We are nearing the end of the regular season in college baseball, entering the final weekend series before the Conference USA Tournament begins. This year’s event will be played in Kennesaw, Georgia from May 20-24. The games will be played at the newly built Mickey Dunn Stadium as Kennesaw State is the tournament host.
The conference has a unique for the conference tournament and it is slightly confusing. This format is a departure from recent tournaments. So, let’s try to break it all down in the least confusing manner possible.
The top nine finishers of the conferences 12 teams at the end of the regular season will advance to the CUSA Baseball Tournament from the 12 team league. The regular season champion will obtain the No. 1 seed followed by seeds 2-9. These nine teams will be split up into three pools consisting of three teams each. Teams will play two games in pool play, one against each team in its pool. Four teams will then advance to the semifinals with the two semifinal winners advancing to meet for the CUSA Championship and automatic berth into the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Pool A will consist of three teams, seeded 1, 6, and 9. Pool B will consist of three teams, seeded 2, 5, and 8 with Pool C consisting of seeds 3, 4, and 7. The three pool winners will advance to the semifinals as will the team with the next best record with the tiebreaker based on higher seed. The semifinals and championship will be single-elimination.
POOL A – Three teams, Seeds 1, 6, 9
POOL B – Three teams, Seeds 2, 5, 8
POOL C – Three teams, Seeds 3, 4, 7
Pool play is scheduled for Wednesday, May 20-Friday, May 22.
Saturday, May 23
11 AM: Semifinal 1
2:30 PM: Semifinal 2
Sunday, May 24
1 PM: Championship Final
With just one week left in the regular season, here’s a look at the nine teams that would advance to the CUSA Tournament and how those teams would be seeded in Pool A, Pool B, and Pool C if the season ended today:
Pool A
1. Jax State
6. Western Kentucky
9. Middle Tennessee
Pool B
2. Liberty
5. Louisiana Tech
8. Sam Houston
Pool C
3. Missouri State
4. Dallas Baptist
7. Kennesaw State
Here are the current CUSA Standings and each team’s final regular season series matchup:
Jacksonville State………22-5, @ Dallas Baptist
Liberty……………………..19-8, @ MTSU
Missouri State…………..18-9, @ Kennesaw State
Louisiana Tech………….17-10, vs Sam Houston
Dallas Baptist……………17-10, vs Jax State
Western Kentucky……..13-14, @ Delaware
Kennesaw State…………12-15, vs Missouri State
Sam Houston……………12-15, @ Louisiana Tech
Middle Tennessee……..11-16, vs Liberty
New Mexico State………8-19, vs FIU
FIU…………………………..8-19, @ New Mexico State
Delaware…………………..5-22, vs Western Kentucky
