Mike Bianco sets clear goal for 2025 Ole Miss season

Ole Miss opened its 2025 college baseball season over the weekend, finishing 2-1 with wins over No. 21 Arizona and No. 15 Clemson at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown.

It was a strong start to the season for Ole Miss, who entered the year unranked in the preseason top 25 poll. They’ve since improved to 3-1 to start the regular season heading into their first weekend series of the season against Eastern Kentucky.

It’s a fast start for Ole Miss, who finished last season with a 27-29 record. Before heading to Arlington for the opening showcase, Rebels head coach Mike Bianco was clear when addressing his team’s goals for this season despite finishing with losing records in both of the last two years.

“The goals have always been the same. The expectations — we want to get to Omaha and win another national championship,” Bianco said at Ole Miss media day.

“The goals that are written on the wall before the guys enter the dugout, I said in my opening press conference here 25 years ago, so the goal is to win 40 regular season games. Goal number two is to win the Southeastern Conference Championship. Goal number three is to host a regional. Goal number four is to host a Super Regional and Goal number five is to get to the College World Series. Goal number six is to win the national championship.”

Ole Miss won the national championship in 2022 but has compiled a 52-58 since hoisting the College World Series trophy at the end of the year. After winning the title, they finished 6-24 in SEC play during the following season.

“It’s not a secret that we haven’t been the team that we expect to be in the last couple of years,” Bianco admitted.

However, he felt the opening weekend was the perfect opportunity for his team to get the season off on the right track. Bianco compared it to an SEC weekend, noting that it was a good test right out of the gate this season.

As Ole Miss looks to improve on its 3-1 start to the season, they won’t have to wait long until it’s time for SEC action. Their first series is slated to begin on March 14 at home against Arkansas — the preseason No. 5 team in the country.

For now, they’re set to face EKU at home in a three-game weekend series beginning on Feb. 21.