Good morning, after an exciting Opening Weekend in NCAA Baseball, it’s time for us to release our new weekly Top 25 rankings. These will come out every week along with weekly Weekend Previews on Friday throughout the season.
1. Texas (3-0)
Last Week: 1
Results: 3-0 vs Rice
This week: (5 games) 2/22-2/23 at Texas A&M-CC, 2/25-2/27 vs Alabama
Texas started the preseason #1 and they will remain my #1 following a strong debut series against in-state rival Rice University. They outscored the Owls 36-3 in the three-game series and cruised to an easy sweep. The Longhorns will head to Corpus Christi during the week for a two-game series against Texas A&M-Corpus Christie, then return to Austin to host Alabama.
2. LSU (3-0)
Last Week: 7
Results: 3-0 vs Maine
This week: (5 games) 2/23 at #22 Louisiana Tech, 2/25 vs Towson, 2/26 vs Southern, 2/27 vs Southern and Towson
LSU is back! They hosted the University of Maine over the weekend and scored a record-setting 51 runs in those three games. They feature one of the most nasty lineups in the country, anchored by likely Top-5 pick Jacob Berry. A mid-week showdown against #22 Louisiana Tech on the road will be more of a test than next weekend’s games, but it’s a great start for the new era under new coach Jay Johnson. It is worth noting that the pitching staff did give up 8 and 6 runs on Saturday and Sunday, respectively, but those games were already well in hand for the Tigers.
3. Ole Miss (3-0)
Last Week: 6
Results: 3-0 vs Charleston Southern
This week: (4 games) 2/22 vs Arkansas State, 2/25-2/27 vs Virginia Commonwealth University
The Rebels took care of business on Opening Weekend, sweeping Charleston Southern with relative ease. They’ll host Arkansas State in the mid-week game before pesky VCU comes to town.
4. Arkansas (2-1)
Last Week: 4
Results: 2-1 vs Illinois State
This Week: (3 games) 2/25 vs Indiana, 2/26 vs #9 Stanford, 2/27 vs Louisiana
It wasn’t an ideal start for the Razorbacks on Opening Day, as they dropped the first game of the series to Illinois State by a score of 2-1. They rebounded to win the next two games, however, and remain in the Top 5. After losing Peyton Pallette for the season, they’ll be looking for the pitching staff to step up before entering SEC play. Arkansas will take the week off before heading to Texas for the Karbach Round Rock Classic. The big match-up will be against #9 Stanford on Saturday. On Sunday, they’ll have to take on Louisiana, who took 2/3 from previously #19 UC-Irvine over Opening Weekend.
5. North Carolina State (3-0)
Last Week: 10
Results: 3-0 vs Evansville
This Week: (5 games) 2/22 vs High Point, 2/23 vs Longwood, 2/25-2/27 vs Quinnipiac
The Wolfpack may never know if they could’ve won the 2021 College World Series, but they’ve clearly put that “what if” in the past and put their focus on 2022. NC State scored 37 runs on a decent Evansville team and true freshman Tommy White went 9-14 with 5 home runs and 12 RBIs. The Wolfpack will host a pair of mid-week games against High Point and Longwood before hosting Quinnipiac over the weekend.
6. Oklahoma State (2-1)
Last Week: 11
Results: 2-1 at Vanderbilt
This Week: (4 games) 2/22 vs Sam Houston State, 2/25-2/27 vs Wright State
Oklahoma State went to powerhouse Vanderbilt and took two of three in Nashville behind stellar pitching and timely hitting. They’ll get a difficult weekday match-up with Sam Houston State in Arlington, Texas at Globe Life Field, before finally heading home to host Wright State.
7. Mississippi State (1-2)
Last Week: 3
Results: 1-2 vs Long Beach State
This Week: (4 games) 2/22 vs Arkansas Pine Bluff, 2/25-2/27 vs Northern Kentucky
It was a disappointing start to the season for the defending champs, as they dropped two of three to Long Beach State at home. They’ll look to get back on track with a mid-week game against Arkansas Pine Bluff before hosting Northern Kentucky for a three game set.
8. Vanderbilt (1-2)
Last Week: 2
Results: 1-2 vs #11 Oklahoma State
This Week: (5 games) 2/22 vs North Alabama, 2/23 vs Evansville, 2/25-2/27 vs Army
Vanderbilt beat Oklahoma State on Opening Day before the lineup went a bit cold and they dropped the final two games of the series. They’ll get a pair of mid-week games against North Alabama and Evansville before hosting Army at home.
9. Stanford (2-1)
Last Week: 5
Results: 2-1 vs Cal State Fullerton
This Week: (4 games) 2/22 vs Santa Clara, 2/25 vs Louisiana, 2/26 vs #4 Arkansas, 2/27 vs Indiana
The Cardinal had a challenging Opening Weekend assignment against Cal State Fullerton but managed to win the series. They’ll get Santa Clara at home on Tuesday before the Round Rock Classic where they’ll get to face #4 Arkansas on Saturday.
10. Arizona (3-0)
Last Week: 13
Results: 3-0 vs Kansas State, Oklahoma, and #15 Texas Tech
This Week; (4 games) 2/22 vs Grand Canyon, 2/25-2/27 vs Milwaukee
The Chip Hale era started in style for the Wildcats as they swept their way through the State Farm College Baseball Showdown at Globe Life Field, highlighted by a dominant 13-2 win over then ranked #15 Texas Tech. They’ll have easier match-ups this week as they host Grand Canyon in the mid-week game and Milwaukee over the weekend.
11. Tennessee (3-0)
Last Week: 16
Results: 3-0 vs Georgia Southern
This Week: (5 games) 2/22 vs Tennessee Tech, 2/23 vs UNC-Ashville, 2/25-2/27 vs Iona
A dominant performance on Opening Day weekend from the Vols. I expect to see them continue to climb the rankings as the season continues. They’ve got a full but easy schedule this week and it isn’t out of the realm of possibility to see them go 5-0 with relative ease.
12. Oregon State (4-0)
Last Week: 17
Results: 4-0 vs New Mexico (twice), Gonzaga (twice)
This week: (3 games) 2/24-2/26 vs Xavier
Oregon State took care of business over the weekend, going 4-0 vs New Mexico and Gonzaga. They’ll stay in Surprise, Arizona for a three game series against Xavier this weekend.
13. Florida State (3-0)
Last Week: 14
Results: 3-0 vs James Madison
This Week: (4 games) 2/22 at Jacksonville, 2/25-2/27 vs Samford
The Seminoles’ lineup was on fire over the weekend as they swept James Madison to go to 3-0. They’ll have a relatively easy schedule this week, traveling to Jacksonville before returning home to host Samford.
14. Notre Dame (2-1)
Last Week: 9
Results: 2-1 vs Manhattan, Stetson, and Delaware
This Week: (4 games) 2/25 vs Marist, 2/26 vs Monmouth (twice), 2/27 vs Marist
The Irish lost a tough one to Delaware in Florida, so now they’ll try their luck in South Carolina against Marist and Monmouth, each of whom they’ll play twice this upcoming weekend.
15. Long Beach State (2-1)
Last Week: UR
Results: 2-1 at Mississippi State
This Week: (3 games) 2/25-2/27 vs Sacramento State
I had them unranked to begin the season, and boy was that a mistake. They also have the best nickname in college sports, I mean come on, they’re the Dirtbags! They ruined Mississippi States championship party on Opening Weekend by taking two of three in front of the Bulldog faithful. They’ll return home to Long Beach to face in-state opponent Sacramento State this upcoming weekend.
16. Virginia (3-0)
Last Week: 18
Results: 3-0 vs Bellarmine, Gardner-Webb, and NJIT
This Week: (4 games) 2/23 vs VMI, 2/25-2/27 vs Cornell
The ‘Hoos started their season at Gardner-Webb for a three-game round robin against Bellarmine, Gardner-Webb, and NJIT. The lineup struggled on Friday, but the pitching was dominant all weekend as they won 1-0, 7-0, and 8-3 to go to 3-0. They’ll head home to Charlottesville to host a potential trap game against VMI (who very nearly won a series at Duke this past weekend), before Cornell comes to home for the weekend series.
17. Georgia (3-0)
Last Week: 20
Results: 3-0 vs Albany
This Week: (4 games) 2/22 vs Wofford, 2/25-2/27 vs Akron
The ‘Dawgs needed some walk-off heroics over the weekend, but they got the job done in the end and swept Albany. They host Wofford on Tuesday before welcoming Akron to town.
18. Georgia Tech (3-0)
Last Week: 22
Results: 3-0 vs Wright State
This Week: (5 games) 2/22 at Georgia Southern, 2/23 vs Presbyterian, 2/25-2/27 Gardner-Webb
Like their bitter rivals, the Yellow Jackets needed some late inning heroics to sweep Wright State, but all that matters is that they won and went 3-0. They’ll have a busy schedule this week, as they head to Georgia Southern on Tuesday and host Presbyterian on Wednesday and Gardner-Webb over the weekend.
19. Florida (1-2)
Last Week: 8
Results: 1-2 vs Liberty
This Week: (5 games) 2/22 at Stetson, 2/23 vs North Florida, 2/25-2/27 vs Georgia State
It was an Opening Day Weekend to forget for Florida, as they dropped two of three to unranked Liberty at home. They’ll look to get back on track this week with games against Stetson, North Florida, and Georgia State.
20. TCU (2-1)
Last Week: 21
Results: 2-1 vs San Diego State, Cal, and Houston
This Week: (5 games) 2/22 vs Stephen F. Austin, 2/23 vs UTSA, 2/25-2/27 vs Nebraska
The Horned Frogs were upset by Cal on Saturday, but they’ll get a chance to show what they’re made of this weekend when they play a 3-game series against the Big 10 favorite Nebraska.
21. Miami (3-0)
Last Week: UR
Results: 3-0 vs Towson
This Week: (4 games) 2/23 vs FAU, 2/25-2/27 vs Harvard
The Hurricanes were dominant in their sweep of Towson this past weekend, and they’ll look to continue that dominance as they host Florida Atlantic and Harvard this week.
22. Louisiana Tech (3-0)
Last Week: UR
Results: 3-0 vs Wichita State
This Week: 4 games) 2/23 vs #2 LSU, 2/25-2/27 vs Tulane
Louisiana Tech swept Wichita State over the weekend, and they’ll get a chance to prove they belong with a massive mid-week match-up with #2 LSU before hosting a decent Tulane squad.
23. Southern Miss (3-0)
Last Week: UR
Results: 3-0 vs North Alabama
This Week: (4 games) 2/22 vs South Alabama, 2/25-2/27 vs Jacksonville State
Southern Miss dominated their opening series with North Alabama and will look to continue to stay hot with games against South Alabama and Jacksonville State this week.
24. UCLA (2-1)
Last Week: 23
Results: 2-1 vs Cal State Northridge
This Weekend: (5 games) 2/22 vs Pepperdine, 2/23 vs Omaha, 2/25-2/27 vs UC-Riverside
UCLA will be disappointed not to have swept Cal State Northridge, but they’ve got a favorable schedule this week with 5 home games vs vastly inferior opponents.
25. Texas Tech (1-2)
Last Week: 15
Results: 1-2 vs Michigan, Auburn, #13 Arizona
This Week: (4 games) 2/22 vs Dallas Baptist, 2/25-2/27 vs Kent State
Top MLB Prospect Jace Jung and the Texas Tech Red Raiders had a disappointing weekend at the State Farm College Baseball Showdown, and things are not going to get easier with their mid-week game against formerly ranked Dallas Baptist. They could very well be 1-3 heading into a relatively easy weekend series against Kent State.
Dropped Out: #12 East Carolina, #19 UC-Irvine, #24 Dallas Baptist, #25 Nebraska