College Baseball Power Rankings: New top team headlines major changes
The last week of college baseball has been full of upsets, leading to major changes across the polls. The same can be said for our college baseball power rankings.
After a weekend that saw the country’s top two teams lose their respective weekend series, a new No. 1 has emerged in Texas A&M. We also have Kentucky making a big leap up into the top five, with five new teams in this week’s top 25.
This weekend looks to be an electric one with quite a few intriguing matchups. The series are headlined by, but not limited to, Louisiana at Coastal Carolina, Florida State at Wake Forest, Tennessee at Kentucky, Duke at Virginia Tech, Arkansas at South Carolina, Texas A&M at Alabama, and so many more.
Before an important week for the postseason picture, here is how our college baseball power rankings take shape. There is quite a bit of movement.
1. Texas A&M
Record: 33-4 (11-4 in SEC)
Previous: No. 3 (+2)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 1
Texas A&M continues to impress. Over the weekend against Vanderbilt, a team ranked in the top ten at the time, the Aggies dominated and outscored the Commodores 24-0 in the first two games. They went on to secure the sweep in the finale, improving to 11-4 in the SEC. Texas A&M seems to be the consensus top team in the country right now across the board.
2. Arkansas
Record: 32-5 (12-3 in SEC)
Previous: No. 1 (-1)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 2
Arkansas stumbled last week, dropping two out of three on the road against Alabama. It was really the first time the Razorbacks stumbled this season, though, and they don’t fall far in our college baseball power rankings. Arkansas responded with a pair of strong midweek victories over Texas Tech, improving to 32-5 on the year. Still sitting at 12-3 in the SEC, too, the Razorbacks have little reason to worry. They are back on the road at South Carolina this weekend.
3. Tennessee
Record: 31-6 (10-5 in SEC)
Previous: No. 5 (+2)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 4
This past weekend was a dangerous one for Tennessee against a struggling LSU team that was desperate to get back on track. Still, the Vols played well over the weekend and swept the defending national champions. Tennessee is now 10-5 in the SEC, and improved to 31-6 overall after blowing out Bellarmine in a midweek contest. The Vols move up two spots into the top three ahead of this weekend’s trip to Kentucky.
4. Oregon State
Record: 30-6 (10-4 in Pac-12)
Previous: No. 4
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 5
It was an interesting week for Oregon State, who first hosted Stanford over the weekend. They won two out of three to secure the series victory, and then battled Nevada in a pair of midweek contests. After winning 12-5 in the first, Oregon State fell 11-10 on Wednesday in the second. Even with a 3-2 week, the Beavers are 30-6 overall and hang onto a top four spot in this week’s college baseball power rankings.
5. Kentucky
Record: 31-5 (14-1 in SEC)
Previous: No. 12 (+7)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 3
Kentucky just keeps winning, now sitting at 31-5 overall and an eye-opening 14-1 in the SEC. The Wildcats swept Auburn on the road this past weekend, before winning a 17-13 slugfest against Louisville. This weekend will be a massive opportunity for Kentucky, as it’s one of their toughest weekends on the season against Kentucky. Regardless, it’s been a special start to the season and the Wildcats are soaring.
6. Clemson
Record: 30-6 (11-4 in ACC)
Previous: No. 2 (-4)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 6
Clemson struggled last weekend against NC State, dropping two out of three to lose the series. It was a bit of a stunner for the Tigers, who entered the week ranked at No. 2. They were able to avoid the sweep, though, winning the series finale. They then defeated Charlotte 8-5 in a midweek game, improving to 30-6 on the season. Clemson is lookng to get back on track this weekend against Pitt after falling four spots in this week’s college baseball power rankings.
7. Duke
Record: 27-10 (11-7 in ACC)
Previous: No. 7
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 7
Duke was on the road last weekend against Pitt, and won two out of three to improve to 11-7 in the ACC. The Blue Devils then squeaked out a 2-1 midweek victory against Gardner-Webb, improving to 27-10 overall on the season. Duke is back on the road this weekend against a Virginia Tech team that just dropped in the rankings.
8. East Carolina
Record: 28-8 (8-4 in AAC)
Previous: No. 8
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 9
East Carolina started last weekend off in dominating fashion, tossing a combined no-hitter in a seven-inning, run-rule victory over Charlotte. The Pirates then won Saturday to clinch the series before dropping Sunday’s weekend finale. ECU was on the road against a quality William & Mary team on Tuesday, and won 14-13 in an extra innings affair. ECU doesn’t move up in this week’s college baseball power rankings, but they are pretty firmly established within the top ten.
9. Florida State
Record: 30-6 (10-5 in ACC)
Previous: No. 10 (+1)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 8
Florida State hosted Miami last weekend, and ended the series with a convincing sweep to give the Seminoles in-state sweeps over Miami and Florida on the season. They then hit the road for a trip to Mercer in a midweek game, and lost 13-6 in a surprising result. Despite that, the Seminoles are 30-6 overall and 10-5 in the ACC.
10. Virginia
Record: 29-9 (11-7 in ACC)
Previous: No. 9 (-1)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 10
Virginia was on the road last weekend at Louisville, and it was quite the series to say the least. Ultimately, Virginia took two out of three and escaped with a series victory. They then had a pair of midweek games, losing 7-4 at Old Dominion and winning 11-5 vs. George Mason. Virginia is back at home this weekend against Georgia Tech.
College Baseball Power Rankings: 11-25
11. North Carolina (+2)
12. Vanderbilt (-6)
13. Wake Forest (+1)
14. Louisiana (+2)
15. Coastal Carolina (+2)
16. Indiana State (+2)
17. UC Irvine (-6)
18. Oklahoma State (+6)
19. Oregon (NR)
20. West Virginia (NR)
21. Alabama (NR)
22. Arizona (NR)
23. Georgia (+2)
24. South Carolina (NR)
25. Dallas Baptist (-10)
The five new teams in this week’s college baseball power rankings are Oregon, West Virginia, Alabama, Arizona and South Carolina. They take the places of Virginia Tech (previously No. 19), UCF (previously No. 20), Nebraska (previously No. 21), Mississippi State (previously No. 22) and Creighton (previously No. 23).