First Piece of Non-Conference Slate Announced
9/3/2025 9:00:00 AM | Baseball
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Indiana baseball head coach Jeff Mercer has never been afraid to test his program in the early portion of the season. Next year, the IU skipper will take the Hoosiers down to Florida on the season's second weekend to play in the 2026 Live Like Lou Jacksonville Baseball Classic (Feb. 20-22, 2026).
Peak Events has annually hosted four premier college baseball tournaments in the month of February and March. This is the third time in the past five seasons that the Hoosiers will head south to take on premier competition early in the season. In Jacksonville next season, IU will face Notre Dame, UCF and the defending national champions, LSU.
The tournament in the sunshine state will be hosted at VyStar Ballpark – home of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Three teams (Alabama, Coastal Carolina and NC State) that played in the event last year went on to make the NCAA Baseball Tournament. IU played in the Frisco Classic in 2024, picking up a win over nationally-ranked Dallas Baptist to boost its postseason resume.
Mercer's team will feature a strong core of talented sophomores. After playing as many as five true freshmen in 2025, the Hoosiers will return a group of players with lots of college experience. Highlighting the group of returners is reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year – Jake Hanley. Shortstop Cooper Malamazian and third baseman Will Moore joined Hanley on the Big Ten All-Freshman team last season.
Despite residing in the same state, IU and Notre Dame haven't played during the Mercer era. The two sides last met in 2018, a 3-0 IU victory at Victory Field. The Hoosiers went down to LSU to open the 2020 campaign and took one of three games at Alex Box Stadium. IU has never played UCF in baseball.
Streaming for this event will be in partnership with D1Baseball.com. IU's full spring schedule for the 2026 campaign will be revealed during the fall season.
2026 Live Like Lou Jacksonville Baseball Classic Schedule
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.
Peak Events has annually hosted four premier college baseball tournaments in the month of February and March. This is the third time in the past five seasons that the Hoosiers will head south to take on premier competition early in the season. In Jacksonville next season, IU will face Notre Dame, UCF and the defending national champions, LSU.
The tournament in the sunshine state will be hosted at VyStar Ballpark – home of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp. Three teams (Alabama, Coastal Carolina and NC State) that played in the event last year went on to make the NCAA Baseball Tournament. IU played in the Frisco Classic in 2024, picking up a win over nationally-ranked Dallas Baptist to boost its postseason resume.
Mercer's team will feature a strong core of talented sophomores. After playing as many as five true freshmen in 2025, the Hoosiers will return a group of players with lots of college experience. Highlighting the group of returners is reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Year – Jake Hanley. Shortstop Cooper Malamazian and third baseman Will Moore joined Hanley on the Big Ten All-Freshman team last season.
Despite residing in the same state, IU and Notre Dame haven't played during the Mercer era. The two sides last met in 2018, a 3-0 IU victory at Victory Field. The Hoosiers went down to LSU to open the 2020 campaign and took one of three games at Alex Box Stadium. IU has never played UCF in baseball.
Streaming for this event will be in partnership with D1Baseball.com. IU's full spring schedule for the 2026 campaign will be revealed during the fall season.
2026 Live Like Lou Jacksonville Baseball Classic Schedule
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.
Players Mentioned
Big Ten Tournament Press Conference - vs. Rutgers
Wednesday, May 21
NCAA Postgame Press Conference - Southern Miss - 2
Sunday, June 02
NCAA Postgame Press Conference - Tennessee
Sunday, June 02
NCAA Postgame Press Conference - Southern Miss
Friday, May 31