College Baseball: Perfect Game releases preseason top 25 rankings

Jonathan Wagner

As a lot of the country deals with winter storms, college baseball is right on the horizon. With the regular season just around a month away, Perfect Game has released their preseason top 25 rankings for the upcoming college baseball season.

Last year’s national champion, LSU, does not hold one of the top two spots, though they don’t have to wait long at all to see their name. Eight SEC teams are ranked by Perfect Game, including five within the top ten (and future SEC baseball team Texas).

The final month of the offseason will be vital as teams get in game shape, stretch out arms and put the finishing touches on their preparation. But it’s always fun to take a look ahead, and these rankings provide a glimpse into who could sit at the top when this upcoming season is all said and done.

1. Wake Forest

Jun 22, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; The Wake Forest Demon Deacons dugout cheer action against the LSU Tigers at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

It was a dominant 2023 campaign for the Demon Deacons, and 2024 looks like another promising season for Wake Forest. Coming off of a 54-12 campaign that included a 22-7 ACC record, a regular season ACC title, a regional and super regional victories and two wins in Omaha, expectations remain sky high.

Wake Forest brings in a solid freshman class, led by a couple of high upside arms. But more impressively, the Demon Deacons bring in arguably the top transfer class, headlined by former Tennessee pitcher Chase Burns.

2. Arkansas

Arkansas was one of college baseball’s best teams last season, and it’s no surprise to see them on the verge of taking the top spot in these rankings. The Razorbacks were 43-18 (20-10 in the SEC) last year, finishing as SEC regular season co-champions. They won two games in the Fayetteville Regional, but were unable to top TCU.

Arkansas also brings in a very impressive transfer class, led by former Texas Tech pitcher Mason Molina and a budding star in shortstop Wehiwa Aloy from Sacramento State.

3. LSU

Jun 26, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Jay Johnson holds up the national championship trophy at the awards ceremony after the win against the Florida Gators at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

No surprise. The defending national champions are right there at the top. Even after losing some immense talent to the MLB Draft, including the top two picks in Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews, the Tigers remain poised for more success under Jay Johnson in 2024.

LSU is bringing in quite a bit, but the transfer class is headlined by Alabama transfer pitcher Luke Holman, former UCLA pitcher Gage Jump and former Arizona outfielder Mac Bingham. With plenty of talent spread around the returning roster and Jay Johnson with an impressive track record, LSU is a favorite to return to Omaha.

4. Florida

Jun 25, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators first baseman Jac Caglianone (14) celebrates hitting a home run against the LSU Tigers in the eighth inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Florida was the other SEC regular season co-champion in 2023, and the Gators went on to reach Omaha before finishing as the College World Series runners-up, losing to LSU in the CWS Finals in three games.

The Gators came away with a couple of impressive pieces to add to an already strong nucleus on their roster, bringing in power bat Colby Shelton from Alabama and another impressive bat in Brody Donay from Virginia Tech. Also joining the fold is veteran catcher Tanner Garrision from Coastal Carolina, who could play a big role right away.

5. TCU

Jun 21, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; TCU Horned Frogs head coach Kirk Saarloos points to the bullpen during the ninth inning against the Florida Gators at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

After winning the Big 12 Tournament last season, TCU was red-hot entering the postseason and it showed. The Horned Frogs won the Fayetteville Regional, topping Arkansas, and went on to host and win the Fort Worth Super Regional against Indiana State.

After losing their first game in Omaha, TCU responded with two straight wins, but ultimately fell to Florida to end their run. But last year showed that TCU is a contender, and that reflects in this year’s preseason college baseball rankings.

6. Vanderbilt

George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

There were some ups and downs through the 2023 regular season for Vanderbilt, but the Commodores finished 42-20 and 19-11 in the SEC regular season. After winning the SEC Tournament, Vandy won the first two games of the Nashville Regional, before eventually falling to Xavier.

Notably, Vanderbilt lost Parker Noland through the portal to South Carolina. And while it was a relatively quiet offseason in terms of portal additions, the Commodores have a strong team that should be in contention in 2024.

7. Texas A&M

Jun 19, 2022; Omaha, NE, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Jim Schlossnagle watches late game action against the Texas Longhorns at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Texas A&M is maybe the biggest surprise in Perfect Game’s preseason rankings thus far, though it wouldn’t be far fetched if the Aggies are one of college baseball’s top teams in 2024. Last year, they lost in the Stanford Regional after winning their first two games, and that’s after a run to the SEC Tournament championship game.

Former Stanford two-way star Braden Montgomery was the star of the transfer portal in the offseason, and he’s now playing in College Station. Joined by shortstop Ali Camarillo and a few talented arms, Texas A&M could be poised for a big year, and perhaps a trip to Omaha.

8. Texas

Jun 19, 2022; Omaha, NE, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach David Pierce (22) leaves the field after addressing the team after the loss against the Texas A&M Aggies at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Texas won 42 games last year, finishing 42-22 overall and 15-9 in the Big 12 before going 0-2 in the Big 12 Tournament. After winning the Coral Gables Regional, the Longhorns almost snuck out of the Stanford Super Regional before losing in heartbreaking fashion.

While Texas didn’t necessarily bring in any stars through the portal, they did put together a freshman class that is right on the cusp of being a top 25 group. In their final baseball season in the Big 12, Texas hopes that will be enough for a return trip to Omaha.

9. Oregon State

Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

This season matters a lot for Oregon State, with uncertainty about what’s coming after this season thanks to the Pac-12 breaking apart. A consistently strong baseball program, Oregon State had a good 2023 campaign, winning 41 games before going 0-2 in the Pac-12 Tournament. The Beavers then went to the Baton Rouge Regional, eventually losing to LSU.

Oregon State struck in the portal, adding shortstop Elijah Hainline from Washington State, who had a breakout 2023 season, hitting .337 with 12 home runs.

10. Virginia

Jun 16, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; Virginia Cavaliers head coach Brian O’Connor stands for the national anthem before the game against the Florida Gators at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Virginia won 50 games last season, and was a strong regional host. They won the Charlottesville Regional over East Carolina, moving on to host a Super Regional, which they also won over ACC foe Duke. Virginia unfortunately went 0-2 in Omaha, falling short in the College World Series.

Despite losing some pieces to the draft, Virginia has a borderline top 25 recruiting class to build around a pretty strong crop of returning pieces, too.

Rest of top 25

11. Tennessee
12. Stanford
13. South Carolina
14. North Carolina
15. Auburn
16. Iowa
17. East Carolina
18. UCLA
19. NC State
20. Kansas State
21. Clemson
22. Oklahoma State
23. Duke
24. UC Santa Barbara
25. Coastal Carolina