If you’re refreshing your feed looking for the score to LSU baseball game today, I’ve got some news that might be a little frustrating: there isn't one. It’s January 17, 2026. While the air in Baton Rouge might be starting to smell like popcorn and freshly cut grass at Alex Box Stadium, the Tigers are still about a month out from their actual season opener.
Honestly, it’s that weird "limbo" time of year. You’ve got the preseason polls dropping—LSU is currently sitting pretty at No. 1 in the Perfect Game rankings and No. 2 in D1Baseball—but no actual box scores to pore over just yet.
When does LSU actually play?
The real action kicks off on Friday, February 13, 2026. That’s when the Milwaukee Panthers come to town for a three-game series. It’s a bit of a tradition now, having that mid-February start under the lights.
If you're wondering why everyone is talking about them already, it's basically because this roster is absolutely loaded. Jay Johnson isn't just coaching; he’s essentially playing "General Manager" at a level we haven't seen in college ball lately.
- Opening Day: Feb 13 vs. Milwaukee (2:00 PM CT)
- The Jax Classic: Feb 20–22 in Jacksonville (Big matchups with Indiana and Notre Dame)
- SEC Opener: March 13 at Vanderbilt (A total gauntlet)
The hype is real.
Coming off that 2025 National Championship, the expectations are basically "Omaha or bust." Anything less feels like a letdown in this town. You've got guys like Derek Curiel—who was the National Freshman of the Year last season—returning to lead the outfield. He hit .345 last year. That’s not a typo.
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Why the confusion about the score today?
Sometimes people see news about the "First Pitch Banquet" (which just happened and raised half a million dollars, by the way) or they see rankings for the Top 100 Sophomores and assume games have started.
Just this week, Perfect Game released their list and five Tigers made the cut:
- Derek Curiel (No. 1 overall sophomore—yeah, he’s that good)
- William Schmidt (No. 12)
- Casan Evans (No. 14)
- Cooper Williams (No. 45)
- Cade Arrambide (No. 54)
The roster is a machine right now
Jay Johnson has this mix of 19 returning players and 20 newcomers. It’s a lot to manage. Sorta reminds me of a professional minor league system with how deep the bench goes.
Steven Milam is back at shortstop. "Monster" Milam, as the fans call him, was a vacuum in the field last year with a .979 fielding percentage. He’s the heart of that infield. Then you’ve got transfers like Trent Caraway coming in from Oregon State. Caraway was the MVP of the Corvallis Regional last year before deciding he wanted to wear purple and gold.
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It’s almost unfair.
What to watch for in February
When the score finally does matter in a few weeks, keep an eye on the pitching rotation. Casan Evans is likely going to be the closer or a high-leverage arm after racking up seven saves last season with a tiny 2.05 ERA.
If the Tigers start the season 10-0 or 12-0, don't be surprised. The early schedule (Milwaukee, Kent State, Nicholls) is designed to let these 20 new guys find their rhythm before they head to Florida for the Jacksonville College Baseball Classic.
Actionable steps for Tigers fans
Since you can't watch a game today, here is how you should actually prep for the season:
- Check your subscription: Ensure your SEC Network+ or ESPN+ is active, as almost all the February home games will be streamed there rather than national TV.
- Mark the Calendar: Feb 20–22 is the first "real" test. Those games against Indiana and Notre Dame in Jacksonville will tell us if the preseason No. 1 ranking is legit or just hype.
- Roster Familiarity: Study the new freshmen like Jack Ruckert and Mason Braun. With so many newcomers, the batting order on Opening Day is going to look very different from the one that won the title in Omaha last June.
Stay patient. The "Alex Box" magic is only 27 days away.