College Baseball Showdown 2023: Schedule, Preview

College baseball returns Friday with the College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. Annually this is one of the biggest tournaments and serves as a terrific way to kick off each season. This year, TCU, Texas, Oklahoma State, Arkansas, Missouri, and Vanderbilt take the field for an SEC vs. Big 12 showcase.

Of the six participants, four are ranked in preseason polls and two made the College World Series last year (Texas, Arkansas).

Buckle in for a star-studded tournament. Find the schedule and expectations for each team below.

College Baseball Showdown Returns To Arlington

No matter who you are in this tournament, your mettle will be tested early. Previous participants in the College Baseball Showdown include CWS participants Auburn and Oklahoma last year and Texas and Mississippi State in 2021.

Arkansas, TCU, Texas Tech, and Texas are repeat participants.

#15 TCU Horned Frogs

The Frogs won 38 games last season but fell short of the Super Regionals, being upended by Texas A&M. However, TCU returns some of the most experience in the nation, headlined by All American Brayden Taylor. They also bring in the sixth-ranked transfer class in the country, headlined by first team All-Big 12 selection Austin Davis from West Virginia.

Texas Longhorns

Texas' super-lineup of ball-mashers are mostly gone, but plenty of good offensive pieces to return. Star pitcher Tanner Witt won't play for a good portion of the season with an injury and someone will need to step into the Ace role. However, sleep too much on this team and they'll steal win after win in 2023.

#9 Oklahoma State Cowboys

TCU might have been chosen to win the Big 12 by the coaches, but Oklahoma State debuts higher than them in polls and in College World Series odds. Having a deep bullpen and rock-solid defense makes the Pokes one of the scarier teams in the field. They couple that with returners like Marcus Brown and Roc Riggio from an offense that sat inside the top-50 nationally a season ago.

#8 Arkansas Razorbacks

Extreme strengths in the pitching staff– particularly further down the bullpen– might be enough to make up for an offense that needs to find its stride. The defense was enough to take the Hogs to Omaha last year despite more than a few sub-five run outings offensively. Look for Brady Tygart to emerge as a star this weekend, lauded by D1 Baseball as, "a true shutdown closer."

Missouri Tigers

Don't call Mizzou "just happy to be here" despite not carrying the same preseason expectations as their opponents. The Tigers return a strong corps of starters chok-full of veteran talent. Luke Mann looks to energize an offense that lost some of its star power this offseason. Against a bunch of live-bat teams in this tournament, we'll find out what this rotation is made of early on.

#10 Vanderbilt Commanders

Tim Corbin's Vandy Boys never fall far from the top of rankings. The pitching factory returns the SEC's top bullpen as well as ace Carter Holton. Just a few years removed of a national championship, Vanderbilt looks to get back on track after what the program considers "a few down years." Their offense lost a bit of touch– something that can be masked by an elite pitching staff– but they'll need to step up this tournament against their Big 12 competition.

2023 College Baseball Showdown Schedule

All times below in CT. Watch the College Baseball Showdown on FloSports.

Friday, Feb. 17

11:00 a.m.: Missouri vs. #9 Oklahoma State
3:00 p.m.: #10 Vanderbilt vs. #15 TCU
7:00 p.m.: #8 Arkansas vs. Texas

Saturday, Feb. 18

11:00 a.m.: #9 Oklahoma State vs. #10 Vanderbilt
3:00 p.m.: Texas vs. Missouri
7:00 p.m.: #15 TCU vs. #8 Arkansas

Sunday, Feb. 19

10:30 a.m.: #10 Vanderbilt vs. Texas
2:30 p.m.: #8 Arkansas vs. #9 Oklahoma State
6:30 p.m.: Missouri vs. #15 TCU

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