Kansas Baseball Has a Shot to Host a Regional — and They’re Not Getting Caught Up in the Hype
As the postseason creeps closer, all eyes are slowly starting to turn toward Kansas baseball. Yeah, Kansas. A program that not long ago was largely an afterthought on the national scene is now suddenly — and very seriously — in the hosting conversation for the NCAA Tournament.
That’s not just fan chatter either. The Jayhawks are 42-14, ranked No. 21 by Baseball America, and have one of the most complete resumes of any team sitting just outside the top-16 bubble. And according to Baseball America’s own writers, KU coach Dan Fitzgerald might’ve just guided his program through the best season in school history.
It’s kinda wild to think about, honestly.
The Jayhawks head into Thursday’s Big 12 Tournament quarterfinal against Oklahoma State with a lot on the line — a chance to strengthen their regional hosting case, sure, but also to prove they can keep up the momentum when the lights get a little brighter. Game time’s at 4 p.m. at Globe Life Field in Arlington, airing on ESPNU and ESPN+, if you’re wondering.
A Legit Case to Host
Let’s just take a second to acknowledge how solid KU’s been. They finished with more overall wins and more conference wins than anyone else in the Big 12 — yeah, more than West Virginia, who technically won the league title thanks to a slightly better winning percentage (.679 to KU’s .667).
But Kansas swept WVU to close the regular season — in Morgantown, no less — and knocked the Mountaineers out of the Top 25 while solidifying their own spot inside it. As of this week, KU is the only Big 12 team ranked in some national polls.
And as Fitzgerald said himself, “I think we’re in a great spot.”
He’s not wrong.
KU is currently No. 23 in RPI, owns a 3-4 record against Top 25 teams, and has one of the best combinations of road wins (20), conference wins (20), and overall victories (42) in the country. The resume is there. All that’s left now is to lock it in.
Here’s the thing that’s kind of refreshing: Fitzgerald doesn’t want his guys thinking about seeding, or NCAA regionals, or ESPN projections. He’s keeping it simple — focus on what’s in front of you.
“I think it would certainly help us to do well here,” he said, referring to the Big 12 tourney, “but I do think we’re a part of that conversation.”
Makes sense. This isn’t a program trying to validate itself with hype. It’s a team that’s just played really well, stayed pretty consistent, and genuinely likes showing up for each other. And Fitzgerald is that kind of coach — grounded, low-drama, and more focused on showing up prepared than getting caught up in bracketology.
A Historic Season, No Matter What
Fitzgerald was just named Big 12 Coach of the Year — the first KU coach ever to earn that title. That alone tells you something about the impact he’s had in just three seasons. The Jayhawks are older, tougher, smarter. A mix of transfers, juco guys, and seasoned vets that just… work.
There’s no superstar showboating. Just a really good squad that’s built to compete.
Brady Ballinger made the all-Big 12 first team. Jackson Hauge, Cooper Moore, and Dariel Osoria landed on the second team. Brady Counsell earned an honorable mention. And perhaps most impressively, Dominic Voegele was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week — again — after seven shutout innings against West Virginia last week.
The guy’s a machine. Second in the Big 12 in innings pitched (87.0), tied for third in wins (7), and top 10 in strikeouts (80). He’s the likely starter Thursday against Oklahoma State — and honestly, Kansas fans should feel pretty good about that.
Looking Ahead (But Not Too Far)
So what happens if KU beats OSU on Thursday?
Well, they move on to Friday’s semifinals against either TCU or Houston. More importantly, they’d notch another top-tier win to strengthen that hosting case. But again, the message isn’t about getting ahead of themselves. It’s about showing up, doing the work, and letting the rest shake out how it will.
And, if they don’t end up hosting? That’s fine too. This team is built to win on the road. They’ve already done it 20 times.
Coach Fitz probably said it best: “When those gates pop open, let them run.”
