While it’s yet to repeat its 2021 performance in which four of its teams gained entry into the NCAA Tournament, Conference USA has been a steady multi-bid league in recent years, with at least two postseason teams in the subsequent three seasons.
The conference appears positioned to keep that streak alive in 2025, as projected winner Dallas Baptist, newcomer Kennesaw State and 2024 regular-season champion Louisiana Tech could all be in contention for a postseason berth.
Conference USA also has a strong crop of 2025 draft talent to keep an eye on in 2025.
Check out our complete CUSA season preview below.
Projected Standings (2024 Record)
- Dallas Baptist (45-15; 17-7)
- Kennesaw State (32-24, 19-10 ASUN)
- Louisiana Tech (45-19; 18-6)
- Western Kentucky (36-22; 15-9)
- Sam Houston State (34-24; 13-11)
- Liberty (24-34; 11-13)
- Florida International (27-30; 11-13)
- New Mexico State (25-29; 10-14)
- Middle Tennessee (20-36; 8-16)
- Jacksonville State (18-34; 5-19)
Top 5 Draft Prospects For 2025
- Braden Osbolt, RHP, Kennesaw State
- James Ellwanger, RHP, Dallas Baptist
- Trace Phillips, RHP/1B, Middle Tennessee
- Grant Jay, C, Dallas Baptist
- Mason Peters, LHP, Dallas Baptist
Team To Beat: Dallas Baptist
Few mid-major teams have enjoyed as much sustained success in recent years as Dallas Baptist, which has reached the postseason in each of the last 10 years and 13 total times under head coach Dan Heefner since 2008. The Patriots, ranked No. 21 to open the season, shouldn’t skip a beat this year, as they boast a well-rounded roster with loads of returning experience at the plate and raw upside on the mound. Catcher Grant Jay, first baseman Chayton Krauss, third baseman Michael Dattalo, shortstop Luke Heefner and designated hitter Tom Poole are back in the fold after earning all-Conference USA honors last year, as are outfielders Dylan Schlaegel, Nate Humphries, Joey Nerat and utility men Jake Bennett and Ben Tryon. Dallas Baptist also brought in Alabama transfer second baseman Mason Swinney, who is flexible defensively and caught the eye of coaches with strong swing decisions and loud contact to the gaps in the fall and preseason. Sophomore flamethrower James Ellwanger is set to take over as the Patriots’ Friday night starter, with 2024 Conference USA freshman of the year Luke Pettitte behind him on Saturdays and LSU transfer righty Micah Bucknam on Sundays. Lefty Mason Peters, who is expected to close for the Dallas Baptist, caught the eyes of scouts in the fall and preseason thanks to a potent fastball-curveball combo.
Player Of The Year: Grant Jay, C, Dallas Baptist
One of the Patriots’ biggest strengths this season, according to Heefner, is their experience and proven production up the middle of the field, starting with catcher Grant Jay, a draft-eligible masher who enters his junior season with 42 career home runs. Jay last season hit .301/.414/.653 with 21 home runs, 12 doubles and seven stolen bases in 60 games. The 6-foot, 225-pound backstop needs 12 home runs to break former Dallas Baptist slugger Austin Listi’s career record (53), a total he should achieve easily after posting 21 in back-to-back campaigns. Jay is ranked No. 176 in Baseball America’s Top 200 prospects for the 2025 draft.
Pitcher Of The Year: James Ellwanger, RHP, Dallas Baptist
A standout multi-sport athlete in high school who played baseball, basketball and tennis, Dallas Baptist sophomore righty James Ellwanger has the potential to rank among the nation’s most explosive Friday night starters this season providing he can stay on his positive trajectory. Ellwanger is armed with a double-plus fastball that eclipsed 100 mph on multiple occasions throughout the preseason, and he backs up the heater with a slider, curveball and changeup. While he’s surely one of the more promising starters in the country, Ellwanger has very limited collegiate experience after throwing just 17.2 innings as a true freshman before suffering a season-ending injury. However, a promising stint in the Cape Cod League this summer when he pitched to a 2.77 ERA with 22 strikeouts and five walks in 13 innings and an electric preseason run point to a potential breakout campaign on the horizon. Ellwanger is draft eligible this year and ranked No. 99 on BA’s Top 200.
Freshman Of The Year: Tate Hickman, RHP, Sam Houston State
At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Sam Houston State righty Tate Hickman entered the collegiate ranks as one of the more physically-ready freshmen in Conference USA, a quality that quickly put him in the mix to contribute as a first-year player. The Bearkats lost all three of their rotation members from 2024, which opened the door for Hickman, who has a solid four-pitch mix, to compete for a starting role. Regardless of whether he’s a starter or reliever, Baseball America expects Hickman to make considerable contributions this season.
Notable Storylines
● Conference USA’s powerhouse program, Dallas Baptist, again appears poised to grab a spot in the NCAA Tournament thanks to its deep and powerful lineup. However, there are still questions that need to be answered for the Patriots to have a chance at making a deeper push into the postseason, which has occurred much more rarely. Last year, Heefner’s juggernaut squad leaned on righties Ryan Johnson (selected in the second round by the Angels) and Jaron DeBerry (selected in the third round by the Brewers) to carry their staff. This season, the Patriots lack similar experience on the mound and will instead hope that raw upside turns into positive results. Ellwanger threw just 17.2 innings last year while Pettitte offered 36.2. Bucknam, who is expected to round out their rotation, struggled at LSU in 16 combined innings over two years but has shown promising stuff since transferring to Dallas Baptist. How the Patriots pitch will determine the likelihood of a push to the College World Series.
● Conference USA was among the leagues impacted by realignment as it took on a 10th member, Kennesaw State. The Owls seem well-prepared for the move from the ASUN with no shortage of talent. Righty Braden Osbolt enters the season as BA’s highest-ranked 2025 draft prospect in the conference while outfielder Jackson Chirello, righty Chris Cole and first baseman Cam Suto are all names to keep an eye on from a professional standpoint. Suto was named BA’s top transfer newcomer in Conference USA this offseason after making the move from D-II Lee University, where he batted .370/.446/.696 with 20 home runs, 13 doubles, three triples, 25 stolen bases, 66 runs and 71 RBI in 2024. If everything clicks, the Owls could be a team to keep an eye on come tournament time. BA named Kennesaw State as one of its first four teams out in the Preseason Field of 64.
