LSU baseball set to play in 2026 Jax College Baseball Classic

Jacksonville, FL – Peak Events, LLC, is excited to announce the field for the third annual Live Like Lou Jax College Baseball Classic at VyStar Ballpark on Feb. 20-22, 2026. The participating teams include defending College World Series champion LSU, as well as UCF, Indiana, and Notre Dame.

“This year’s event is shaping up to be the best one yet, with four top teams, including the defending national champs,” said Nathan Wooldridge, Peak Events vice president. “In addition, a newly renovated VyStar Ballpark, which has become one of the top ballparks in the country and a premier early-season destination for some of college baseball’s best teams. We appreciate the partnership with the Jacksonville JumboShrimp and the Live Like Lou Foundation in helping us continue to raise the profile of this event and to expand the impact of the Live Like Lou Jax Classic across college baseball and the ALS community.” 

The 2026 Live Like Lou Jax Classic will feature two games per day, with each team playing one game a day in a round-robin format over the three-day event. 

The schedule features:

Friday, Feb. 20: LSU vs. Indiana, 2 p.m.; UCF vs. Notre Dame, 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 21: Notre Dame vs. LSU, noon; UCF vs. Indiana, 4 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 22: Indiana vs. Notre Dame, 11 a.m.; LSU vs. UCF, 3 p.m.

All times listed are Eastern Standard Time and subject to change.

Tickets can be purchased on a per-day basis or as a weekend package in select seating sections. Both reserved and general admission options are available at www.peak.events. On the same site, fans traveling to Jacksonville can also find discounted hotel rates. Plus, all-inclusive packages are available, including lodging, game tickets, and in-stadium hospitality. 

“We have enjoyed a fantastic environment at each of the previous two Live Like Lou Jax College Baseball Classics,” said Harold Craw, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp executive vice president/general manager. “We look forward to the huge base of college baseball fans throughout the area seeing another set of four great teams take the field at VyStar Ballpark. Thank you to Peak Events, LLC, for helping to continue this exciting event, and we cannot wait to create another excellent experience for the student-athletes, coaches, and fans.”

“This tournament is about more than baseball—it’s about coming together to create awareness of ALS and support families facing Lou Gehrig’s disease,” said Wendy Faust, executive director of the Live Like Lou Foundation. “We look forward to rallying these teams, their supporters, and the Jacksonville community to honor Lou Gehrig’s legacy and make a real impact in and for the ALS community.”

All six games of the Live Like Lou Jax Classic are set to be broadcast exclusively via D1Baseball.com.

Who returns for LSU?

The Tigers feature seven returning position players with starting experience at LSU, including senior outfielder Chris Stanfield, senior infielder Tanner Reaves, junior shortstop Steven Milam, junior outfielder Jake Brown, sophomore outfielder Derek Curiel, sophomore catcher Cade Arrambide and sophomore infielder John Pearson.

The pitching staff contains 10 hurlers who have recorded innings at LSU, including senior right-hander Zac Cowan, senior right-hander Connor Benge, senior right-hander Grant Fontenot, junior right-hander Gavin Guidry, junior right-hander Jaden Noot, junior left-hander DJ Primeaux, sophomore right-hander Casan Evans, sophomore left-hander Cooper Williams, sophomore right-hander Mavrick Rizy and sophomore right-hander William Schmidt.