Raider Baseball Begins 2026 Season Ranked No. 20 in NJCAA Preseason Poll

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The NJCAA released its Division I Baseball Preseason Poll on Tuesday, with Northwest Florida State earning a No. 20 ranking to open the 2026 season. The Raiders are one of just four programs from the state of Florida represented in the initial national rankings.

Northwest Florida will open its season this weekend in Sarasota and Bradenton, Fla., competing in the SCF Legends Classic. The Raiders begin play Friday, Jan. 23, with a noon matchup against Miami Dade, followed by a 4:00 p.m. contest against Division II No. 1 Pasco-Hernando State. The weekend continues Saturday, Jan. 24, when Northwest Florida faces State College of Florida at 10:30 a.m.—the same program that ended the Raiders' postseason run a year ago.

The Raiders enter the 2026 campaign with postseason aspirations for the fourth consecutive season and the ultimate goal of returning to Grand Junction for the NJCAA Baseball World Series. Northwest Florida has reached the World Series twice in program history, most recently in 2024.

This season's roster features a significant new look, with only seven returners and two returning starters from last year's squad. Among those back are All-Panhandle selections Tristan Bittle (OF) and Sam Bradley (1B), who will help provide leadership for a largely revamped lineup.

The remaining 22 roster spots are filled by freshmen and transfers, including nine newcomers from NCAA Division I programs. The transfer class features players from South Florida, New Orleans, Texas, West Virginia, Florida State, Troy, Florida, and Mississippi State, adding experience and depth as the Raiders prepare for the challenges of the 2026 season.