CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Four => SEC => Topic started by: MikeDeTiger on February 16, 2026, 01:07:47 PM
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Week 1 overreactions:
I didn't watch any of the games, just read recaps.
The starting pitching seems a bit iffy just yet. The relief pitching looked to be stronger than we're used to. Almost certainly the rotation will fluctuate for a while as the coach figures out what he's really got in this new staff.
Seems very hit and miss from the stats. We recorded the most K's LSU has ever had in a three-game series (!!!), but they also gave up too many home runs.
Defense behind the pitching had a good showing.
The bats were crazy. How much is Milwaukee's crappy staff and how much is that these guys can really hit remains to be seen. But it is "Week 1 Overreactions," so......
Gorilla Ball is back!!!
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Horns swept the Aggies over the weekend, so that's nice.
The UC-Davis Aggies
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The Vols swept the Louisiana boys as well.
The Nicholls St. version.
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Won't really know anything for a couple more weeks, then Texas is in a tournament with Coastal Carolina and Baylor. Should get some decent data then.
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Horns swept the Aggies over the weekend, so that's nice.
The UC-Davis Aggies
Being that I don't follow baseball I was kinda confused why we played so early in the season, especially being conference rivals etc and then I saw the small text.
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Horns-Ags is @ College Station this year, April 10-12. Should be a heck of a series, they always are between our two teams.
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Won't really know anything for a couple more weeks, then Texas is in a tournament with Coastal Carolina and Baylor. Should get some decent data then.
I see you take a different approach to "Week 1 Overreactions".....
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The Texas head coach largely had the same sentiment. To paraphrase, he basically implied that Texas had 3-4 star quality reliable players that he could trust to perform in the field and at the plate. Most of the others showed that they had talent, but needed to show it consistently during critical parts of the game.
They can field a pretty solid starting 9, but there's no trust in the depth right now.
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How would a top ten college team fair against a minor league team? Are they about like AA ball?
My buddies all told me it was at AA ball where the players were pretty much all very good. They said AAA often was populated with players who were also very good, but just shy of the MLB level, and would stay that way, many jump from AA to MLB. So, it seemed to me like AA was close to AAA overall, but maybe AA would be dotted with a few players who were really good.
It would be hard to make it to AAA and realize you just lacked that something to get to the Show.
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I see you take a different approach to "Week 1 Overreactions".....
Perhaps my version of an overreaction is an underreaction. Double reverse. Boom!
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How would a top ten college team fair against a minor league team? Are they about like AA ball?
My buddies all told me it was at AA ball where the players were pretty much all very good. They said AAA often was populated with players who were also very good, but just shy of the MLB level, and would stay that way, many jump from AA to MLB. So, it seemed to me like AA was close to AAA overall, but maybe AA would be dotted with a few players who were really good.
It would be hard to make it to AAA and realize you just lacked that something to get to the Show.
I think baseball can be kind of cruel in this aspect. Meaning, as a football player, if the call hasn't come by the time you're 23-24 years old, it isn't coming at all. Time to move on with life.
Baseball will let you drag it out forever. You can drive around with a minor league club, largely fund your own equipment and meals, and wait for that call up to the majors. Maybe that outfielder needs a day off unexpectedly. You get your shot. You can show them you belong, and be considered for a roster spot. Meanwhile, you're 28, 29, 30 years old.
I think your "top 10 college team" better be one of the "we win because we have really good pitchers" type teams. If you're earning a paycheck on a AA team, you're all probably past the "learning to hit standard pitching" phase.
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I see tonight that The Kids Where I Work are playing at The Place I Used To Live. Kinda wish I could see that.
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Hmm, I checked the score and that went about as well as I thought it might. Horns knocked them around pretty good. Tonight KU comes to town, kinda wish I could stay to see that. My office is right next door to the baseball field and the entire parking lot is full today. The game is on SEC+ and I wonder how much in advance do camera crews have to get here to broadcast a game, and how many of them there are. Could be another explanation for why the lot is packed today, but I don't know what it would be. Us usual employees don't fill the place up nearly like this.
Also, why would a B12 team bother coming to a place like this, I wonder.
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oops, I meant ESPN+, not SEC+
Silly tiger.
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Hmm, I checked the score and that went about as well as I thought it might. Horns knocked them around pretty good. Tonight KU comes to town, kinda wish I could stay to see that. My office is right next door to the baseball field and the entire parking lot is full today. The game is on SEC+ and I wonder how much in advance do camera crews have to get here to broadcast a game, and how many of them there are. Could be another explanation for why the lot is packed today, but I don't know what it would be. Us usual employees don't fill the place up nearly like this.
Also, why would a B12 team bother coming to a place like this, I wonder.
Because it's cold and miserable in yankee-land in February. Lots of yankee teams come down and do week-long tours in the South during February before their conference seasons get started. They'll play all comers, large or small, and try to pack in as many games as they can to make their time away from home worth it.
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Hmm, not bad. I'm not much for reading too much into midweek games, but knocking off a B12 team is still something, I guess.
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Man every college baseball team in Texas has some dudes. I consider them all to be dangerous. And it's good competition for those midweek games to keep everyone sharp.
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How much would you say pitching dominates beisbol in college vs MLB?
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I'm defiitely not qualified to answer that since I don't follow MLB, but hopefully one of our other posters around here could help.
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I've been told that, for an arbitrary value of "elite", that an elite pitcher has the edge over an elite hitter.
However...
There are only 30 MLB teams. Each need 4 or so starters, plus 6 or so competent relievers. At all levels, from high school through college through minor ball, MLB teams are ready to write sizeable checks to anyone who shows promise as a pitcher.
Anyone left over is likely in college.
There's umpty gazillion collegiate teams using not-quite-MLB ready talent. I'd therefore be willing to bet that collegiate hitters have a substantially narrowed gap in relation to their pitching counterparts. I've seen more 15-12 competitive collegiate scores where both teams trust their offense over their pitching.
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I wonder in college is a team stacked with pitching and mediocre hitting is going to prosper more than the reverse.
I understand the best is balance, but consider the zero sum game. In MLB, elite pitching can usually shut down elite hitting. Usually.
I could see some college pitchers developing from age 18 into being "elite" with great coaching. I was a pretty good HS pitcher before my arm went, with no coaching. I finally got coaching more recently and was amazed and what I had been doing wrong. A lot of smaller things, just technique, it really helped even me.
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Wow, we're playing at Texas A&M tomorrow (#24), we'll see if it goes any better than at Texas, who I did not realize was #3.
Then starting 4/2, Oregon State is coming here for a weekend series :o I know the PAC is basically dead, but the Beavers have some good baseball history and are currently ranked #11. Seems like quite something to host them here. Since that starts on a Thursday evening while I'm still on campus, I definitely want to try to go to that.
The Tuesday before that they play at #7 TCU. Quite a little schedule we got going.
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I'm a bit surprised you're playing such high level comp this early in the season.
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I'm a bit surprised you're playing such high level comp this early in the season.
Small schools like Lamar play top teams whenever they can. It's usually either for a midweek game, or maybe in an early-season weekend tournament with several teams playing a roundrobin.
Not to be disparaging but it's not like they've got an SEC-level schedule to look forward to. So they'll go on the road to play Texas and Texas A&M if they can, sometimes maybe even twice in a season.
What's really cool for them, though, is that their schedule against Oregon State is not just a midweek one-off but rather a full weekend series, and it's at HOME. That's going to be a fun series for them.
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Yeah, I'm definitely going to G1. I've seen some west-coast baseball royalty at The Box before, but I've never seen Oregon State. Our stadium is not that big, but I'm curious to see what kind of fan turnout we have. In early April, as long as it's not raining, the weather should be great to take in a ballgame.
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Good grief. 25 - 5 (L)
25 - 5!!!!
I know Texas A&M is ranked and is dangerous, but that is a crooked, lopsided, uncompetitive score. I haven't seen anything like that since Florida pummeled LSU 24-4 in g2 of the 2023 CWS.
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In other news, LSU lost its first game to McNeese.
Ever since I went there, McNeese has seemingly had a knack for knocking off LSU in midweek games.
This was one a comedy of errors, literally. Lots for this Tiger team to clean up.
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Lots of upsets in the SEC and top 25 yesterday. I saw some social media posts acting like it's a big deal.
It's not a big deal.
Midweek games are when the tiny underdogs pitch their aces, and the top teams tinker with their lineups.
This is nothing new at all.
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Certainly not new for McNeese to stick it to LSU midweek, and they've done it later in the season to more rounded-into-form Tiger teams than what this one currently is.
That said, still lots for them to clean up, yet, if they aspire to be worthy of their lofty ranking. Lot of potential on this squad, looks like. How consistent they can be will have a lot to say about how they ultimately fare.
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Horns will finally get a challenge starting Friday in a weekend-long roundrobin tourney in Houston with teams including Coastal Carolina and Baylor.
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Baseball America says this about Coastal Carolina:
16. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
- Previous ranking: No. 11
- Last week: 2-2
- Overall: 5-2
- Weekend record: 1-1
Results
Coastal Carolina had five games on the schedule, but rain canceled a Saturday matchup with Illinois in the team’s Baseball at the Beach tournament that also included VCU. The Chanticleers beat VCU twice, but dropped games against Illinois, 14-5, and a Tuesday home game against College of Charleston, 4-3.
Standout Performer
Senior outfielder Dean Mihos has been a steady presence at the top of the lineup all season. He went 6-for-14 (.429) this week with one double, three walks, one stolen base and just one strikeout. He’s gotten a hit in six of his first seven games and leads the team with a .407 average.
Upcoming
Feb. 24: vs. Campbell
Feb. 27: (Neutral site) Texas
Feb. 28: (Neutral site) UTSA
March 1: (Neutral site) Ole Miss
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6. Texas Longhorns
- Previous ranking: 7
- Last week: 4-0
- Overall: 7-0
- Weekend record: 2-0
Results
After a 14-4 run-rule midweek win over Lamar, Texas leaned on its pitching staff to secure 8-1, 3-1 and 4-0 victories over Michigan State, which took two ranked wins at Louisville on opening weekend. Sunday’s 4-0 result marked the Longhorns’ first shutout of the season.
Standout Performer
Sophomore lefthander Dylan Volantis continued to shine in his new role as a starter, striking out a career-best nine over seven scoreless innings on Sunday. He retired 15 of the first 16 batters he faced, threw 63 of a career-high 91 pitches for strikes and allowed just four infield singles. Outfielder Aiden Robbins hit for the cycle on Saturday as well.
Upcoming
Feb. 24: vs. UTRGV
Feb. 27: (Neutral Site) Coastal Carolina
Feb. 28: (Neutral Site) Baylor
March 1: (Neutral Site) Ohio State
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Other conference teams:
3. Mississippi State Bulldogs
- Previous ranking: 3
- Last week: 5-0
- Overall: 8-0
- Weekend record: 2-0
Results
The third-ranked Bulldogs cruised through their first full week, dispatching Troy and Alcorn State midweek before sweeping Delaware over the weekend. Mississippi State outscored its opponents 58-12 across the five-game stretch.
Standout Performer
Starting pitcher Ryan McPherson continued to look sharp at the front of the Bulldogs’ staff, tossing six innings while allowing one earned run on four hits and striking out a career-high 11 against one walk. Through 10 innings this season, McPherson has 15 strikeouts and three earned runs allowed (2.70 ERA).
Upcoming
Feb. 24: vs. Austin Peay
Feb. 27: (Neutral site) Arizona State
Feb. 28: (Neutral site) Virginia Tech
March 1: (Neutral site) No. 1 UCLA
5. Auburn Tigers
- Previous ranking: 5
- Last week: 3-1
- Overall: 6-1 (1-0 vs. Top 25)
- Weekend record: 2-0
Results
Auburn stumbled out of the gate in Week 2 with an 8-0 midweek loss to unranked Cincinnati at Plainsman Park but rebounded over the weekend with wins over Kansas State (5-1), then-No. 12 Florida State (8-5) and Louisville (10-6). The Tigers have won eight straight games at Globe Life Field dating back to their first trip there in 2022.
Standout Performer
Tabbed “a catalyst” by head coach Butch Thompson, junior outfielder Bristol Carter went 7-for-12 with a home run, two RBIs and three stolen bases while drawing three walks against one strikeout. Thompson said Carter “might be the one who gets the most credit for getting us going.”
Upcoming
Feb. 25: vs. West Georgia
Feb. 27: vs. Nebraska
Feb. 28: vs. Nebraska
March 1: vs. Nebraska
8. Georgia Bulldogs
- Previous ranking: 9
- Last week: 5-0
- Overall: 6-1
- Weekend record: 2-0
Results
Georgia faced little resistance in Week 2, beating USC Upstate 12-6 midweek before sweeping Samford 11-1, 12-4 and 22-0, with the first and last wins coming via seven-inning run rule. The 22 runs were the most in a game under coach Wes Johnson and marked the first time since 2010 that every Georgia hitter recorded both a hit and run scored in the same game.
Standout Performer
Junior Tre Phelps went 7-for-13 with two doubles, a home run, three RBIs and eight runs scored. His week included a perfect 4-for-4 performance Saturday and extended his hitting streak to 21 games dating back to last season.
Upcoming
Feb. 25: vs. Troy
Feb. 27: vs. Oakland
Feb. 28: vs Oakland
Feb. 28: vs. Oakland
March 1: vs. Oakland
9. Arkansas Razorbacks
- Previous ranking: 10
- Last week: 4-0
- Overall: 6-1 (0-1 vs. Top 25)
- Weekend record: 2-0
Results
The Razorbacks handled business with a 3-1 midweek win over Tarleton State in Arlington before sweeping a quietly challenging Xavier club, which dropped the first two games by a combined four runs before being run-ruled Sunday.
Standout Performer
Second baseman Cam Kozeal went 8-for-17 with a double, a triple, two home runs and seven RBIs. The highlight came Saturday when he became the first Razorback since 2022 to hit for the cycle.
Upcoming
Feb. 24: vs. Arkansas State
Feb. 25: vs. Arkansas State
Feb. 27: vs. UT Arlington
Feb. 28: vs. UT Arlington
March 1: vs. UT Arlington
10. Oklahoma Sooners
- Previous ranking: 15
- Last week: 4-0
- Overall: 7-0 (1-0 vs. Top 25)
- Weekend record: 2-0
Results
Oklahoma followed a perfect opening weekend with a 10-6 midweek win over New Mexico State and a sweep of Coppin State in which it outscored its opponent 57-1. With its seventh straight game scoring 10-plus runs, the Sooners set a program record for consecutive double-digit scoring games, surpassing the 1988 and 1998 teams’ six-game streaks.
Standout Performer
Third baseman Camden Johnson went 3-for-7 with two doubles, 10 runs scored, five walks against one strikeout and nine stolen bases in four games in Week 2. His four stolen bases Sunday were tied with teammate Trey Gambill for the most by a Sooner in a single game since 1996.
Upcoming
Feb. 24: vs. Arizona State
Feb. 25: vs. Arizona State
Feb. 27: vs. Gonzaga
Feb. 28: vs. Gonzaga
March 1: vs. Gonzaga
11. Ole Miss Rebels
- Previous ranking: 16
- Last week: 5-0
- Overall: 8-0
- Weekend record: 2-0
Results
The Rebels added five wins in Week 2 with midweek victories over Arkansas State (7-6) and Jackson State (18-3 in seven innings) before sweeping Missouri State with 11-6, 6-3 and 3-2 wins. They enter Week 3 one win shy of matching their best start since the 2022 national championship season.
Standout Performer
It wasn’t the most efficient week, but it was as impactful as any for Ole Miss senior Judd Utermark, who went 6-for-19 with five home runs to push his season total to six. Utermark is tied with UCLA’s Roch Cholowsky and Will Gasparino and Miami’s Daniel Cuvet for the early national lead in home runs.
Upcoming
Feb. 24: vs. Southeast Missouri State
Feb. 27: (Neutral Site) Baylor
Feb. 28: (Neutral site) Ohio State
March 1: (Neutral site) No. 16 Coastal Carolina
19. Tennessee Volunteers
- Previous ranking: No. 13
- Last week: 2-2
- Overall: 5-2
- Weekend record: 1-1
Results
Tennessee hosted UNC Asheville in a midweek matchup and won that game 10-3, but dropped their weekend series against unranked Kent State, 2-1.
Standout Performer
Sophomore righthander Landon Mack got the start on Saturday, and did his part to keep Tennessee in the game. He struck out 11 and walked three in 6.2 innings, and allowed just one earned run on four hits.
Upcoming
Feb. 24: vs. Bellarmine
Feb. 27: (Neutral site) No. 1 UCLA
Feb. 28: (Neutral site) Arizona State
March 1: (Neutral site) Virginia Tech
21. Texas A&M Aggies
- Previous ranking: No. 22
- Last week: 4-0
- Overall: 7-0
- Weekend record: 2-0
Results
The Aggies hosted Penn and swept their series, though it didn’t come easily. They won 1-0 on Friday, then won a 2-1 extra-inning game on Saturday before wrapping things up with a 7-1 Sunday affair. The Texas A&M pitching staff didn’t walk a single batter in this series.
Standout Performer
Sophomore righthander Aiden Sims got the start on Sunday. He threw seven innings and allowed one earned run on three hits, but struck out 10 of the 24 batters he faced—without a walk, of course. He faced the minimum through his first five innings and the 10 strikeouts were a career high.
Upcoming
Feb. 24: vs. Lamar
Feb. 27: (Neutral site) Virginia Tech
Feb. 28: (Neutral site) No. 1 UCLA
March 1: (Neutral site) Arizona State
23. Florida Gators
- Previous ranking: No. 24
- Last week: 5-0
- Overall: 7-1
- Weekend record: 2-0
Results
Florida hosted Stetson for a pair of midweek games and won both, with a combined score of 21-5. They then swept a three-game series against Kennesaw State to pick up their seventh straight win after dropping the season opener. The Florida pitching staff posted a 2.35 ERA over the weekend with 22 strikeouts and just three walks.
Standout Performer
Junior righthander Liam Peterson bounced back from a tough week one outing and looked dominant at times during week two. He struck out 12 batters and walked two in 5.1 shutout innings. He allowed one hit, and largely gave the defense a break, as 12 of the 16 batters he retired came via the strikeout.
Upcoming
Feb. 24: vs. Florida International
Feb. 25: vs. Florida International
Feb. 27: @ No. 22 Miami
Feb. 28: @ No. 22 Miami
March 1: @ No. 22 Miami
25. Vanderbilt Commodores
- Previous ranking: NR
- Last week: 5-0
- Overall: 6-2 (0-1 vs. Top 25)
- Weekend record: 1-1
Results
After a tough trip to Texas in week one that saw Vanderbilt slip just outside of the top 25, they blitzed both Eastern Michigan and Marist in a 5-0 week that brought them back into the fold. The Commodores outscored their opponents, 65-11, and won four straight games by the run rule. In this five-game stretch the team hit .427 with 13 home runs and posted a 2.13 ERA.
Standout Performer
Sophomore third baseman Brodie Johnston has been red hot since the season began. In this five-game stretch he reached base in every game and went 7-for-19 (.368) with two home runs, two doubles, three walks and just a pair of strikeouts. In eight games this season he’s hitting .419/.500/1.032.
Upcoming
Feb. 24: vs. Evansville
Feb. 27: (Neutral site) UC Irvine
Feb. 28: (Neutral site) Arizona
March 1: (Neutral site) Oregon
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watched the Horns for the first time last night
they played Coastal Carolina in the Bruce Bolt college clasic
THey lived up to their number 3 ranking and won 8 to 1.
CC is no cupcake being ranked 9
I was very impressed with the pitching as well as the hitting
last year our hittling was missing in action
looks like this year will be different
anyway they play again tonight as they face Baylor at 7 pm
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watched the Horns for the first time last night
they played Coastal Carolina in the Bruce Bolt college clasic
THey lived up to their number 3 ranking and won 8 to 1.
CC is no cupcake being ranked 9
I was very impressed with the pitching as well as the hitting
last year our hittling was missing in action
looks like this year will be different
anyway they play again tonight as they face Baylor at 7 pm
Glad you got to see it! I still haven't made it down to the Disch yet, but the team definitely seems to be rounding into shape earlier than last year.
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Impressive weekend for UT.
LSU's pitching appeared to take a step forward on the weekend, while the bats collectively slumped.
Lamar got a conference series sweep over UTRGV, who I did not even realize was in the Southland. Looks like that just happened in 2024.
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Florida is 12-1, winning 12 straight, including 2 @ Miami (3rd game cancelled). Entering that series, UF-Miami were 136-136-1 against each other, all-time.
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Oof.....two midweek losses to Northeastern and Louisiana (Cajuns) where the bats continue to slump and the defense falls apart with errors galore.
Rice played here yesterday (and won, 4-1). Our little stadium is cute, with its 3300 seats. I still wonder where they'd all park if it filled up. This lot just ain't big enough to support that, and the next closest place the general public can park that I know of would be quite a walk.
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Horns are looking pretty good so far. Seems like we've got a couple weekend starters at pitching, and the bats are doing well against mostly poor competition.
Speaking of which, we're playing someone called "USC Upstate" this weekend, which I had to look up. Apparently it's a school in South Carolina with an enrollment of 5K-6K.
I'm thinking about going on Saturday, unless it's too rainy.
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Ehhhh, almost got swept by High Point at home. Took a 4-run bottom-9 rally to avoid it. This team was cruising along, looking good and then BOOM.
Maybe not so good. Ugh.
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Well Texas swept the series, run-ruled them in games 1 and 3 but allowed a crazy huge comeback in the 9th in game 2. Admittedly it was after some long weather delays and the team was out of sorts.
Midweek game against always-ready Texas State, and then finally an SEC series when the Rebs come to Austin this weekend.
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Ehhhh, almost got swept by High Point at home. Took a 4-run bottom-9 rally to avoid it. This team was cruising along, looking good and then BOOM.
Maybe not so good. Ugh.
Kinda the same here. Lost the series to Sacramento State at home. Bats exploded in g1 but then went right back to slumping in gs 2-3, along with some iffy relief pitching. Just one more midweek game to figure some things out before conference play begins @Vanderbilt.
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Dropped our first midweek game to mighty Tarleton State last night. I don't expect it will be the last one. Like I say, EVERY school in Texas has some dudes.
Gotta regroup for a roadtrip to Auburn this weekend. Hoping for the bats to return.
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Last night was the fifth game Ive seen the Horns play. I have nerver seen our bats as quiet as last nights game. Amazing. We better pick it up against #4 Auburn or its going to be a long weekend.
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Last night was the fifth game Ive seen the Horns play.
Pretty good amount of games to have watched in person at this point in the season.
I won't get to see "us" play, but I'm still looking forward to hopefully seeing Oregon State in a few weeks when they come to take on the kids at the university where I work.
"We" might not actually be much worth seeing this year. Dropped out of the rankings after last week, and deservedly so. It's getting a little late in the year to still be trying to clean up fixable problems. Despite the talent, this squad just may not be too hot this year.
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Tennessee sucks.
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I watched all our games on ESPN+
Girls softball as well
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6-game win streak snapped by being no-hit by Alabama. That's fun.
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Horns take 2 of 3 from Auburn. They looked good.
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Tigers lose another series, this time to OU, yet again needing literally just one routine play to change the series outcome. One more strike against Vanderbilt last Sunday, and one cleanly fielded ball Saturday against OU, and they'd be 4-2 in SEC play instead of 2-4
I'm not letting the "they're close" stuff fool me, though. This team has problems in every phase of the game, and has the poorest defense I've seen on the team in many years. Problems fielding and errors has been the rule for this team, not the exception.
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Horns take 2 of 3 from Auburn. They looked good.
Yeah and it coulda been a sweep, Horns blew the lead in the 9th in game 1. But it's baseball and that's the way it goes.
Same thing happened last week, Horns blew a big lead in the 9th and lost in extras. The team could be 6-0 right now. Need to clean up that Friday relief pitching.
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Yeah and it coulda been a sweep, Horns blew the lead in the 9th in game 1. But it's baseball and that's the way it goes.
Same thing happened last week, Horns blew a big lead in the 9th and lost in extras. The team could be 6-0 right now. Need to clean up that Friday relief pitching.
Its a long season and the Horns will have many chances to redeem themselves. This week brings Oklahoma for a home series. There just is no let up in the SEC.
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Now THAT is the way you bounce back from a midweek loss. 14-0 complete game shutout 7-inning run-rule of your archrival.
https://twitter.com/TexasBaseball/status/2037360889901326445
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Its a Start
2 more games this week
The Horns need at least one of them and hoping for a sweep
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Riojas pitching a complete game shutout is going to really help us keep the rest of our weekend pitching in good shape. That's huge for us.
I'm thinking about going down for the game tonight. My buddy Bald Greg has an extra ticket.
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Im invious but at least I can watch on TV
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Maybe I'll check out Sling Orange for my burnt orange wife since the burnt orange guys look so good this year. She'd probably enjoy watching them play. We don't usually have tv during the football offseason, so I missed our '23 and '25 games, but I chalk that up to being okay because it also means I'm not watching teams like this year's. But if the Horns really do something this year, it'd be a shame for her to miss it.
Hmm. I'll think about it.
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Horns are pretty good this year. Are they championship caliber? Gonna have to wait to find out. As I'm sure you've heard, the SEC ain't no joke when it comes to hardball.
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Maybe I'll check out Sling Orange for my burnt orange wife since the burnt orange guys look so good this year. She'd probably enjoy watching them play. We don't usually have tv during the football offseason, so I missed our '23 and '25 games, but I chalk that up to being okay because it also means I'm not watching teams like this year's. But if the Horns really do something this year, it'd be a shame for her to miss it.
Hmm. I'll think about it.
Just get ESPN+ and install it on a ROKU
With that you can watch all SEC sports
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I'll have to look into ESPN+, not really sure what that is or how it works. Is that what used to be called ESPN3?
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I watched Oregon State play last night, first time I've ever seen them in person. Couldn't pass up the chance to see the #8 team play when they played right next to my office, right when I got off work. Literally, my office shares the parking lot with the baseball facilities, so I just left my truck where I normally park and strolled over. Shortest walk I've ever had into a ball game.
Our guys played pretty well overall, some of the pitching was particularly good. Though from watching the Beavers, and just knowing that whole west-coast small-ball ethos (which I hate), they're probably not the deadliest of hitting teams. Still, they weren't able to muster much. 2 runs on 5 hits....it could've been worse. Unfortunately our guys couldn't plate any runs off of just 3 hits. They did have some great at bats, drew some walks and HPBs, but stranded all the runners. Managed to load the bases at one point, but Oregon State's guy pitched out of it. But overall, we played competitively, and weren't even close to run off the field. It's possible they could've kept the Beavers off the board if the 2B had played more aggressively. He definitely did not attack the ball early on, he looked reeeeeal tentative letting the ball come to him, and it cost a couple of on-bases, which OSU parlayed into runs. Now that I think about it, after he settled down, and after OSU scored a run in the first and second innings, they never scored again. It looked to me like a couple of our guys might have been a little awestruck by the moment, and they certainly played like it at first.
Which makes me wonder....how good, really, is Oregon State? We played both Texas and Texas A&M earlier this year, and they blasted us into orbit. I know not to read too much into a single game, but still. Also, just eyeballing both of those teams.....I wasn't particularly blown away by what I was seeing with OSU. Their pitchers were a bunch of fast balls and.....that's almost it. There was a truly beautiful slider at one point, but anything but the fastball was rare, and not particularly impressive. They did have 2 or 3 guys who consistently touched mid-to-high 90's, so that's something. The umpire's strike zone moved, expanded, contracted, warped into other dimensions....yeah, I'm the cliche fan, but I was right there and I saw what I saw. So it's hard to say how that affected the pitching and the hitting.
It's been a while since I've been to a college beisbol game, and though the stadium and crowd are not what I'm used to, it was still super fun. Most of the people sitting around me were family of the players. The couple sitting directly behind me were the parents of the DH, and dammit, he actually did bat a run in at the bottom of the 3rd, but Oregon State challenged and then he was ruled out at first base. I had a great, and close, view of first base and I thought he was safe, barely. Then later as everybody began getting the replays on their phones, it clearly looked like he was safe. Not even a tie, which would still go to the runner. Even ESPN's scrub announcers said they didn't see how you could overturn that. At the end of the 2-0 loss, I told the dad "I still think your boy had an RBI and it should've been 2-1." He chuckled and said he was just happy they didn't get embarrassed.
I also figured out where all the hot chicks at our college are. They're dating the baseball players. I have pretty limited encounters with students, but when I do go walking through campus, I've lamented that there don't seem to be any good-looking girls around like when I was in school. We must have some somewhere.....or maybe these girls don't go to school, maybe they just know the players from elsewhere. But I kept seeing very pretty girls, and sitting alone. I kept thinking that's odd, you don't usually see a girl like that sitting alone, particularly at a ball game....that she looks vaguely bored by. Then it dawned on me....they're just there for their boyfriend. Welp, good for those players. After getting choked out for a big fat 0 on your home field, at least you've got a cutie to keep you company afterwards.
Supposedly OSU's pitcher for tonight's game is supposed to be one of the best, if not the best, pitcher in the country. Wouldn't mind checking out another one, but I've got plans the rest of the weekend, starting with a BBQ at my dad's this afternoon.
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Top 2026 College Pitcher Prospects
- Jackson Flora (https://www.google.com/search?q=Jackson+Flora&sca_esv=cea4f549e60cd083&sxsrf=ANbL-n4P-YADtL5ep8AZVbu0NBZxJ8xZ1A%3A1775232254173&source=hp&ei=_uTPaaijCIadw8cPyfTa4Q0&iflsig=AFdpzrgAAAAAac_zDo6bc-8hvFm9FvOA4Q9XYjtPxwX6&oq=best+college+pitchers&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhViZXN0IGNvbGxlZ2UgcGl0Y2hlcnMqAggAMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeSIkvUABYohxwAHgAkAEAmAFSoAGACqoBAjIxuAEByAEA-AEBmAIVoAKCC8ICBBAjGCfCAgoQLhiABBiKBRhDwgIQEC4YgAQYigUYQxjHARjRA8ICChAAGIAEGIoFGEPCAggQABiABBixA8ICDhAuGIAEGLEDGMcBGNEDwgIOEC4YgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBiSA8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJIDwgIOEAAYgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBjJA8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAg4QABiABBixAxiDARjJA5gDAJIHAjIxoAfPiQGyBwIyMbgHggvCBwgwLjcuMTMuMcgHZYAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=2ahUKEwiQ6ODFh9KTAxWL1fACHTDlI90QgK4QegYIAQgAEAk) (RHP, UCSB): Often cited as the top pitcher in the class, owning a sub-1.00 ERA early in the 2026 season with massive strikeout numbers.
- Cameron Flukey (https://www.google.com/search?q=Cameron+Flukey&sca_esv=cea4f549e60cd083&sxsrf=ANbL-n4P-YADtL5ep8AZVbu0NBZxJ8xZ1A%3A1775232254173&source=hp&ei=_uTPaaijCIadw8cPyfTa4Q0&iflsig=AFdpzrgAAAAAac_zDo6bc-8hvFm9FvOA4Q9XYjtPxwX6&oq=best+college+pitchers&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhViZXN0IGNvbGxlZ2UgcGl0Y2hlcnMqAggAMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeSIkvUABYohxwAHgAkAEAmAFSoAGACqoBAjIxuAEByAEA-AEBmAIVoAKCC8ICBBAjGCfCAgoQLhiABBiKBRhDwgIQEC4YgAQYigUYQxjHARjRA8ICChAAGIAEGIoFGEPCAggQABiABBixA8ICDhAuGIAEGLEDGMcBGNEDwgIOEC4YgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBiSA8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJIDwgIOEAAYgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBjJA8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAg4QABiABBixAxiDARjJA5gDAJIHAjIxoAfPiQGyBwIyMbgHggvCBwgwLjcuMTMuMcgHZYAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=2ahUKEwiQ6ODFh9KTAxWL1fACHTDlI90QgK4QegYIAQgAEAs) (RHP, Coastal Carolina): A dominant starter who can reach 99 mph with his fastball and features a devastating curveball, considered a top-10 prospect.
- Dax Whitney (https://www.google.com/search?q=Dax+Whitney&sca_esv=cea4f549e60cd083&sxsrf=ANbL-n4P-YADtL5ep8AZVbu0NBZxJ8xZ1A%3A1775232254173&source=hp&ei=_uTPaaijCIadw8cPyfTa4Q0&iflsig=AFdpzrgAAAAAac_zDo6bc-8hvFm9FvOA4Q9XYjtPxwX6&oq=best+college+pitchers&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhViZXN0IGNvbGxlZ2UgcGl0Y2hlcnMqAggAMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeSIkvUABYohxwAHgAkAEAmAFSoAGACqoBAjIxuAEByAEA-AEBmAIVoAKCC8ICBBAjGCfCAgoQLhiABBiKBRhDwgIQEC4YgAQYigUYQxjHARjRA8ICChAAGIAEGIoFGEPCAggQABiABBixA8ICDhAuGIAEGLEDGMcBGNEDwgIOEC4YgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBiSA8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJIDwgIOEAAYgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBjJA8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAg4QABiABBixAxiDARjJA5gDAJIHAjIxoAfPiQGyBwIyMbgHggvCBwgwLjcuMTMuMcgHZYAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=2ahUKEwiQ6ODFh9KTAxWL1fACHTDlI90QgK4QegYIAQgAEA0)
(RHP, Oregon State):
Took over the No. 1 spot in many rankings by March 2026 due to elite performances.
- Mason Edwards (https://www.google.com/search?q=Mason+Edwards&sca_esv=cea4f549e60cd083&sxsrf=ANbL-n4P-YADtL5ep8AZVbu0NBZxJ8xZ1A%3A1775232254173&source=hp&ei=_uTPaaijCIadw8cPyfTa4Q0&iflsig=AFdpzrgAAAAAac_zDo6bc-8hvFm9FvOA4Q9XYjtPxwX6&oq=best+college+pitchers&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhViZXN0IGNvbGxlZ2UgcGl0Y2hlcnMqAggAMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeSIkvUABYohxwAHgAkAEAmAFSoAGACqoBAjIxuAEByAEA-AEBmAIVoAKCC8ICBBAjGCfCAgoQLhiABBiKBRhDwgIQEC4YgAQYigUYQxjHARjRA8ICChAAGIAEGIoFGEPCAggQABiABBixA8ICDhAuGIAEGLEDGMcBGNEDwgIOEC4YgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBiSA8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJIDwgIOEAAYgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBjJA8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAg4QABiABBixAxiDARjJA5gDAJIHAjIxoAfPiQGyBwIyMbgHggvCBwgwLjcuMTMuMcgHZYAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=2ahUKEwiQ6ODFh9KTAxWL1fACHTDlI90QgK4QegYIAQgCEAE) (LHP, Southern California): A standout performer leading up to March 2026 with a low ERA and high strikeout numbers.
- Liam Peterson (https://www.google.com/search?q=Liam+Peterson&sca_esv=cea4f549e60cd083&sxsrf=ANbL-n4P-YADtL5ep8AZVbu0NBZxJ8xZ1A%3A1775232254173&source=hp&ei=_uTPaaijCIadw8cPyfTa4Q0&iflsig=AFdpzrgAAAAAac_zDo6bc-8hvFm9FvOA4Q9XYjtPxwX6&oq=best+college+pitchers&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhViZXN0IGNvbGxlZ2UgcGl0Y2hlcnMqAggAMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeSIkvUABYohxwAHgAkAEAmAFSoAGACqoBAjIxuAEByAEA-AEBmAIVoAKCC8ICBBAjGCfCAgoQLhiABBiKBRhDwgIQEC4YgAQYigUYQxjHARjRA8ICChAAGIAEGIoFGEPCAggQABiABBixA8ICDhAuGIAEGLEDGMcBGNEDwgIOEC4YgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBiSA8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJIDwgIOEAAYgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBjJA8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAg4QABiABBixAxiDARjJA5gDAJIHAjIxoAfPiQGyBwIyMbgHggvCBwgwLjcuMTMuMcgHZYAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=2ahUKEwiQ6ODFh9KTAxWL1fACHTDlI90QgK4QegYIAQgCEAM) (RHP, Florida): Ranked among the top college pitchers in the 2026 draft class.
- Wes Mendes (https://www.google.com/search?q=Wes+Mendes&sca_esv=cea4f549e60cd083&sxsrf=ANbL-n4P-YADtL5ep8AZVbu0NBZxJ8xZ1A%3A1775232254173&source=hp&ei=_uTPaaijCIadw8cPyfTa4Q0&iflsig=AFdpzrgAAAAAac_zDo6bc-8hvFm9FvOA4Q9XYjtPxwX6&oq=best+college+pitchers&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhViZXN0IGNvbGxlZ2UgcGl0Y2hlcnMqAggAMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeSIkvUABYohxwAHgAkAEAmAFSoAGACqoBAjIxuAEByAEA-AEBmAIVoAKCC8ICBBAjGCfCAgoQLhiABBiKBRhDwgIQEC4YgAQYigUYQxjHARjRA8ICChAAGIAEGIoFGEPCAggQABiABBixA8ICDhAuGIAEGLEDGMcBGNEDwgIOEC4YgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBiSA8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJIDwgIOEAAYgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBjJA8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAg4QABiABBixAxiDARjJA5gDAJIHAjIxoAfPiQGyBwIyMbgHggvCBwgwLjcuMTMuMcgHZYAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=2ahUKEwiQ6ODFh9KTAxWL1fACHTDlI90QgK4QegYIAQgCEAU) (LHP, Florida State): A high-riser who has recorded multiple double-digit strikeout games.
- Thatcher Hurd (https://www.google.com/search?q=Thatcher+Hurd&sca_esv=cea4f549e60cd083&sxsrf=ANbL-n4P-YADtL5ep8AZVbu0NBZxJ8xZ1A%3A1775232254173&source=hp&ei=_uTPaaijCIadw8cPyfTa4Q0&iflsig=AFdpzrgAAAAAac_zDo6bc-8hvFm9FvOA4Q9XYjtPxwX6&oq=best+college+pitchers&gs_lp=Egdnd3Mtd2l6IhViZXN0IGNvbGxlZ2UgcGl0Y2hlcnMqAggAMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBRAAGIAEMgUQABiABDIFEAAYgAQyBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeMgYQABgWGB4yBhAAGBYYHjIGEAAYFhgeSIkvUABYohxwAHgAkAEAmAFSoAGACqoBAjIxuAEByAEA-AEBmAIVoAKCC8ICBBAjGCfCAgoQLhiABBiKBRhDwgIQEC4YgAQYigUYQxjHARjRA8ICChAAGIAEGIoFGEPCAggQABiABBixA8ICDhAuGIAEGLEDGMcBGNEDwgIOEC4YgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBiSA8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJIDwgIOEAAYgAQYigUYsQMYgwHCAggQABiABBjJA8ICCxAAGIAEGIoFGJECwgILEAAYgAQYsQMYgwHCAg4QABiABBixAxiDARjJA5gDAJIHAjIxoAfPiQGyBwIyMbgHggvCBwgwLjcuMTMuMcgHZYAIAQ&sclient=gws-wiz&ved=2ahUKEwiQ6ODFh9KTAxWL1fACHTDlI90QgK4QegYIAQgCEAc) (RHP, [Previously LSU/Yankees org]): A high-profile prospect returning from injury as a top breakout candidate.
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The friend of mine with whom I have the closest relationship among former MLB pitchers was a first round pick out of HS. He told me had he been round 2 or lower he probably would have gone to college. So, I kinda wonder how these top college pitchers ended up in college, and how they'd compare with maybe minor leagure AA ball etc.
My friend doesn't know from experience, he did say AA ball was the first place where nearly every player was quite good.