Back-to-Back Defending Champs Selected as Preseason SSC Favorite
MELBOURNE, Fla. - The University of Tampa was voted as the league's favorite to win the 2026 Sunshine State Conference Baseball title. The Spartans received 99 points out of a possible 100 and nine out of 10 votes for first in a poll voted on by the league's 11 head coaches.
Tampa has claimed eight Sunshine State Conference championships over the past 10 seasons while also capturing four NCAA Division II Baseball National Championships, including back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025. The Spartans enter the 2026 season seeking their fifth consecutive Sunshine State Conference Baseball Championship, as several conference opponents look to dethrone the reigning champions.
Florida Southern College was picked to finish second after earning 92 points. Rollins College was picked to finish third with 77 points, followed closely by Lynn University in fourth with 75. Nova Southeastern University leads the middle of the pack with 65 points, while Barry University and Florida Tech are tied for sixth with 44 points each.
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is projected to finish in eighth (41), followed by Saint Leo University (27), Palm Beach Atlantic University (21), and Eckerd College (20).
Tampa will open the 2026 season on the road, traveling to Georgia College for a three-games series January 30 through February 1. Tampa's home opener is slated for Friday, February 6 at 6 p.m., against Montevallo.
The 2026 season is set to begin on January 30, with all 11 Sunshine State Conference baseball teams opening play against non-conference opponents. The 2026 Sunshine State Conference Baseball Regular-Season Champions will earn an automatic qualification to the NCAA regional.
Below are the full results of the 2025 Sunshine State Conference preseason coaches' poll. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their teams (points: 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, first-place votes in parentheses).
Sunshine State Conference Preseason Baseball Poll
Projected Place |
Team |
Total (First-Place Votes) |
|
1 |
Tampa |
99 (9) |
|
2 |
Florida Southern |
92 (2) |
|
3 |
Rollins |
77 |
|
4 |
Lynn |
75 |
|
5 |
Nova Southeastern |
65 |
|
T6 |
Barry |
44 |
|
T6 |
Florida Tech |
44 |
|
8 |
Embry-Riddle |
41 |
|
9 |
Saint Leo |
27 |
|
10 |
Palm Beach Atlantic |
21 |
|
11 |
Eckerd |
20 |
Previous Sunshine State Conference Baseball Polls
Year |
Predicted Winner |
Actual Finish |
Actual Winner |
Predicted Finish |
|
2025 |
Tampa |
1st |
Tampa |
1st |
|
2024 |
Tampa |
1st |
Tampa |
1st |
|
2023 |
Tampa |
1st |
Tampa |
1st |
|
2022 |
Tampa |
1st |
Tampa |
1st |
|
2021 |
Tampa |
1st |
Tampa |
1st |
|
2020 |
Tampa |
N/A |
Not Awarded Due to COVID-19 |
N/A |
|
2019 |
Tampa |
2nd |
Eckerd |
9th |
|
2018 |
Tampa |
1st |
Tampa |
1st |
|
2017 |
Nova Southeastern |
2nd |
Tampa |
2nd |
|
2016 |
Tampa |
1st |
Tampa |
1st |
|
2015 |
Tampa |
2nd |
Nova Southeastern |
5th |