Mississippi
Why new coach Brian O’Connor embraces Mississippi State baseball’s lofty preseason rankings: ‘Bring it on’
STARKVILLE — If you attended a Mississippi State baseball fall scrimmage at Dudy Noble Field, you likely did so with a couple hundred fans.
That’s the standard for Mississippi State fans who love their baseball. Even the October exhibition in Pensacola, Florida, against Florida State was played in front of a sellout crowd at Blue Wahoos Stadium.
For new Bulldogs coach Brian O’Connor, hired in June after 22 seasons at Virginia, it wasn’t a surprise, but it was a different experience.
“It’s part of what makes Mississippi State baseball so special is the passion with everybody involved,” O’Connor said Jan. 21 in an exclusive interview with the Clarion Ledger. “I fully anticipated that it would be that way. I think it’s great that people care so much and are so into it.”
Those fans were eager to get a first-hand look at MSU in what’s perhaps the most highly anticipated season in program history.
O’Connor spoke in a nearly 30-minute interview to about Mississippi State’s 2026 season. The interview was conducted three weeks before opening day when Mississippi State hosts Hofstra on Feb. 13.
O’Connor addressed what a successful first season would be, how the Bulldogs view their high rankings in the preseason polls and what questions still remain with the team.
What Brian O’Connor said about Mississippi State preseason rankings
Previous coach Chris Lemonis was clear with his goal for 2025. Mississippi State needed to host a regional in order to get back to the College World Series. Lemonis was fired in April before a late-season surge got the Bulldogs in the NCAA tournament, but not as a hosting seed.
O’Connor said he does not project what a tangible level of success is for Mississippi State in 2026, whether that’s hosting a regional or making it to the CWS.
“I don’t ever set out in a season to say, ‘If we don’t make Omaha, then it’s an unsuccessful season,’” O’Connor said. “… I have never and will not here focus on the end. Winning and those kind of accomplishments and those kind of opportunities are a byproduct of how they work, our team culture and do they stay together during challenging times?”
Outside expectations are that Mississippi State will be one of the top teams in the nation given the talent on the roster. Preseason polls from D1Baseball, Baseball America and Perfect Game all have the Bulldogs in the top six.
The Bulldogs haven’t hosted a postseason game at Dudy Noble Field since 2021 when they won the national championship.
“We ain’t ever going to shy away from that,” O’Connor said of the preseason polls. “Bring it on. That’s how we feel.
“That said, it’s noise. I share with our entire program that there’s going to be distractions and noise all the time when you play in a program like this. Manage it.”
Brian O’Connor’s biggest unanswered questions for Mississippi State baseball
It’s a challenging exercise to project who will be Mississippi State’s starters because of the influx of talent on the roster.
MSU returns five of its top seven batters in terms of 2025 OPS: Ace Reese, Noah Sullivan, Gehrig Frei, Bryce Chance and Gatlin Sanders. Reese, the third baseman, was named a preseason All-American by D1Baseball and Perfect Game.
Joining those returners are some of Virginia’s best players like outfielder Aidan Teel and pitcher Tomas Valincius, plus 24 other newcomers, including freshmen such as Jacob Parker and Jack Bauer.
O’Connor said figuring out the best starting lineup is a question that still remains. He specifically pointed to catcher, shortstop and starting pitcher because of lack of SEC playing experience at those positions.
Only 147 innings pitched out of 496⅔ returned in 2026.
“You’re talking about roles, catcher, shortstop and starting pitching, that they just haven’t done it under the bright lights on the weekend yet,” O’Connor said. “You don’t know. You see talent, but we all know that there’s always been guys that have talent and then the lights come on.
“That said, I believe in this team and how it’s being built that they will be ready to fill those roles and do the job because I believe that this team is starving. A lot of people say hungry, but there’s a difference between hungry and starving. I’m exited to see them come together and grow and become a great ball club.”
Some of those lineup decisions could linger into the start of the season. MSU’s first two series are against Hofstra and Delaware before the Amegy Bank College Baseball Series in Arlington, Texas, against Arizona State, Virginia Tech and UCLA.
“As you move through the first two weekends, you have options, right?” O’Connor said. “Who can you bring off the bench in certain roles? Who are the guys that you’re going to count on coming out of the bullpen in certain situations? There’s still a lot to figure out, but it’s starting to take shape. I’m excited about that. I’m excited about, as the leader, making those decisions.”
Sam Sklar is the Mississippi State beat reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Email him at ssklar@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @sklarsam_.