Key Returning Pieces Could Propel Ole Miss Back to Omaha in 2026

Ole Miss baseball finally reached the top of the mountain for the first time in 2022, winning the College World Series in improbable fashion after crawling its way into the field of 64. It was the ultimate summer of triumph for longtime head coach Mike Bianco and the Rebels.

Many times before, the path to a title was much more pellucid. They made the tournament 15 times and hosted a regional 10 times from 2004-21. That resulted in seven super regional appearances and a trip to Omaha in 2014, but every year ended with defeat.

So naturally, it was the year in which Ole Miss snuck in as the last team in the field that it finally achieved glory. Quite the payoff for Bianco, the dean of SEC coaches, and a fitting reward for grinding through so many seasons of summer gut-punches and coming up short.

Like others before them, though, the CWS hangover hit the Rebels hard. For the first time since Bianco took over in 2001, Ole Miss had a losing season in 2023. Then came another in 2024. It quickly went from the apex to below the middle of the pack.

The Rebels were picked to finish 15th in the 2025 preseason SEC Coaches Poll, ahead of only Missouri. Yearning for a return to form, they instead went on to surprise many by taking some massive leaps in multiple areas en route to a 43-21 (16-14 SEC) campaign.

They ripped 124 home runs, 48 more than they hit in 2024 — the second-largest increase in the country. Ole Miss pitchers racked up 669 strikeouts, a 127-K increase from 2024 — the largest in the country.

It was one of just six programs in college baseball to eclipse 100 home runs, doubles and HBPs in 2025, staunch numbers that brought a regional back to Swayze Field for the first time in four years.

The Rebels did succumb to the mighty Murray State Racers in that regional, as the latter began their dream run to Omaha. But nonetheless, Ole Miss exceeding expectations the way it did in 2025 has set the table for what could be a mammoth upcoming season.

Elliott Returns for One More Ride

There aren’t many like Hunter Elliott these days. The Tupelo, Miss. native started Ole Miss’ title-clinching win over Oklahoma in 2022 as a freshman. Four seasons later, he’s set to toe the slab when the Rebels begin their 2026 season against Nevada in February.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound left-hander has stayed the course in Oxford. He made just two starts as a sophomore in 2023 before undergoing Tommy John surgery that caused him to miss the entire 2024 season. He had a point to prove as a redshirt junior last spring.

Taking the ball every Friday night, tallying 17 appearances (16 starts) in total, Elliott dazzled. He held opponents to a .197 average and struck out 102 batters across 85.2 innings. His 2.94 ERA was third-best in the SEC. The Rebels went 12-4 in games Elliott started. His deceptive delivery, stellar changeup and all-around impressive arsenal make him one of the top craftsmen in the country.

Elliott is the only returning pitcher in the country who struck out 100-plus batters and won 10 games last season. What he’ll bring from a leadership and experience perspective in the Ole Miss dugout cannot be valued by metrics.

Every team wishes they had a dynamic veteran lefty who knows what it’s like winning a championship for their home state, but Ole Miss actually has it — and he’s poised for another electric season.

He’ll have to remain consistent, too, as the Rebels have to replace more than 315 innings’ worth of arms that departed this offseason, including weekend starters Riley Maddox and Mason Nichols, as well as top bullpen arm Mason Morris.

It’s a light transfer portal class, but four incoming arms — Wil Libbert (Missouri), Owen Kelly (Saint Louis), Landon Koenig (North Dakota State) and Marko Sipila (San Diego State) — will all aim to make legitimate contributions. Lefty Walker Hooks and righty Cade Townsend both return after firing over 30 innings each last season, too.

Rebels Retain Some Serious Power

Ole Miss slugged 124 home runs last season, the fifth-most in the nation and fourth-most in the SEC. It has a lot to replace on the field this spring, but it did retain the bats that were responsible for 64 of those homers.

Star utility man Judd Utermark is back in the saddle for his senior season after blasting 22 homers — tied for second-most in a single season in program history — in 2025. Catcher Austin Fawley also returns after breaking out for the Rebels with 21 homers and a .648 slugging percentage.

They became the first duo in program history to each notch 20 homers in a season and their returns make Ole Miss the only program in the nation to bring a pair of 20-homer hitters back for 2026.

Utermark took the next step and then some last spring, slashing .294/.376/.599. His 6-foot-5, 250-pound frame is imposing, and his vicious swing matches. Primarily manning second base, he also played plenty of third and had a few starts in left field. If he continues to improve in 2026, then Ole Miss will have a First Team All-SEC selection on its hands.

Fawley blossomed in a major way as a sophomore after transferring from Kentucky, where he played in just 10 games in 2024. Making 49 starts behind the dish, he hit .256 and drove in 53 runs. Behind a sizable leg kick, Fawley can spray the ball all over the yard. He also finished with 21 assists, making an impact as a defender.

He and Utermark return to Oxford, as does veteran first baseman Will Furniss, who hit 12 bombs a year ago. The Rebels also brought in another heavy hitter via the portal.

Outfielder Daniel Pacella makes the move to the SEC after three dominant seasons at Illinois State. In 2025, he hit 20 homers, bringing his college total to 45. Consistently terrorizing MVC pitching, he drove in 169 runs as a Redbird, good for second in program history. He’s a standout left-handed bat that adds even more thump to the Ole Miss lineup.

It’ll take far more than another power surge from a few sluggers and another crisp, healthy season from Elliott to get Ole Miss back to the College World Series, of course. Other returnees will have to take the next step, and portal additions will have to adjust to the uptick in competition.

When the Rebels find themselves in crucial situations late in the season, though, they’ll be grateful to have an Elliott on the mound, a Utermark in the box or a Bianco in the dugout. That’s who they’ll lean on for big moments, but more importantly, invaluable leadership.

If the pieces fit and the known commodities contribute as expected, don’t be surprised if Ole Miss has a say in the SEC title race and makes more noise in the postseason. A return to Omaha could certainly be in the cards for the Rebels in 2026.