The University of Louisville baseball program has been one of the best in the country in recent years.

The Cardinals are coming off a 42-21-1 season and have won 45 or more games in eight of the past 10 seasons that didn’t end early as the 2020 season did because of Covid-19. And in six of those 10 seasons, the Cardinals won 50 or more games during the season.

U of L has made it to the College World Series seven times since head coach Dan McDonnell arrived in 2007. And the Cardinals have won five ACC Atlantic Division titles in the first seven full seasons in the league.

Now, it’s time for McDonnell’s 17th season at the helm.

The Cardinals are ranked in multiple national polls among the top 10 teams in the country, checking in as high as No. 5. U of L is the pick to win the ACC Atlantic Division championship – again – and the overall ACC title this season.

After missing the NCAA Tournament two years ago in 2021, U of L won the ACC division title, won 42 games, and made an appearance in the College Station Super Regional against Texas A&M last season. The Cardinals return four starting position players – including preseason All-Americans Jack Payton and Christian Knapczyk – and they also return 11 pitchers who saw action in at least 10 innings last season.

McDonnell said he was pleased the Cardinals are getting preseason expectations but noted it doesn’t mean much.

“I always say it’s 50 percent the history and you give a lot of credit to the former players and the success that they have had,” McDonnell said. “Combined with the 50 percent of you have a lot of talented players on campus and that’s how you get into the preseason rankings. You have to be professional and take it for what it is.”

U of L opens the season on Feb. 18 with a three-game series against Bucknell at Jim Patterson Stadium.

Here’s a crack at Cardinal Authority projecting the Louisville lineup: