SEC Baseball Power Rankings: Texas A&M plummets after disastrous week

The SEC remains loaded with talent across the diamond, and this weekend was filled with upsets that resulted in major changes to On3’s updated SEC baseball power rankings.

D1Baseball also released their updated top 25 rankings on Monday, and nine teams from the SEC were included. Six of those nine teams cracked the top eight, an incredibly impressive feat for the conference.

Updated SEC Baseball Power Rankings

1. LSU

Weekly record: 3-1

Overall record: 6-1

Previous rank: No. 1

LSU played in the Round Rock Classic over the weekend, and the top-ranked Tigers came away with two victories after picking up a dominating 18-4 midweek victory over Southern. After beating Kansas State 7-3 on Friday to kick off the weekend, LSU fell 12-4 against Iowa on Saturday. The Tigers responded in strong fashion, picking up a 16-4 win over Sam Houston on Sunday to clinch the Round Rock Classic title.

LSU will head to Austin to take on Texas on Tuesday, and the Tigers then host Butler (Friday and Monday) and Central Connecticut State (Saturday and Sunday) over the weekend.

2. Ole Miss

Weekly record: 3-1

Overall record: 6-1

Previous rank: No. 2

The week began in brutal fashion for Ole Miss, as Friday night ace Hunter Elliott was ruled out for the weekend due to an arm issue. His status moving forward is up in the air as the team awaits test results. After winning 11-3 over Arkansas State in midweek action, Ole Miss fell 9-2 to No. 13 Maryland on Friday without Elliott on the mound. The Rebels came back with a vengeance the rest of the weekend, though, beating the Terrapins 12-6 on Saturday and 18-8 on Sunday to pick up the series victory.

Ole Miss hosts Louisiana Tech on Tuesday and Wednesday before heading up north to Minneapolis for the Cambria College Classic, where the Rebels will again match up with Maryland on Friday before facing Minnesota and Nebraska on Saturday and Sunday.

3. Tennessee

Weekly record: 5-0

Overall record: 6-2

Previous rank: No. 3

Tennessee was still without star transfer shortstop Maui Ahuna, with his eligibility up in the air with the NCAA (NOTE: Ahuna was cleared on Monday and will be eligible for the Vols moving forward). Additionally, Vols head coach Tony Vitello was suspended this weekend as the NCAA investigates the Ahuna situation (NOTE: Vitello has completed his suspension and will be back this week). Regardless, Tennessee bounced back in a big way this week. After starting the year 1-2, the Vols outscored Alabama A&M 33-1 in two midweek games. Tennessee then swept Dayton over the weekend, winning 12-2 on Friday, 4-1 on Saturday and 6-0 on Sunday.

Next up for Tennessee is another five-game week, with Charleston Southern coming to town on Tuesday and Wednesday and Gonzaga visiting over the weekend.

4. Florida

Weekly record: 4-1

Overall record: 7-1

Previous rank: No. 5 (+1)

Florida played five games this week, all against the AAC. The Gators started with a two-game midweek set against South Florida. On Tuesday, Florida won 6-1. But on Wednesday, it was USF that came away with a 10-9 victory. Over the weekend, Florida hosted Cincinnati for a three-game weekend series and the Gators picked up the sweep. Florida scored 13 runs in each game, winning 13-6 on Friday, 13-3 on Saturday and 13-7 on Sunday.

Florida plays another split midweek series this week, heading to Jacksonville on Tuesday before returning home for the second game on Wednesday. The Gators then host No. 22 Miami for a three-game series over the weekend.

5. Vanderbilt

Weekly record: 3-2

Overall record: 5-3

Previous rank: No. 7 (+2)

Vanderbilt’s week didn’t start on the right foot, losing 5-4 against Central Arkansas on Tuesday. The Commodores responded with a 13-1 win over UAB on Wednesday, and then hosted No. 17 UCLA over the weekend. The two teams split the first two games, with Vanderbilt winning 6-0 on Friday and UCLA winning 3-0 on Saturday. In the rubber match on Sunday, it was Vanderbilt that picked up the 2-1 victory to win an impressive early-season series.

Vanderbilt hosts Austin Peay on Tuesday before heading to Minneapolis over the weekend to play in the Cambria College Classic against Nebraska, Maryland and Minnesota.

6. Arkansas

Weekly record: 3-1

Overall record: 5-2

Previous rank: No. 6

Arkansas began the week with a tight midweek matchup against Grambling, with the Razorbacks winning 9-7. Over the weekend, Arkansas hosted Eastern Illinois and won the first two games – 13-2 on Friday and 10-3 on Saturday. On Sunday, though, it was Eastern Illinois that picked up the victory, winning 12-3.

Arkansas hosts Illinois State on Wednesday before Wright State comes to town for a three-game weekend series.

7. South Carolina

Weekly record: 5-0

Overall record: 8-0

Previous rank: No. 8 (+1)

After outscoring UMass Lowell 49-5 on opening weekend, South Carolina continued its domination with a 19-3 win over Winthrop on Tuesday and a 12-0 victory over Queens on Wednesday. The Gamecocks’ weekend series against Penn was a bit tighter, but South Carolina still came away with the series sweep after winning 7-4 on Friday, 1-0 on Saturday and 6-5 on Sunday.

North Carolina A&T pays South Carolina a visit on Tuesday, and then the Gamecocks play in a travelling three-game series against Clemson. The Tigers will host Friday’s game, with Greenville, South Carolina playing host to Saturday’s neutral site contest. South Carolina hosts the series finale on Sunday.

8. Alabama

Weekly record: 5-0

Overall record: 8-0

Previous rank: No. 9 (+1)

Following a 7-4 win over Tennessee Tech on Tuesday and a 10-0 win over UT Martin on Wednesday, Alabama was originally scheduled to play at Pepperdine this weekend. Instead, inclement weather resulted in that series being cancelled and the Crimson Tide hosted High Point. Alabama had no issues on the weekend, winning 9-4 on Friday, 10-6 on Saturday and 4-2 on Sunday.

The Crimson Tide host Jacksonville State on Wednesday before UIC comes to Tuscaloosa over the weekend.

9. Texas A&M

Weekly record: 1-3

Overall record: 4-3

Previous rank: No. 4 (-5)

It was a weekend to forget in College Station. Texas A&M’s week started in disappointing fashion, losing 7-4 to Lamar on Tuesday. The disappointment continued, as the Aggies fell to Portland in each of the weekend’s first two games, losing 10-3 on Friday and 4-1 on Saturday. Texas A&M was two outs away from being swept against Portland, but a late rally salvaged the final game of the weekend for the Aggies. It might be a steep fall, but there’s nowhere to hide in the SEC and the Aggies will need to get back on track to get back to the top of the conference.

Texas A&M hosts HCU on Tuesday and then travels to Houston to play in the Shriners Children’s College Classic, with matchups against No. 14 Louisville, Rice, and No. 24 Texas Tech on the horizon.

10. Auburn

Weekly record: 3-0-1

Overall record: 5-1-1

Previous rank: No. 10

It was a good week for Auburn, even with a rare ending to the week. The Tigers started off with a 13-1 midweek victory over North Alabama before playing host to USC for a three-game weekend series. Auburn won the opener 5-3 on Friday, and then won 12-6 on Saturday. Due to the drop dead time on Sunday, implemented due to travel, Sunday’s game came to an end with a 12-12 tie reading on the scoreboard. Ties don’t come often in baseball, but Auburn went 3-0-1 on the week as a result.

Auburn hosts Florida A&M on Wednesday before Lipscomb comes to town for a three-game weekend series beginning on Friday.

11. Georgia

Weekly record: 3-1

Overall record: 5-2

Previous rank: No. 12 (+1)

Georgia did not play in a midweek contest this week, instead playing a four-game weekend series against Princeton. Due to weather, the doubleheader on the schedule for Saturday was pushed to Sunday. Georgia won 12-5 on Friday, and then took home a 9-0 win on Saturday. The Bulldogs took the front half of the doubleheader on Sunday, winning 12-7. After a tight ballgame in the back half, Princeton came away with a 12-11 victory to round out the series.

Georgia hosts Presbyterian on Tuesday before a strong Georgia Tech team visits for a three-game set over the weekend.

12. Mississippi State

Weekly record: 3-2

Overall record: 5-3

Previous rank: No. 11 (-1)

The week started off in unfortunate fashion for Mississippi State, as the Bulldogs fell to UL Monroe on Tuesday, 11-5. They were able to respond on Wednesday, though, with a dominating 14-3 victory. The weekend had a similar story, as Mississippi State lost Friday’s game 13-4 against Arizona State. The Bulldogs were able to respond again, though, winning 5-1 on Saturday and 16-3 on Sunday to earn the series victory.

A challenging week is ahead for Mississippi State, beginning with a midweek battle at No. 25 Southern Miss on Tuesday. The Bulldogs then travel to Frisco, Texas for the Frisco College Baseball Classic, with matchups against Ohio State, Oklahoma and Cal on the schedule.

13. Missouri

Weekly record: 3-1

Overall record: 5-2

Previous rank: No. 13

Missouri was without any midweek action, instead playing a four-game weekend series against FIU that began on Thursday. FIU took the opener, 4-3, but it was all Missouri from there. The Tigers won 5-2 on Friday, 10-4 on Saturday and 9-5 on Sunday, finishing with a solid 3-1 week.

Missouri is at home for another four games this week, beginning with a Tuesday game against Lindenwood before Texas Southern comes to town for a three-game weekend series.

14. Kentucky

Weekly record: 3-1

Overall record: 5-2

Previous rank: No. 14

Kentucky’s week began with a 6-3 midweek victory over Evansville, and the Wildcats then hosted Wright State over the weekend. The Wildcats picked up an 8-3 victory on Friday night, but Saturday was a different story. Wright State won the second game of the series 12-9, evening the three-game set. Then, in Sunday’s series finale, Kentucky put a stamp on the weekend with a dominating 15-0 win to finish a 3-1 week.

Kentucky hosts Morehead State on Tuesday and then Indiana State for a three-game weekend series.