College Baseball Power Rankings: Major changes entering final weekend of regular season

The final weekend of the regular season is (mostly) here across college baseball. Conference tournaments will get underway next week, and then it’s officially time for the postseason. Before all of that, though, it’s time for our final college baseball power rankings of the regular season.

While just one new team jumps into this week’s rankings, there is a ton of movement within the top 25. Three teams have jumped into the top ten, with two new teams inside the top five.

There is certainly a lot to play for this weekend. The NCAA Tournament picture is far from being set. You can find our latest Field of 64 projections here, as well as our latest regional hosting picture breakdown and bubble watch.

Here’s how our latest college baseball power rankings take shape as attention begins to shift towards thte postseason.

1. Tennessee

Record: 43-10 (19-8 in SEC)
Previous: No. 1
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 1

Tennessee has played well since taking over the top spot in the rankings, and that has continued. The Vols are coming off of a series win on the road at Vanderbilt, plus a 10-0 midweek victory over Belmont. Tennessee is 43-10 on the season and 19-8 in the SEC.

2. Kentucky

Record: 37-11 (20-7 in SEC)
Previous: No. 2
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 2

Kentucky continues to sit atop the SEC’s standings entering the final weekend of the regular season. The Wildcats, after taking two out of three on the road at Florida last weekend, are currently 37-11 overall and 20-7 in league play. Kentucky holds firm this week at No. 2, and they’ll look to clinch a regular season SEC title this weekend.

3. Arkansas

Record: 42-10 (19-8 in SEC)
Previous: No. 5 (+2)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 3

Arkansas is creeping back up in this week’s college baseball power rankings. The Razorbacks took on a tough Mississippi State team last weekend, and twook two out of three to improve to 42-10 and 19-8 in the SEC on the season. Arkansas remains right behind Kentucky in league standings, and this week’s series against Texas A&M is a massive one.

4. North Carolina

Record: 39-11 (20-7 in ACC)
Previous: No. 9 (+5)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 7

North Carolina needs just one win this weekend against Duke to clinch the ACC regular season title. The Tar Heels are 20-7 in league play following a dominating series sweep over Louisville last weekend. UNC has played extremely well throughout ACC play, and it’s enough for them to become the top ACC team in this week’s rankings.

5. Wake Forest

Record: 36-16 (15-12 in ACC)
Previous: No. 12 (+7)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 8

Wake Forest stunned Clemson last weekend, sweeping the Tigers to completely shake up the top ten this week. The Demon Deacons are 36-16 overall and 15-12 in the ACC, and move up into the top five as a result. Wake Forest would love another series win this weekend against NC State to lock up their bid to host.

6. Texas A&M

Record: 42-10 (17-10 in SEC)
Previous: No. 4 (-2)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 5

Texas A&M lost another series over the weekend, this time losing two out of three on the road at Ole Miss. Still, the Aggies are 42-10 overall and 17-10 in the SEC. They fall down to No. 6 in this week’s college baseball power rankings, but will surely move up if they can take the series this weekend against Arkansas. That won’t be easy, though, especially with the impending threat of inclement weather.

7. Clemson

Record: 37-13 (17-10 in ACC)
Previous: No. 3 (-4)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 4

Clemson could have stayed in the race at the top of the ACC with even a win over Wake Forest, but they instead got swept and fall in the rankings because of it. The Tigers still have put together an impressive season, but they’ll need to get back on track this weekend to give them momentum heading into the ACC Tournament. Clemson is 37-13 overall and 17-10 in league play.

8. Oregon State

Record: 39-12 (17-9 in Pac-12)
Previous: No. 8
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 6

Oregon State picked up a big series sweep over UCLA last weekend, keeping them in the mix at the top of the Pac-12. This weekend’s series against Arizona undoubtedly has a lot on the line. The Beavers are 39-12 overall on the season and 17-9 in the Pac-12, and would lock up their bid to host with a series win over the Wildcats.

9. Georgia

Record: 38-12 (16-11 in SEC)
Previous: No. 14 (+5)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 9

Georgia continues to surge, and there might not be a team in college baseball playing better than them right now. The Bulldogs are coming off of a series sweep on the road at South Carolina, and currently sit at 38-12 overall and 16-11 in the SEC. Georgia moves up considerably yet again in this week’s college baseball power rankings, and slide into the top ten.

10. Oklahoma

Record: 32-17 (21-6 in Big 12)
Previous: No. 19 (+9)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 12

Oklahoma has quietly put together a great season, and has dominated Big 12 play so far. The Sooners, after sweeping Baylor last weekend, are 32-17 overall and an impressive 21-6 in the Big 12 this season. That is enough to move them into the top ten this week, and they’ll look to continue that success this weekend before fighting for the Big 12 Tournament title.

College Baseball Power Rankings: 11-25

11. Duke (-1)
12. East Carolina (-6)
13. Virginia (-2)
14. Florida State (-7)
15. Mississippi State (-2)
16. Arizona
17. UC Irvine
18. Indiana State
19. NC State (+4)
20. UC Santa Barbara (+1)
21. Louisiana (+1)
22. Southern Miss (+3)
23. Oklahoma State (NR)
24. Oregon
25. South Carolina (-10)

Oklahoma State is the lone team to join our college baseball power rankings this week. They take the place of Troy (previously No. 20), who falls out after losing two out of three at Texas State last weekend. South Carolina is the most notable fall, dropping ten spots to No. 25.