Early Season Opener and Heavyweight Matchups
The University of Virginia baseball team officially released its full 55-game schedule for the 2027 season on Monday, according to Sports Illustrated. The Cavaliers will begin their campaign with a three-game series in Dallas, Texas, from Feb. 19-21 at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown.
The opening weekend features opponents TCU, Arizona, and Texas. All three of those teams are projected to earn a numerical ranking in the polls at some point during the season.
Of the 55 total games on the schedule, 21 will be against teams that reached the NCAA Tournament last season. A slim majority of those 21 games will be played away from Disharoon Park.
In-State Rivalries and ACC Constraints
The schedule includes a significant number of Commonwealth matchups, though traditional rivalries are affected by conference rules. Virginia and Virginia Tech were not scheduled to play each other during the regular season due to Atlantic Coast Conference scheduling constraints. Instead, the two schools will meet once during a March midweek game at a yet-to-be-determined neutral site.
Other in-state midweek opponents include Liberty, VMI, James Madison, VCU, William & Mary, Richmond, and Norfolk State.
The ACC slate features a late-season trip to Duke in late April. This series serves as a rematch of the Chris Pollard era.
Midweek Strategy and Portal Additions
Head coach Chris Pollard opposes cancelling midweek games, stating that he embraces them to avoid negative impacts on national analytics. The Cavaliers previously utilized advanced technology and professional analysis at a minor league ballpark in Kannapolis, N.C., last season.
The roster for the 2027 season has been bolstered by recent portal additions. New players include Serigne Sarre from VCU, Joey Giordano and Michael Elko from Richmond, Lee Sowers from North Carolina, and an influx of transfers from Duke.
May Schedule and College World Series Programs
The Cavaliers will face West Virginia in Hagerstown, Md., on May 12. The Mountaineers were recently a College World Series team.