SEC Baseball Power Rankings: New No. 1 emerges after LSU falls

Another week is in the books across college baseball, and this one was very important. As conference tournaments and the postseason approach, teams are trying to put a stamp on their resumes. Some teams in the SEC did just that, leading to major changes in our updated SEC baseball power rankings.

LSU fell out of the top spot in D1Baseball’s top 25 rankings last week, and they did the same in our SEC baseball power rankings this week. The Tigers dropped all the way down to No. 5 in this week’s D1Baseball poll, one of a few SEC teams to plummet out of the top five. Seven teams remain in the top 25, including three ranked inside the top five.

Heading into the final week of the regular season, there are some major matchups on the way. Here is how our SEC baseball power rankings have shaken out entering the final week before the SEC Tournament gets underway.

SEC baseball power rankings entering final week of regular season

1. Arkansas

Weekly record: 2-1 (2-1 in SEC play)

Overall record: 38-13 (19-8)

Previous ranking: No. 2 (+1)

Arkansas enjoyed another strong week, and jump into the top spots in our SEC power rankings as a result. The Razorbacks entered the week having won six consecutive SEC games, and that streak improved to seven after beating South Carolina 4-1 on Friday. The Gamecocks took Saturday’s game, 3-1, to force a rubber match, but Arkansas secured the series with a 5-1 victory on Sunday.

Now sitting in our top spot, Arkansas is in a great position. They’ll have another tough test to conclude the regular season, hitting the road for a series at No. 12 Vanderbilt.

2. Florida

Weekly record: 3-0 (3-0)

Overall record: 40-12 (18-9)

Previous ranking: No. 4 (+2)

Coming off of a series loss at Texas A&M last weekend, Florida entered this week in search of a strong response. They got just that, and then some. The Gators, done with midweek games, began the week on Friday at home against Vanderbilt. They started the weekend with a commanding 10-0 victory on Friday, and then picked up 6-2 victories on both Saturday and Sunday to earn the sweep.

Over the last four weekends, Florida has won two series and lost two. They’ll look to end the regular season on another high note, and they’ll try to do so on the road at No. 19 Kentucky.

3. LSU

Weekly record: 2-2 (1-2)

Overall record: 39-12 (17-9)

Previous ranking: No. 1 (-2)

LSU’s loss at Auburn last weekend was surprising, but this week’s series loss at home against Mississippi State was even more unexpected. The Tigers started the week by beating Northwestern State 14-4 on Tuesday, and then beat Mississippi State 12-1 on Friday. But the Bulldogs then won 9-4 on Saturday and 14-13 in extra innings on Sunday, taking the series and stunning everyone across college baseball.

LSU is no longer the top-ranked team in the country, or even in the SEC. They’ll look to finish on a high note this week, starting at home against McNeese on Tuesday before heading to Athens to take on Georgia starting on Thursday.

4. Vanderbilt

Weekly record: 1-3 (0-3)

Overall record: 35-16 (17-10)

Previous ranking: No. 3 (-1)

Vanderbilt lost a stunning series against Alabama last weekend. They responded on Tuesday in strong fashion at Louisville, winning 12-8 to pick up an important victory. Unfortunately for the Commodores, that would be the last win they secured on the week. At Florida over the weekend, the Gators came out on top with a 10-0 win on Friday and 6-2 wins on Saturday and Sunday.

Vanderbilt enters the final week of the regular season having won just two out of their last seven games. They’ll look to get back on track on Tuesday against MTSU before hosting No. 2 Arkansas starting on Thursday.

5. South Carolina

Weekly record: 1-3 (1-2)

Overall record: 37-14 (15-11)

Previous ranking: No. 5 (–)

The last month has not been kind to South Carolina. This week, the Gamecocks started by losing at home against North Florida, 8-5. They then hit the road to face Arkansas and lost Friday’s opener, 4-1. After taking Saturday’s game, 3-1, South Carolina fell 5-1 in the rubber match. The Gamecocks have now lost three consecutive weekends, and have lost six out of their last seven games entering the final week.

South Carolina will host Charlotte on Tuesday before hosting No. 18 Tennessee for three games starting on Thursday. Another disappointing week could have the Gamecocks falling even further in the SEC power rankings.

6. Alabama

Weekly record: 3-1 (2-1)

Overall record: 35-17 (13-14)

Previous ranking: No. 7 (+1)

Despite being faced with a midseason coaching change and plenty of distractions over recent weeks, Alabama might be playing its best baseball right now. The Crimson Tide picked up a quality victory over Troy on Tuesday, winning 7-2 before falling 11-5 at Texas A&M in Friday’s series opener. Needing a pair of wins to secure the series victory, Alabama completely dominated on Saturday and Sunday. The Crimson Tide won 12-1 to clinch the series and 11-0 to complete the sweep.

Now, the question is how high is Alabama’s ceiling? With a likely series victory coming over Ole Miss at home, the Crimson Tide are in a great spot entering the postseason.

7. Tennessee

Weekly record: 3-1 (2-1)

Overall record: 35-17 (14-13)

Previous ranking: No. 9 (+2)

Tennessee’s struggles on the road have been well documented this season, but the Vols have played well at home and that showed this week. After winning 9-4 over Austin Peay on Tuesday, Tennessee won 10-6 over Kentucky on Friday and then won 10-7 on Saturday. The Vols couldn’t complete the sweep, though, with Kentucky run-ruling them 10-0 in Sunday’s finale.

Tennessee could quietly be turning into a possible regional host. If they defeat Belmont on Tuesday and then take the series at No. 13 South Carolina this weekend, the case would get even stronger.

8. Auburn

Weekly record: 3-0 (3-0)

Overall record: 30-19-1 (14-13)

Previous ranking: No. 8 (–)

Auburn is heating up at the perfect time, as the Tigers entered the weekend with three consecutive SEC series victories. This week, Auburn completely dominated on the road at Ole Miss. The Tigers won 16-4 on Friday in the front half of a doubleheader before taking the second game 8-2. They then won 13-5 to finish off the sweep.

Auburn’s in the postseason if the season ends right now. But having a successful week against Jacksonville State on Tuesday and Missouri over the weekend, all at home, would be huge for the Tigers as they head to Hoover for the SEC Tournament looking for a rise in our power rankings.

9. Kentucky

Weekly record: 2-2 (1-2)

Overall record: 35-15 (15-12)

Previous ranking: No. 6 (-3)

SEC play has been a rollercoaster for Kentucky, but it got back on track last week by sweeping South Carolina. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, that success didn’t continue against Tennessee. Kentucky beat Tennessee Tech 9-2 on Tuesday before falling to Tennessee 10-6 on Friday and 10-7 on Saturday. The Wildcats responded on Sunday, though, picking up a run-rule, 10-0 victory to wrap up the week and avoid the sweep.

Kentucky could potentially host, but picking up a pair of wins over Florida this weekend would go a long way towards that becoming a reality.

10. Texas A&M

Weekly record: 2-2 (1-2)

Overall record: 30-22 (12-15)

Previous ranking: No. 10 (–)

This week was extremely important for Texas A&M, but it didn’t go how they wanted it to. The Aggies defeated UT Rio Grande 11-1 on Tuesday, before taking the series opener over Alabama 11-5 on Friday. From there, it was all Alabama with a 12-1 Crimson Tide win on Saturday and an 11-0 game on Sunday. It was an unfortunate series loss and a huge blow to Texas A&M’s postseason chances as a firm bubble team.

Texas A&M is on the road at Mississippi State starting on Thursday. Lose that series and the Aggies might be relying on a deep SEC Tournament run to make a regional.

11. Missouri

Weekly record: 3-0 (3-0)

Overall record: 30-20 (10-17)

Previous ranking: No. 12 (+1)

Missouri has struggled for much of the second half of the season, but they have played good baseball over the last two weekends. The Tigers picked up a sweep this past weekend over Georgia, winning 13-3 on Friday, 14-12 on Saturday and 5-4 on Sunday. The sweep has Missouri on the rise in our SEC power rankings.

Missouri is likely too far out of the picture to make the NCAA Tournament, but they’ll look to secure their spot in the SEC Tournament, finishing the regular season at Auburn.

12. Mississippi State

Weekly record: 2-1 (2-1)

Overall record: 26-24 (8-19)

Previous ranking: No. 13 (+1)

It’s safe to say that Mississippi State stunned the entire country this weekend. The Bulldogs lost in rather dominating fashion on Friday, falling 12-1 at LSU. But they came back on Saturday and won 9-4 to force a rubber match on Sunday, which Mississippi State won 14-13 in extra innings.

Unfortunately for Mississippi State, the loss won’t do a whole lot for them. They still sit out of the postseason picture and face an uphill battle to even qualify for the SEC Tournament. After hosting North Alabama on Tuesday, the Bulldogs essentially must sweep Texas A&M over the weekend to have a chance to keep their season alive.

13. Georgia

Weekly record: 1-3 (0-3)

Overall record: 28-24 (10-17)

Previous ranking: No. 11 (-2)

Georgia was in need of a strong week to stay in the NCAA Tournament hunt, but that isn’t what the Bulldogs got. After beating SC Upstate 9-2 on Wednesday, Georgia lost all three games at Missouri over the weekend. The Tigers won 13-3 on Friday, 14-12 on Saturday and 5-4 on Sunday.

Georgia is now definitely on the wrong end of the bubble, and at this point, they might not even be in the picture. But finishing the regular season strong with a four-game homestand against Western Carolina on Tuesday and No. 5 LSU over the weekend, could at least give themselves a chance.

14. Ole Miss

Weekly record: 0-3 (0-3)

Overall record: 25-26 (6-21)

Previous ranking: No. 14 (–)

The regular season is nearly complete, and the same can be said for Ole Miss’ season. The Rebels were swept at home against Auburn over the weekend, losing 16-4, 8-2 and 13-5. With that, Ole Miss was officially eliminated from making the SEC Tournament, a disappointing fact for the defending national champions.

Ole Miss isn’t making the postseason, and they are locked into the bottom spot in our SEC power rankings. But the Rebels will look to end the year on a high note when they head to Alabama over the weekend.