Does the first pitch of the season matter? A trend.
Some are saying the the first pitch of the season can determine if your team will win the national championship or not. What do the stats say?
| Team | First Pitch | Won first game? | Basketball coach choked his wife? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 LSU | Ball | Yes | No |
| 2024 Tennessee | Strike | Yes | No |
| 2023 LSU | Strike | Yes | No |
| 2022 Ole Miss | Strike | Yes | Yes |
| 2021 Mississippi State | Ball | Yes | No |
| 2019 Vanderbilt | Strike | Yes | No |
| 2018 Oregon State | Strike | Yes | No |
| 2017 Florida | Strike | Yes | No |
| 2016 Coastal Carolina | Strike | Yes | No |
| 2015 Virginia | Strike | Yes | No |
| 2014 Vanderbilt | Ball | Yes | No |
| 2013 UCLA | Strike | No | No |
| 2012 Arizona | Strike | Yes | No |
| 2011 South Carolina | Strike | Yes | No |
| 2010 South Carolina | Strike | Yes | No |
In conclusion, with the exception of just three teams in the past 16 years (most recently 2025 LSU, 2021 Mississippi State, and 2014 Vanderbilt), the national champion has thrown a first pitch strike to start the season. Also, only 2013 UCLA lost their season opener. So if your team throws a ball for the first pitch of the season, based upon the last 15 national champions, your team only has a 20% chance to win the national championship. Do with this information what you will.
Posted Feb 7, 2026, 11:05 PM UTC
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