Q1 games. 33 of their 42 wins have come against Q3/Q4 yet somehow they are 7th in the RPI.

 

[GT33]

USC has to be the biggest beneficiary to RPI. They are 1-9 in Q1 games. 33 of their 42 wins have come against Q3/Q4 yet somehow they are 7th in the RPI.

Must have played a lot of sec teams! Those losses just mean more.

 

[gtbeak]

Just from an RPI perspective UNC has moved into the top 4 with Tennessee at #28 and currently in a suspended game up 5-3 over Oklahoma. Kentucky is at 30th in RPI.

Based on DSR, RPI and ELO there should be no way we see Tennessee now..

Yep...likely our 2 seed will be Kentucky or Jacksonville St. BTW, ELO isn't considered by the committee.

 

[Sugar3ThousandPounds]

USC has to be the biggest beneficiary to RPI. They are 1-9 in Q1 games. 33 of their 42 wins have come against Q3/Q4 yet somehow they are 7th in the RPI.

Agreed, but I don’t hate that they’re being rewarded for just winning their games. That has to matter at some point regardless of SOS.

I tend to believe USC-Oregon and Ole Miss-Bama rubber matches today are for hosting spots. And then the other 4 go to Florida, Kansas, WVU, and Oregon St. Wake and Nebraska also on the outside looking in

 

[gtbeak]

I’m still relatively new to following college baseball more closely, but does it feel like there’s more uncertainty around regional hosts at this point in the year than normal? I think there’s 10 teams that are “locks” for hosting. My order today would be:

1. UCLA
2. GT
3. UGA
4. UNC
5. Texas
6. Auburn
7. FSU
8. A&M/Miss St winner today
9. Southern Miss
10. A&M/Miss St loser today

For the final 6 spots I think there’s 10 teams that have a legitimate argument depending on what you value. No idea where they will land. To have almost 40% of host spots still a question mark at this point seems kind of high, but maybe not:

• Alabama
• Florida
• Ole Miss
• Wake Forest
• Nebraska
• Kansas
• West Virginia
• USC
• Oregon
• Oregon St

No, that's pretty normal. Almost by definition you'll always have a group of 10 or more in contention for the final few spots. Also, since you say you are new, be aware that the projections by D1B, Baseball America, us fans, etc. don't have a good history of being all that accurate. There is no equivalent in baseball to the basketball bracketologists.

 

[Eli]

Yep...likely our 2 seed will be Kentucky or Jacksonville St. BTW, ELO isn't considered by the committee.

I know it’s just an extra data point. UCLA is 3rd in DSR as of this morning and they were 1 out away from falling from the top RPI. Jax State looks highly likely ranking 32nd in RPI and 31st in DSR.

 

[TechPhi97]

Here is the full post-game interview. CJR seems to have no flaws. If you listen to this interview... besides addressing the questions, he's full on PR, recruiting, working retention throughout the program... and he even gets in some fundraising too LOL (anybody know who interrupted the interview with the call?)

I’ve said it a few times this year - if you watch these interviews and don’t come away impressed something is wrong with you. He takes every chance to explain his vision of what Georgia Tech baseball is and should be. Good leaders are able to relate today’s actions to the bigger picture, he’s really good at doing that. I’ve seen him do it when good things happen (this video) but also when we have some down moments (Xavier - this is not our standard).

Easy person to root for, hope he’s here for his whole career.

 

[TechPhi97]

Agreed, but I don’t hate that they’re being rewarded for just winning their games. That has to matter at some point regardless of SOS.

I tend to believe USC-Oregon and Ole Miss-Bama rubber matches today are for hosting spots. And then the other 4 go to Florida, Kansas, WVU, and Oregon St. Wake and Nebraska also on the outside looking in

If Wake sweeps today I think they have a chance to host. I don’t follow how all that works though, but IMHO they have a legit Top 16 case. My biased opinion is that the ACC should have 4 hosts (GT, UNC, FSU and Wake).

 

[FredJacket]

I’ve said it a few times this year - if you watch these interviews and don’t come away impressed something is wrong with you. He takes every chance to explain his vision of what Georgia Tech baseball is and should be. Good leaders are able to relate today’s actions to the bigger picture, he’s really good at doing that. I’ve seen him do it when good things happen (this video) but also when we have some down moments (Xavier - this is not our standard).

Easy person to root for, hope he’s here for his whole career.

Another great trait of his... He embraces the circumstances. Talked from Day1 (hiring announcement presser) about going to Omaha. From beginning of the season he's discussed how this team is leaning into those expectations. He knows these kids can't "ignore" the noise. He specifically coaches them on how to keep it all in perspective.

I was not "skeptical" about his lack of head coaching experience. But I acknowledged it. He's been GREAT! EXCEEDED my already high expectations.

 

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[Eli]

We now only trail UCLA by 30 RPI points. I think there is a high possibility we end up as the #1 seed and it seems like Ramsey in particular cares if we are a #1 or 2 making his sales pitch post game.

Upcoming RPI Impact Games for Georgia Tech Baseball | WarrenNolan.com

2026 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Baseball Upcoming Impact Games: Find out how much winning or losing to the next opponent will increase or decrease their RPI Rank

www.warrennolan.com

 

[gville_jacket]

We now only trail UCLA by 30 RPI points. I think there is a high possibility we end up as the #1 seed and it seems like Ramsey in particular cares if we are a #1 or 2 making his sales pitch post game.

Upcoming RPI Impact Games for Georgia Tech Baseball | WarrenNolan.com

2026 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Baseball Upcoming Impact Games: Find out how much winning or losing to the next opponent will increase or decrease their RPI Rank

www.warrennolan.com

I think if we win the ACC tournament, especially if we beat UNC in the final, we’ll get the nod for 1 overall. Same for UNC if they win against us in final.

 

[Fatmike91]

I think if we win the ACC tournament, especially if we beat UNC in the final, we’ll get the nod for 1 overall. Same for UNC if they win against us in final.

So by your math there’s no shot that UCLA the #1 RPI team the whole season gets the number 1 seed if GT and UNC win in the semi’s of the ACC tourney?

/

 

[Steverc]

So by your math there’s no shot that UCLA the #1 RPI team the whole season gets the number 1 seed if GT and UNC win in the semi’s of the ACC tourney?

/

I would say UCLA has no chance under that scenario. It plays in a weak conference and its tournament victory would not be well respected.

 

[gville_jacket]

So by your math there’s no shot that UCLA the #1 RPI team the whole season gets the number 1 seed if GT and UNC win in the semi’s of the ACC tourney?

/

Yes if UNC and GT meet in the ACC championship game, just think the strength of schedule is too much for ucla to stay on top. B1G is not nearly the same at the PAC12 was. And UCLA has dropped a few games at the end of the season. We’ll see what happens

 

[gtbeak]

In my mind #1 v #2 isn't relevant (maybe marketing/recruiting types like it), but that being said, I wonder if UCLA's run to Omaha last season will come into play? This is essentially the same team, so we (and the committee) already know what they can do. They've already proven themselves. It shouldn't come into play, but I wonder if it will.

 

[FredJacket]

How do you objectively compare UCLA & GT? They have zero common opponents as far as I know. Both have a case.

 

[gtbeak]

How do you objectively compare UCLA & GT? They have zero common opponents as far as I know. Both have a case.

Agreed. Thankfully it doesn't matter.

 

[4shotB]

I have always felt like the draw/seed/regional/bracket/etc. didn't matter really in any sport as the cream will rise to the top. If you were or are sweating those things, you had a weakness that you were hoping to hide by getting favorable matchups. this looks like a team that can take on all comers and doesn't need to hide behind a "favorable" draw. Like all of my opinions, it could very well be wrong. But this team can stand on its own merits whatever seed they ultimately get.

 

[Eli]

How do you objectively compare UCLA & GT? They have zero common opponents as far as I know. Both have a case.

Pear can do that