Tennessee reaches highest preseason ranking in NCBWA poll
With Opening Day just 15 days away, Tennessee continues to climb in the preseason rankings. On Thursday, the Vols reached their highest ranking to date, coming in at No. 5 in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association preseason poll.
Tennessee earned the No. 8 ranking in this week’s Baseball America poll and No. 9 by D1 Baseball two weeks ago. Earlier this year, the Vols were tabbed as the No. 11 preseason team by Perfect Game.
UT is one of four programs who comprise the top-five and one of six in the top-10. Wake Forest tops the poll with defending national champion LSU in second. Florida and Arkansas sit just ahead of Tennessee at No. 3 and No. 4 while TSU comes in sixth and Vanderbilt follows at No. 7. Oregon State, Texas and Texas A&M round out the top-10.
Preseason rankings continue to roll in.#GBO // #OTH // #15Days pic.twitter.com/TO4GKSXvXA
— Tennessee Baseball (@Vol_Baseball) February 1, 2024
Tennessee is coming off another thrilling season that ended in Omaha for the College World Series this past summer – the second time that’s happened in the past three seasons. Tennessee snapped a six-game losing skid dating back to 2001 at the CWS with a come-from-behind 6-4 victory over Stanford on the brink of elimination. It won in both regional play against Clemson and supers against Southern Miss in come-from-behind fashion again to help punch their ticket.
The Vols were active in the transfer portal following the season’s end, bringing in five of D1 Baseball’s Top-130 transfers in catcher Cannon Peebles (No. 5), third baseman Billy Amick (No. 7), right-handed pitcher Nate Snead (No. 18), utility Dalton Bargo (No. 41) and right-handed pitcher AJ Causey (No. 72). Tennessee also earned a commit from left Chris Stamos (Cal) and former Wofford slugger Ryan Galanie, but the latter elected to sign with the White Sox after being selected in the 13th round.
Top 10
- 1Breaking
Tom Herman
FAU set to fire head coach
- 2New
CBB AP Poll
Big movers in latest rankings
- 3
Don Brown fired
UMass parts ways with HC
- 4
Iowa QB out
Ankle injury sidelines Brendan Sullivan
- 5
Phil Longo fired
Wisconsin announces firing of OC
Tennessee will have to make up some production lost from the 2023 roster this spring, including the likes of Chase Dollander (draft), Chase Burns (transfer), Maui Ahuna (draft), Andrew Lindsey (draft), Griffin Merritt and more.
Tennessee begins the 2024 campaign at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown at Globe Life Field in Arlington, TX on the weekend of Feb. 16-18. The Vols are slated to play Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Baylor over that weekend.
Vols in the Preseason Polls
NCBWA – No. 5
Baseball America – No. 8
D1 Baseball – No. 9
Perfect Game – No. 11
Preseason accolades for Vols
RHP Drew Beam: 2nd Team All-American (Perfect Game), Top-100 MLB Draft Prospects (D1 Baseball)
INF Billy Amick: 2nd Team All-American (Perfect Game), No. 7 Transfer (D1 Baseball), Top-100 MLB Draft Prospects (D1 Baseball)
INF Christian Moore: 3rd Team All-American (Perfect Game), Top-100 MLB Draft Prospects (D1 Baseball)
Tennessee named the No. 3 Transfer Portal Class (D1 Baseball)
Tennessee named the No. 11 Freshmen Class (D1 Baseball)
