Photo Credit: Tampa Baseball Camps
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The University of Tampa Spartans baseball team is often described as a well-oiled machine. Entering the 2026 season, they are the back-to-back defending NCAA Division II National Champions and are heavily favored to secure a rare three-peat. The Spartans have dominated the Sunshine State Conference (SSC), winning eight of the last ten titles, and are currently seeking their fifth consecutive conference championship. Last year’s national title was the tenth in program history, making Tampa the first Division II program to reach double-digit championships.
The division rivals intent on dethroning the Spartans include Florida Southern College, Rollins College, Lynn University, Nova Southeastern University, Barry University, and Florida Tech. Other conference challengers include Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Saint Leo University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, and Eckerd College. The Spartans will open their 2026 campaign on January 30th with a three-game road series against non-conference opponent Georgia College. As always, the conference champion will receive an automatic bid to the NCAA South Regional. In the preseason coaches’ poll, Tampa earned 99 points and nine first-place votes to repeat as champions, with Florida Southern following closely behind with 92 points and the remaining two first-place votes.
The Spartans will hold their home opener at UT Baseball Field against the Montevallo Falcons, with the series starting at 6:00 PM on Friday, February 6th. The final two games of that series will take place on Saturday and Sunday. Last year, the Falcons finished 29-25 and proved to be a tough out, actually taking two of three from the Spartans. While Tampa won the first game 5-2, Montevallo rallied to win the second 7-6 and dominated the finale 15-4. Despite that early-season speed bump, Tampa’s biggest threat for the conference title remains Florida Southern. Last season, the Moccasins went 38-15-1, but the Spartans took two out of three in their head-to-head series.
Head coach Joe Urso continues to lead what is arguably the premier baseball program in the country. Urso’s success is so well-regarded that when the USF Bulls had a head coaching vacancy, he was offered the position but chose to remain with the Spartans. Entering his 26th season at the helm, Urso is one of the most successful coaches in the history of college baseball. Under his leadership, Tampa finished 2025 with a program-record 55-10 mark, having topped the 50-win plateau in each of their last two national championship seasons. While the season begins on the road, it will conclude at home with a three-game series against the Barry University Buccaneers. Last year, Tampa swept the Buccaneers, including a 20-1 blowout in the opener. Barry finished last season under .500 with a 24-26 record and struggled down the stretch, but the Spartans will take nothing for granted as they chase a third consecutive national crown.
Can the University of Tampa Spartans three-peat as national champions? Leave a comment below.
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Author Profile
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Bradley Walker serves as the Director of Operations for NGSC Sports, bringing extensive experience across collegiate, professional, and amateur athletics. His coverage spans USF Athletics, including football, baseball, lacrosse, and softball, as well as University of Tampa baseball.
Bradley also provides coverage of minor league baseball with the Clearwater Threshers and Major League Baseball with the Tampa Bay Rays. On the national stage, he covers college football bowl games and conference championship matchups, along with premier golf events across the PGA Tour, LIV Golf, and LPGA Tour.
In addition to his reporting work, Bradley is the play-by-play announcer for Pinellas Park High School Patriots football, lending his voice and insight to Friday night lights.
He is also an active podcast host and contributor, serving as a co-host on the P&W Sports Report and hosting The Walker Report, where he delivers in-depth sports analysis, interviews, and coverage across multiple levels of competition.
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