The 2026 Big 12 Baseball Tournament will take place at Surprise Stadium in Surprise, Arizona, from Tuesday, May 19 through Saturday, May 23. All times will be listed in Eastern Time, and the event will showcase the conference’s twelve baseball programs in a condensed, high‑stakes format.
Tournament Format and Schedule
The competition begins with first‑round games on May 19, followed by second‑round matchups on May 20. Thursday, May 21, will host the quarterfinals, and Friday, May 22, will feature the semifinals. The championship game caps the tournament on Saturday, May 23, determining the team that receives the automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.
Kansas enters the event as the regular‑season champion, boasting a 39‑16 overall record and a 22‑8 mark within the Big 12. The Jayhawks are viewed as the favorite, but they will not have an easy path, as West Virginia, Arizona State and Central Florida all bring strong credentials into the bracket.
West Virginia arrives with a 37‑13 overall record and a 21‑9 conference slate, while Arizona State carries a 36‑18 overall record and a 19‑11 conference record. Central Florida, at 31‑20 overall and 19‑11 in conference play, rounds out the group of teams expected to contend for the title.
Beyond the on‑field action, the tournament offers each participant a chance at postseason glory. The champion will secure an automatic berth in the 2026 NCAA Tournament, a prize that underscores the importance of every game from the opening pitch to the final out.