After a resilient yet injury-riddled 33-27 campaign that stretched their NCAA Regional streak to 12 straight years, Coach Josh Holliday has Oklahoma State baseball poised to surprise in a wide open Big 12 in 2026.
As the Oklahoma State Cowboys gear up for the 2026 baseball season under longtime head coach Josh Holliday, the program looks to build on a resilient but challenging 2025 campaign.
Last year, OSU finished with a 33-27 overall record (15-12 in Big 12 play), navigating injuries, early home losses, and inconsistency to secure their 12th consecutive NCAA Regional appearance.
They went 1-1 in the Big 12 Tournament and 2-2 in the Athens Regional, falling short of advancing to Supers but showing grit and overcoming adversity.
Holliday, in a recent press conference, reflected on the "unique season" marked by no full weekend series wins early and key absences, yet praised the team's ability to rally and compete meaningfully late.
Entering 2026, the Cowboys are receiving scattered national votes in preseason polls, such as five in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll (outside the top 25), while tying for fifth in the Big 12 Coaches Poll with 112 points, behind frontrunners TCU (169) and Arizona (156).
D1Baseball's Preseason Top 25 omits OSU, reflecting a transitional phase with the retirement of pitching coach Rob Walton (replaced by Blake Hawksworth) and integration of 24-25 newcomers, including 16 freshmen and a small transfer class.
Holliday emphasized fostering competition and depth, noting the roster's youth and leadership as keys to success. "We're excited about our rotation's varying styles," he said, noting aggressive approaches and avoiding injury.
Returning players poised for impact include fifth-year infielder Aidan Meola, returning via medical redshirt after a season-ending injury; sophomore Brock Thompson, building confidence after a strong 2025 finish; senior pitcher Mario Pesca, in peak shape with improved pitches for a breakout senior year; and outfielder Rich, solid in center field during fall ball.
Other veterans like shortstop Avery (back from quad injury), reliever Drew Blake (throwing his best), starter Noah Wack (seven shutout innings in regional), and Brennan Phillips add experience.
Transfers like Hudson Barrett (projected Game 1 starter post-Tommy John, aggressive style), catcher Campbell Smithwick, and TP Wentworth (despite fall injury) provide immediate boosts.
Kollin Ritchie stands out for his consistent routine and spring production (hitting the barrel, drawing walks).
The 2026 schedule is demanding, starting with the high-profile Shriners Children's College Showdown (Feb. 13-15) at Globe Life Field against No. 6 Arkansas, rival Oklahoma, and No. 4 Vanderbilt, early tests against ranked foes that could set the tone.
Non-conference highlights include a four-game road series at Grand Canyon (Feb. 19-22), home tilts vs. Sam Houston (Feb. 27-29) and Dallas Baptist (March 8), and midweeks against Wichita State (April 19) and Oral Roberts (multiple dates, including neutral at ONEOK Field).
Big 12 play opens on the road at UCF (March 13-15), with key home series vs. Baylor (March 20-22), Cincinnati (April 3-5), Kansas (April 17-18), TCU (May 1-2), and Arizona (May 14-15).
Road challenges feature at BYU (March 26-28), Kansas State (April 10-12), Texas Tech (April 24-26), and Arizona State (May 8-9).
The Bedlam rivalry intensifies with neutral-site games against Oklahoma (Feb. 14 and April 12 at ONEOK Field, in Tulsa, OK).
The season culminates in the Big 12 Tournament (May 20-23) in Surprise, Arizona, followed by potential NCAA Regionals (May 29-June 1).
Predicted stats suggest a balanced attack: a team ERA around 4.20 (improved with Hawksworth's guidance and Barrett/Pesca leading a .260 opponent batting average), batting .275 collectively with 80-90 home runs driven by Meola and Thompson's power.
Conservatively, expect a 36-22 record (18-12 Big 12), good for a top-half conference finish.
Postseason-wise, OSU should extend their regional streak to 13, potentially hosting in Stillwater if they capitalize on home games (28 at O'Brate Stadium) and win key series like vs. TCU and Arizona.
A Super Regional berth is attainable if pitching depth holds (projected 500+ strikeouts) and newcomers integrate quickly, but falling short of Omaha seems likely amid Big 12 parity.
Though, Holliday's focus on daily maximization and collective effort could propel the Cowboys back towards a return to Omaha.