The Conference-USA looks different for the 2024 campaign, as several schools previously in the conference moved to the AAC. Still, a familiar power will look to dominate the C-USA once again in 2024. Here’s our 2024 C-USA baseball season preview.
Related: 2024 College Baseball Season Preview: Big 10
Dallas Baptist
We start our 2024 C-USA baseball season preview with Dallas Baptist. Dallas Baptist didn’t make the USA Today/Coaches Preseason Top 25 but did receive some consideration. Heading into the 2024 C-USA season, the Patriots were considered the favorites by the conference’s coaches.
Dallas Baptist, who were bounced in the Stillwater regional in 2023, return catcher Grant Jay, who hit 21 home runs in his freshman. Pitcher Ryan Johnson, rated as the 69th-best 2024 MLB Draft prospect per MLB.com, is also back. The right-hander has one of the strangest deliveries one will likely ever see but it’s hard to argue with the results (116 K over 87.1 IP in 2023). Highly touted freshman pitcher James Ellwanger is another name to watch.
FIU
The 2023 campaign was tough for FIU. FIU finished last year with an 8-22 record in conference play, tied for worst in the C-USA alongside now-AAC school UAB.
FIU will look a bit different in 2024 but the Panthers will have 2023 hits leader Ryne Guida back for his senior season. Freshman left-hander Tristan Dietrich, who was selected in the 18th round out of high school by the Marlins, is also with FIU.
Jacksonville State
Jacksonville State had one of the NCAA’s best bats last spring in infielder Javon Hernandez. Hernandez hit .397 with the Gamecocks in 2023 but the senior is now with Auburn. The now-Auburn infielder wasn’t the only notable name to transfer, as 2023 strikeouts leader AJ Causey is now with Tennessee.
Catcher Bear Madliak, who hit .330 for the Gamecocks last year, is back for 2024.
Liberty
In the ASUN Conference, Liberty University emerged as a rising power in the college baseball scene. Head coach Scott Jackson’s squad should be competitive yet again in 2024, as C-USA coaches voted the Flames to finish just behind Dallas Baptist this upcoming season.
There are some new faces with the Flames, including former North Florida infielder Aidan Sweatt. Cam Foster is back for 2024, as is catcher Brayden Horton, the latter of whom hit .341 as a freshman for the Flames in 2023.
Louisiana Tech
Louisiana Tech went 15-15 in conference play last year but the Bulldogs lost several key pieces from their 2023 team. Left-hander Jonathan Fincher is gone, as is Landon Tomkins. Tomkins was drafted in the 10th round by the Pirates last July.
However, the Bulldogs will have Dalton Davis, Logan McLeod, and two-way threat Ethan Bates for 2024.
Middle Tennessee State
Middle Tennessee State University went 14-16 in C-USA play last year and like other teams in this conference, will look different in 2024. The Blue Raiders lost Eriq Swan (Dodgers) and Jaden Hamm (Tigers) to the pros, as both were taken in the top five rounds of the 2023 MLB Draft.
Among the new names with MTSU is freshman pitcher/DH Dylan Alonso, who was rated as the 477th-best player in the Class of 2023 per Perfect Game.
New Mexico State
New Mexico State joined the C-USA for the 2024 campaign after what was a rough 2023 in the WAC. The Aggies went 14-37 overall and just 9-21 in conference play.
NM State returns Keith Jones II for the 2024 campaign. Jones led the Aggies in hits (63) last season, and he’ll be joined by sophomore Mitch Namie. Namie hit .307 as a freshman at New Mexico State.
Sam Houston
Sam Houston is one of the new teams in the C-USA, as the Bearkats come over from the WAC. Last year, Sam Houston went 22-8 in conference play and made the 2023 NCAA tournament. However, the Bearkats’ 2023 season ended at the hands of Oregon State in Baton Rouge.
Two Sam Houston pitchers made the preseason all-conference team: starter Coltin Atkinson and reliever Chandler David. However, the star of Sam Houston may very well be catcher Walker Janek. Janek, who hit 13 home runs last season for Sam Houston, is rated as the 48th-best draft prospect by MLB.com.
Western Kentucky
We end our 2024 C-USA baseball season preview with Western Kentucky. Western Kentucky finished the 2023 campaign tied with FAU for the fourth-best record in conference play and second among teams back for 2024.
Western Kentucky lost reliever CJ Weins to the pros but did return righty Mason Burns. Burns struck out 66 over 55 innings for the Hilltoppers last season, leading the team.