hot dates
This much we know about the 2026 college season: Cal-Santa Barbara, Nevada and Hofstra will be making trips to the ‘Sip in mid-February. Each of the state’s Big 3 NCAA Division I schools have released their schedules, with Southern Miss doing so today. The Golden Eagles will host UCSB, a 36-win team from the Big West, in a three-game series beginning Feb. 13, the national starting date for D-I. Ole Miss welcomes Nevada (34-23, Mountain West) and Mississippi State will launch the Brian O’Connor era against Hofstra (18-36, Coastal Athletic Association) that same weekend. Each of the Big 3 is coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance and should have high expectations again for 2026. But, at this stage, who knows? Each will get some early season tests in round-robin events in Texas. USM will play in the Round Rock Classic in Texas from Feb. 20-22; Purdue, Oregon State and Baylor are also in that field. MSU will play in the Amegy Bank Series at Arlington, Texas, from Feb. 27-March 1. Arizona State, Virginia Tech and UCLA (and highly touted shortstop Roch Cholowsky) are in the field. And Ole Miss is slated to play in Astros Foundation College Classic in Houston from Feb. 27-March 1. Also in that field: Ohio State, Coastal Carolina and Baylor. Other notable dates: MSU will visit USM on March 3 and host the Golden Eagles on March 24. MSU hosts Jackson State on March 17, travels to Ole Miss for their SEC series March 27-29 and meets the Rebels again on April 28 in the annual Governor’s Cup at Pearl. Ole Miss will host JSU on Feb. 18, visits USM on March 10 and plays the Eagles again on April 14 in Pearl. USM also hosts Alabama on Feb. 24 and plays Nicholls State in Biloxi on March 17. … JSU has yet to release its 2026 schedule or a fall ball roster. One player not on that roster is Joseph Eichelberger, one of the top hitters the past couple years; he has transferred to Gardner-Webb. P.S. Somewhere, former USM star and Ferriss Trophy winner Nick Sandlin is celebrating Toronto’s thrilling win in the American League Championship Series. Sandlin is on the Blue Jays’ roster but on the injured list with an elbow issue. He isn’t expected to be active for the World Series. … Sandlin is on a rather lengthy list of Mississippians who have played for Toronto over the years. Included is Spencer Turnbull, the Madison Central High alum who went 1-1 with a 7.11 ERA in three games back in June before being released. Among the others with state ties who’ve played for the Jays since their inception in 1977: Dave Parker, Corey Dickerson, David Dellucci, Jarrod Dyson, Chris Coghlan, Kendall Graveman, Fred Lewis and Bobby Kielty. Former Mercy Cross High star Howard Battle debuted with Toronto 30 years ago. Ole Miss alum Jacob Waguespack broke in with the Jays in 2019. … Toronto, returning to the World Series for the first time since winning it in 1993, wasn’t expected to do this. In its season preview issue, Baseball America ranked the Blue Jays 19th overall, calling them “fairly average.” Lindy’s magazine pegged the Jays as the fifth-place team in the American League East, which they won. They’ve also won two postseason series without their star shortstop, Bo Bichette, down with a knee injury — but planning to return for the World Series.