TCU led the way for the Big 12 in the 2026 D1Baseball Preseason Top 25 at No. 10, while Arizona begins the season at No. 24.
 
The Horned Frogs, led by Perfect Game’s Preseason First Team All-American Sawyer Strosnider, start the year ranked for the 17^th consecutive year and fifth straight under head coach Kirk Saarloos. Strosnider, who led the country in triples (10) in 2025, was joined by Tommy LaPour (second team) and Noah Franco (third team) as the three Horned Frogs on preseason All-American teams. TCU will play two ranked opponents on opening weekend at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas with games against No. 7 Arkansas and No. 23 Vanderbilt.
 
The Wildcats open the season ranked for the second consecutive year after winning last year’s Big 12 Tournament and advancing to the College World Series for the 19^th time in program history. Arizona had two players named preseason All-Americans, with the 2025 NCBWA Stopper of the Year, Tony Pluta, being named to the first team and pitcher Owen Kramkowski selected to the third team. The Wildcats take on Stanford to open the season, followed by a ranked game against No. 12 Oregon State in the 2026 College Baseball Series at Surprise Stadium.
 
Conference play will begin the weekend of March 13 with berths into the 2026 Big 12 Baseball Tournament presented by Allstate on the line. Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona will serve as the new host site for the Big 12 Baseball Tournament. The Tournament will consist of 12 teams, with the competition culminating with the championship game on Saturday, May 23.