No. 10 TCU baseball launches its 2026 season facing ranked rivals Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Oklahoma at Globe Life Field.
The 2026 college baseball season begins with a heavyweight test for the No. 10-ranked TCU Horned Frogs, who head to Arlington for the Shriners Children’s College Classic at Globe Life Field.
Opening weekend doesn’t get much tougher - TCU will square off against No. 23 Vanderbilt, No. 7 Arkansas and longtime rival Oklahoma in three straight high-profile matchups.
Friday’s opener features right-hander Tommy LaPour on the mound against Vanderbilt. LaPour enters the year as the Preseason Big 12 Pitcher of the Year and one of four Horned Frogs named Preseason All-Conference, joined by Chase Brunson, Noah Franco and Sawyer Strosnider.
The Frogs and Commodores have split their recent history in neutral-site showdowns, including TCU’s 11-4 win to open the 2023 season in Arlington.
Saturday night brings another national contender in Arkansas.
The Razorbacks lead the all-time series 46-28, but recent meetings have been tightly contested, including multiple games in Arlington over the last few seasons. Mason Brassfield gets the ball for TCU in what could feel like a postseason preview in February.
The weekend wraps Sunday against Oklahoma, marking the 113th all-time meeting between the former Big 12 foes. Lance Davis will start for TCU in a rivalry matchup that hasn’t been played as a non-conference weekend series since the 1990s.
TCU enters the season ranked for the 17th straight year and was picked to win the Big 12 after earning 13 of 14 first-place votes. Strosnider was tabbed Preseason Player of the Year, while freshman Lucas Franco earned Preseason Freshman of the Year honors.
The Frogs return 69 percent of their offensive production and half of their innings pitched from a year ago.
Under head coach Kirk Saarloos, TCU has thrived in neutral settings, posting a 78-43 record. With a 20-10 mark all-time at Globe Life Field, the Horned Frogs have a golden opportunity to make an early national statement.