Ole Miss’ season ended two wins short of a national championship.
But as the sting of Omaha begins to fade, a new question has already taken center stage in Oxford. What does Ole Miss baseball look like in 2027? On the latest episode of Talk of Champions, Ben Garrett and Brad Logan reflected on the Rebels’ return to the College World Series, discussed Mike Bianco’s coaching performance and examined how Ole Miss plans to build on one of the program’s most successful seasons in recent memory.
While the season ended with consecutive losses to North Carolina and Troy, both hosts agreed the final result shouldn’t overshadow what Ole Miss accomplished.
Omaha Doesn’t Erase the Accomplishment
After back-to-back losing seasons following the 2022 national championship, Ole Miss returned to the sport’s biggest stage. The Rebels battled through one of the toughest schedules in college baseball, won a regional, swept Auburn in a hostile super regional environment and reached Omaha for the third time since 2014.
Garrett argued that perspective is important when evaluating the season. A few months ago, simply reaching Omaha would have been viewed as a massive success by most Ole Miss fans. Instead, the Rebels entered the College World Series believing they had a legitimate chance to play for a national championship.
Mike Bianco’s Finest Coaching Job?
One of the more interesting conversations centered around head coach Mike Bianco. Logan went as far as to suggest this may have been the best coaching job of Bianco’s career.
Bianco navigated injuries, roster turnover, disappointing seasons and the realities of the transfer portal era before rebuilding the program into a College World Series team once again.
WATCH:
— Brad Logan (@BradLoganTOC) June 15, 2026
Ole Miss baseball coach Mike Bianco on this 2026 baseball team and what it means to him.
🗣️@MichaelLKatz | #RebsBSB pic.twitter.com/E7gWO7TVgp
The Rebels’ veteran leadership played a major role, but Logan believes Bianco deserves significant credit for keeping the program together through difficult years and guiding it back to national relevance.
Saying Goodbye to a Special Senior Class
Several players helped define this era of Ole Miss baseball. Among them were Wil Furniss, Judd Utermark and Hunter Elliott. Furniss closed his career in fitting fashion, homering in his final collegiate at-bat in Omaha. While the result wasn’t what Ole Miss wanted, it provided a memorable ending for one of the program’s most respected leaders.
A full circle moment ❤️@michellachester talks with Will Furniss’s dad, Eddy, about what it means to watch his son in Omaha where he once won two national titles of his own with @LSUbaseball.#MCWS x @OleMissBSB pic.twitter.com/gHgM1GESTX
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 14, 2026
The discussion also highlighted the impact those veterans had on rebuilding the culture after difficult seasons. Many of those players experienced the national championship, endured the struggles that followed and ultimately helped return Ole Miss to Omaha.
“It’s hard to find the words right now,” Furniss said following the season-ending loss. “It was a special season with a special group of guys.”
The Biggest Question: Who Returns?
As attention shifts toward 2027, roster retention becomes the biggest storyline. Garrett identified catcher Austin Fawley as one of the most important potential returners. Despite a dip in power production compared to previous seasons, Fawley remains a key piece of the lineup and could return for another year.
HAYDEN FEDERICO WITH THE ACROBATIC GRAB TO KEEP THINGS TIED 👏@haydenfederico3 x @OleMissBSB pic.twitter.com/h3YyL1yo1B
— D1Baseball (@d1baseball) June 6, 2026
The same goes for second baseman Dom Decker and shortstop Owen Paino, both of whom could form the foundation of Ole Miss’ infield next season. The most significant retention battle, however, may involve center fielder Hayden Federico. According to Garrett, several schools have already expressed interest in Federico, including LSU, making him one of the most important players Ole Miss must keep in the fold.
Portal Work Already Underway
Ole Miss isn’t waiting to address roster needs. The Rebels have already landed commitments from Louisiana Tech first baseman Trey Halsey, LSU transfer pitcher Mavrick Rizi and USC Upstate right-hander Brent Stukes. Halsey is expected to help replace Furniss at first base, while Rizzi and Stukes provide much-needed pitching depth following the expected departures of Cade Townsend and Taylor Rabe.
Check out @lsubaseball freshman 6’9 RHP Mavrick Rizy from Massachusetts. pic.twitter.com/ehoXEHEAlV
— Prospect Dugout (@prospectdugout) February 11, 2025
More additions are expected. Garrett and Logan both pointed to the outfield and pitching staff as areas that will likely require additional portal reinforcements before next season begins.
Replacing Frontline Pitching Won’t Be Easy
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing Ole Miss is replacing its weekend rotation. Townsend and Rabe are both expected to be selected in next month’s MLB Draft, while Hunter Elliott’s future remains uncertain depending on how professional organizations evaluate him.
Hunter Elliott tips his cap as he walks off the field in Omaha.
— Matt DeGregorio (@Matt_DeGregorio) June 15, 2026
In his second trip to the College World Series, Elliott registered 9 Ks and exited the game with the Rebels holding the lead: pic.twitter.com/GPTm4pYtPv
If Elliott returns, Ole Miss immediately gains an experienced ace. If not, the Rebels will need younger pitchers and transfer additions to step into larger roles. Several names were mentioned as potential breakout candidates, including Wil Libbert, Grayson Gibson, Owen Kelly and Walker Hooks.
Confidence Remains High
Despite the departures and uncertainty, neither Garrett nor Logan appeared overly concerned about the future of the program. In fact, both expressed confidence that Ole Miss is positioned to remain among the SEC’s top programs because of its commitment to NIL, roster retention and portal recruiting.
The Grove Collective, athletic department leadership and coaching staff were all praised for creating a structure capable of competing nationally in the modern era of college athletics. For that reason, Garrett placed his early confidence level for another Omaha run at a six out of ten, while Logan rated it even higher.
