College Baseball Rankings: Predicting D1Baseball top 25 with new No. 1, multiple new teams

The end of the regular season is rapidly approaching in college baseball, and each game at this point has major implications on the postseason. This week was one filled with upsets, weather delays and doubleheaders, and we expect big changes in Monday’s D1Baseball top 25 rankings as a result.

This weekend’s action saw a ton of important matchups, including four series between two top 25 teams. Amongst them, we had a top ten matchup in Lexington between No. 8 Kentucky and No. 2 Arkansas.

Entering Sunday’s action, six teams inside the top 25 were preparing for a series-deciding rubber game. Six others were already down 0-2 on the weekend and needing a win to avoid being swept. Five teams were up 2-0 in their series, while three had completed their series and three others were entering doubleheaders.

We are likely to see quite a few changes in this week’s D1Baseball top 25 rankings. Here is how we expect them to look on Monday morning, including a new No. 1.

1. Tennessee

Previous: No. 3 (+2)
Weekly Record: 2-2
Overall Record: 39-9 (17-7 in SEC)

Tennessee’s week didn’t end on a strong note, but it ended on one. After losing a midweek contest against Lipscomb 9-6 to begin the week, the Vols hit the road for a trip to Gainesville and took two out of three against Florida. Tennessee split the doubleheader to open the series, winning 6-2 in the first game and falling 4-3 in the second. In the finale on Saturday, the Vols won 16-3 to earn a series victory and put them in consideration for the top spot in D1Baseball’s top 25.

2. Kentucky

Previous: No. 8 (+6)
Weekly Record: 2-1
Overall Record: 35-10 (18-6 in SEC)

Kentucky has played in some massive weekend series as of late, and this week was no different. The Wildcats hosted No. 2 Arkansas in Lexington this weekend, and it was quite the series. Kentucky fell in the opener 10-3, but won 11-3 on Saturday to even the series. That set up a huge rubber game on Sunday, where Kentucky won 7-4 to set themselves up for a big move up in D1Baseball’s top 25 rankings.

3. Clemson

Previous: No. 4 (+1)
Weekly Record: 2-1
Overall Record: 36-10 (17-7 in ACC)

Clemson is in the midst of a heated battle for the top spot in the ACC, and the Tigers had an important weekend ahead of them against a Georgia Tech team that has been playing well as of late. The series began with a doubleheader, with Clemson winning the first game 11-4 and losing the second 14-12. In the pivotal rubber game on Sunday, the Tigers won 9-3 to put a strong stamp on the weekend.

4. Arkansas

Previous: No. 2 (-2)
Weekly Record: 3-2
Overall Record: 40-9 (17-7 in SEC)

Arkansas played in a pretty big SEC series this weekend in Lexington, facing off with No. 8 Kentucky. The Razorbacks, after winning a pair of midweek games against Missouri State, took the opener against Kentucky 10-3. They fell 11-3 on Saturday to even the series, setting up a decisive rubber game on Sunday. There, Arkansas was unable to come away with the win, falling 7-4.

5. Texas A&M

Previous: No. 1 (-4)
Weekly Record: 2-2
Overall Record: 40-8 (16-8 in SEC)

Texas A&M has sat atop the rankings for a while now, but the Aggies will now drop out of the No. 1 spot in this week’s D1Baseball top 25. After earning a 10-6 midweek victory over Tarleton, Texas A&M hit the road for a trip to Baton Rouge and lost the series to LSU. The Tigers won 6-4 on both Friday and Saturday to earn the series win. Looking to avoid the sweep on Sunday, the Aggies did just that and won 14-4 behind a late offensive explosion.

6. East Carolina

Previous: No. 5 (-1)
Weekly Record: 2-1
Overall Record: 37-9 (16-5 in AAC)*

East Carolina did not have a midweek game this week, giving its injured pitching staff a chance to rest up. ECU then hosted USF over the weekend, and won the series opener 11-1 on Friday. Saturday’s game was postponed due to an illness going through the USF roster, setting up a doubleheader on Sunday. The Pirates took the first end 8-5 before a weather delay pushed back the finale to Sunday evening. In the back end of the doubleheader, ECU fell in a disappointing 5-4 game to end the weekend 2-1.

7. Oregon State

Previous: No. 6 (-1)
Weekly Record: 2-2
Overall Record: 35-12 (14-9 in Pac-12)

After facing Oregon in a weekend series last week, Oregon State faced off with the Ducks again on Tuesday, this time on the road. The Beavers fell 9-5 in that game, and then hit the road to take on Washington State over the weekend. Oregon State split the first two games, winning the opener 2-1 before falling 10-9 on Saturday. In Sunday’s rubber game, the Beavers won 10-6 to take the series.

8. Florida State

Previous: No. 7 (-1)
Weekly Record: 1-1
Overall Record: 35-10 (14-9 in ACC)

It was a frustrating weekend in Tallahassee. After Florida State lost the opener to No. 20 NC State 8-7, the series was impacted by weather. It resulted in just two games being played, which could prove to be important down the stretch in the ACC standings. In Sunday’s series finale, Florida State earned an 8-1 victory to split the weekend.

9. Mississippi State

Previous: No. 16 (+7)
Weekly Record: 3-1
Overall Record: 33-15 (14-10 in SEC)

What a climb Mississippi State is on, and they now have a very legitimate case to be in the top ten in this week’s D1Baseball top 25 rankings. The Bulldogs enjoyed a 3-1 week that included a midweek victory over rival Ole Miss before taking the weekend series at home against No. 23 Alabama. Mississippi State won 13-3 and 8-1 in the first two games to take the series before falling 10-5 in the finale.

10. Duke

Previous: No. 10
Weekly Record: 2-0
Overall Record: 32-14 (14-10 in ACC)

It was a pretty light week for Duke, who had no midweek games and didn’t play until Sunday against Longwood. Sunday was a scheduled doubleheader for the Blue Devils, and they dominated in the opener with an eye-opening 23-3 victory. They followed it up with another dominating performance in the second game of the doubleheader, winning 11-1.

Predicting D1Baseball’s top 25 rankings: 11-25

11. Virginia
12. North Carolina
13. Wake Forest
14. Georgia (+6)
15. South Carolina
16. UC Irvine (-7)
17. Oklahoma (+5)
18. Arizona (+3)
19. NC State (+1)
20. Southern Miss (NR)
21. Oklahoma State (-7)
22. Indiana State (+2)
23. Oregon (NR)
24. Troy (NR)
25. Louisiana (-7)

We expect three teams to join D1Baseball’s top 25 rankings on Monday. They are Southern Miss, Oregon and Troy. The Ducks were ranked last week before falling out. Those three teams replace Vanderbilt (previously No. 17), Alabama (previously No. 23) and Utah (previously No. 25).