College Baseball Power Rankings: Multiple teams enter top ten

Jonathan Wagner

The postseason is almost here in college baseball. With the regular season ending in just three weeks, this week’s college baseball power rankings look a little bit different.

Two new teams have joined this week’s rankings, with three new teams leaping up into the top ten. Outside of the top four, every team inside our top 25 moved at least one spot.

Teams are trying to put final stamps on their postseason resumes, with opportunities dwindling. Conference tournaments will be here before you know it, and this week’s movement illustrates just how wide open things still are at this time of the year.

Here is a full look at our updated college baseball power rankings heading into the weekend.

1. Texas A&M

Braden Montgomery Texas A&M — Credit: Texas A&M athletics

Record: 39-6 (15-6 in SEC)
Previous: No. 1
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 1

Texas A&M picked up a strong series victory over Georgia last weekend and then won a 10-6 midweek game over Tarleton, improving to 39-6 overall and 15-6 in the SEC. The Aggies are still holding firm in our top spot in the rankings. But as they continue to fight for the top overall seed in the upcoming NCAA Tournament, all eyes are on Texas A&M and Arkansas in the regular season’s final week.

2. Arkansas

Arkansas batter Kendall Diggs celebrates with teammates after hitting the walk-off solo homer. (Gary Cosby Jr./Tuscaloosa News/USA TODAY NETWORK)

Record: 39-7 (16-5 in SEC)
Previous: No. 2
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 2

Arkansas had to battle it out over the weekend against Florida, and came away with the series victory despite falling short of the sweep. After taking two out of three against the Gators, the Razorbacks hosted Missouri State for a pair of midweek games which they won 12-7 and 8-5. It’s safe to say most of college baseball will be tuned into this weekend’s series between Arkansas and Kentucky, which could have a major impact on next week’s rankings.

3. Tennessee

Record: 37-8 (15-6 in SEC)
Previous: No. 3
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 3

Tennessee took care of business last weekend against Missouri, though the final two games were decided by just one run. The Vols still came away with the sweep, improving to 15-6 in SEC play. They then hosted Lipscomb for a midweek game, but were unable to add another win, instead falling 9-6. While the midweek loss was disappointing, Tennessee holds firm at No. 3 ahead of this weekend’s trip to Florida.

4. Clemson

Blake Wright — © Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK

Record: 34-9 (15-6 in ACC)
Previous: No. 4
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 4

Clemson hit the road last weekend for a trip to Louisville, and ultimately came away with a pair of wins to take an important ACC series. In such a loaded ACC race, the Tigers needed to win that one and they did, and they hold firm at No. 4 for a second consecutive week. This weekend will not be easy, as Clemson returns home to welcome a Georgia Tech team that has been playing great as of late.

5. East Carolina

Jacob Jenkins-Cowart — © Andrew Craft / USA TODAY NETWORK

Record: 35-8 (14-4 in AAC)
Previous: No. 6 (+1)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 5

East Carolina is on an eight-game winning streak, and hasn’t lost since April 14. The Pirates have re-gained control of the AAC regular season race, and keep finding ways to win. While ECU is currently dealing with some injuries on the pitching staff, they had no midweek this week and should be rested for this weekend’s series against USF. The Pirates move up into the top five in this week’s college baseball power rankings.

6. Kentucky

Ryan Waldschmidt — © Scott Utterback/Courier Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK

Record: 33-9 (16-5 in SEC)
Previous: No. 5 (-1)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 8

Kentucky dropped two out of three at South Carolina last weekend, and they have now lost two consecutive weekend series. Still, the Wildcats are 33-9 overall and 16-5 in the SEC, which keeps them highly-ranked. The schedule doesn’t get any easier for Kentucky, though, as they host Arkansas this weekend.

7. Florida State

jaime-ferrer-florida-state — Florida State outfielder Jaime Ferrer celebrates this weekend with teammates James Tibbs (middle) and Treyton Rank. (Gene Williams/Warchant)

Record: 34-9 (13-8 in ACC)
Previous: No. 11 (+4)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 7

Florida State dropped out of the top ten in last week’s college baseball power rankings, but they move back up to No. 7 after taking two out of three at Duke last weekend. The Seminoles won the series by taking the first two games 4-2 and 7-6, but couldn’t finish the sweep as they lost 16-4 in the finale. Though the finale was disappointing, it was still a strong weekend showing for Florida State.

8. Oregon State

Gavin Turley — © Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK

Record: 33-11 (12-8 in Pac-12)
Previous: No. 10 (+2)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 6

Oregon State had a poor showing last week, going 1-4 with a midweek loss at Portland and being swept by Cal. They responded, for the most part, over the weekend by taking two out of three at home against a ranked Oregon team. The Beavers won 2-0 on Friday and 4-2 on Saturday before falling 7-1 in the finale on Sunday. The same two teams met again on Tuesday, this time at Oregon, and the Ducks won 9-5 to technically split the four-game stretch. Regardless, Oregon State finds themselves moving back up in this week’s rankings.

9. North Carolina

Dalton Pence — © Ken Ruinard / staff / USA TODAY NETWORK

Record: 35-11 (17-7 in ACC)
Previous: No. 12 (+3)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 12

North Carolina enjoyed a successful weekend against Virginia Tech at home, winning 8-1 and 6-3 on Friday and Saturday to win the series. The Hokies won 4-3 in Sunday’s finale, but the Tar Heels still took the series and then dominated in a pair of midweek victories over Charlotte and William & Mary, winning by a total score of 32-3. UNC is currently atop the ACC’s standings at 17-7.

10. UC Irvine

Record: 33-8 (14-4 in Big West)
Previous: No. 15 (+5)
D1Baseball Ranking: No. 9

UC Irvine has found themselves back up in the top ten. It comes after a dominating weekend sweep at UC Riverside. The Anteaters then battled against a strong San Diego team in a midweek game, and came away with an impressive 8-4 victory. Now sitting at 33-8 overall and 14-4 in Big West, UC Irvine has played themselves into a great spot as the postseason approaches.

College Baseball Power Rankings: 11-25

Jonathan Santucci — Credit: Duke Athletics

11. Duke (-4)
12. Virginia (+5)
13. Wake Forest (-5)
14. Louisiana (+4)
15. Oklahoma State (+6)
16. South Carolina (+8)
17. Mississippi State (NR)
18. Vanderbilt (-9)
19. Indiana State (-3)
20. Alabama (+3)
21. Arizona (-7)
22. Georgia (-2)
23. NC State (-1)
24. Louisiana Tech (NR)
25. Oklahoma (-6)

With Florida State, North Carolina and UC Irvine jumping into the top ten this week, three teams fell out. They are Duke, Wake Forest and Vanderbilt. In the top 25 as a whole, Mississippi State and Louisiana Tech join after not being ranked last week. They take the places of Coastal Carolina (previously No. 13) and Oregon (previously No. 25).

The biggest riser in this week’s college baseball power rankings is South Carolina, who rose eight spots up to No. 16. Vanderbilt dropped the most this week, falling nine spots down to No. 18 after sitting in the top ten last week.