D1Baseball releases updated Top 25 rankings following opening weekend

Jonathan Wagner

Opening weekend has (mostly) come and gone, and college baseball is officially back in full swing. After the action from the first weekend, D1Baseball has released updated top 25 rankings.

As it always does, weather impacted this weekend’s games for multiple teams. Florida played just one game vs. St. John’s due to rain, as the biggest example.

Quite a few previously ranked top 25 teams lost at least once over the weekend, which has resulted in some changes in D1Baseball’s newest rankings.

Here is a full look at D1Baseball’s top 25 weekends after opening weekend and heading into the second week of the 2024 season.

1. Wake Forest

Jun 17, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons first baseman Nick Kurtz (8) celebrates after retiring Stanford Cardinal third baseman Tommy Troy (not pictured) to end the game at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Previous Ranking: No. 1
Weekly Record: 3-0

Wake Forest entered the year as the preseason No. 1 team, and they showed why on opening weekend. Josh Hartle impressed on the mound on opening day against Fordham, and Chase Burns dominated in his Wake Forest debut on Saturday in a win over Illinois. The Demon Deacons secured the weekend sweep on Sunday, defeating Akron 14-3.

2. Arkansas

Jun 22, 2022; Omaha, NE, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks starting pitcher Hagen Smith (33) pitches against the Ole Miss Rebels during the first inning at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Previous Ranking: No. 3 (+1)
Weekly Record: 2-1 (Finishes weekend on Monday)

Hagen Smith’s season debut didn’t go as planned, as the Arkansas ace only made it through one complete inning of work. The Razorbacks prevailed, though, winning 6-4 over James Madison before winning 15-5 on Saturday. James Madison ultimately won Sunday’s game to make the series 2-1, and a deciding fourth game will be played on Monday.

3. LSU

Jun 26, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; LSU Tigers head coach Jay Johnson holds up the national championship trophy at the awards ceremony after the win against the Florida Gators at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Previous Ranking: No. 4 (+1)
Weekly Record: 3-0 (Finishes weekend on Monday)

LSU had a unique setup on opening weekend, with two games apiece against VMI and Central Arkansas. Thatcher Hurd only threw 2.2 innings on Friday, but LSU still won 11-8 against VMI. Against Central Arkansas on Saturday, Luke Holman shined in his team debut, tossing 5.1 shutout innings in a 2-0 win. LSU blew it open on Sunday against VMI in a 27-5 rout. LSU will get another battle against Central Arkansas on Monday.

4. Florida

Jun 25, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators first baseman Jac Caglianone (14) celebrates hitting a home run against the LSU Tigers in the eighth inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Previous Ranking: No. 2 (-2)
Weekend Record: 0-1

One of the biggest upsets of opening weekend came on opening day, with St. John’s stunning Florida 9-5 to open the season. Saturday’s game was canceled due to inclement weather, meaning the best Florida could do was split the series. Then, the rain wouldn’t go away, and Sunday’s game was also called off.

5. TCU

Jun 16, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; TCU Horned Frogs catcher Karson Bowen (14) celebrates after hitting a double against the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles during the sixth inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

Previous Ranking: No. 5
Weekly Record: 3-0

TCU looked to be in trouble early on opening day, trailing Florida Gulf Coast 9-3 through six innings. The Horned Frogs then scored seven runs over the final three innings, earning a 10-9 walk-off victory to begin the year. TCU then hit five long balls on Saturday to win 13-10. TCU earned the sweep on Sunday, winning 11-6.

6. Vanderbilt

© George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

Previous Ranking: No. 6
Weekly Record: 2-1

Opening weekend didn’t quite go exactly how Vanderbilt planned. Despite a 6-0 lead over FAU after two innings, Vanderbilt trailed 11-9 entering the bottom of the ninth on Friday. FAU was not able to hold on, and the Commodores won via the walk-off. FAU did hold on in Game 2 on Saturday, though, winning 5-4. Vanderbilt ultimately came away with the series victory after winning 11-1 on Sunday, avoiding a fall in D1Baseball’s top 25.

7. Oregon State

Previous Ranking: No. 7
Weekly Record: 3-0 (Finishes Weekend on Monday)

Oregon State played in the College Baseball Classic on opening weekend, starting the season off against New Mexico. The Beavers came out red hot on offense, hitting seven home runs and winning 15-6. Saturday was closer, but Oregon State held on to win 6-4 in that one as well. Oregon State blew Cal State Bakersfield out on Sunday, dominating with a 15-2 win. The Beavers wrap up opening weekend against Minnesota on Monday.

8. Texas A&M

Jun 19, 2022; Omaha, NE, USA; Texas A&M Aggies head coach Jim Schlossnagle watches late game action against the Texas Longhorns at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

Previous Ranking: No. 8
Weekend Record: 3-0

The Aggies had a successful start to the campaign, handling McNeese on opening weekend. Texas A&M hit five home runs, with two from Jace LaViolette, on Friday, cruising to a 15-0 win. The offense stayed hot on Saturday, with a 12-2 victory to clinch the series. Sunday’s finale continued Texas A&M’s success, with the Aggies winning 10-0 to earn the sweep.

9. Tennessee

© Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK

Previous Ranking: No. 9
Weekend Record: 2-1

Tennessee earned an impressive win over No. 24 Texas Tech on Friday to begin the Shriners Children’s College Showdown. The Vols were unable to get the offense going on Saturday against Oklahoma, though, falling 5-1. With a late start on Sunday evening, Tennessee impressed with a strong victory over Baylor to clinch a winning weekend.

10. Clemson

© MCKENZIE LANGE/ Staff / USA TODAY NETWORK

Previous Ranking: No. 10
Weekend Record: 3-0

Clemson’s offense came out hot against Xavier on opening weekend. The Tigers hit two grand slams on Friday on their way to a 14-3 victory. Clemson clinched the series on Saturday behind eight runs in the middle three innings to win 8-3. On Sunday, the Tigers finished the sweep by defeating Xavier 11-7.

D1Baseball Top 25 rankings: 11-25

11. East Carolina
12. Duke
13. NC State
14. Virginia
15. North Carolina
16. Texas
17. Alabama (+2)
18. Iowa (+2)
19. Texas Tech (+2)
20. UCLA (+2)
21. South Carolina (+4)
22. UC Santa Barbara (-5)
23. Indiana (NR)
24. Kansas State
25. Coastal Carolina (-7)

Indiana is the lone new team in this week’s rankings. The Hoosiers had an impressive 1-2 week, defeating George Mason and Coastal Carolina while falling to Duke.

They take the place of Northeastern, who fell out of D1Baseball’s top 25 rankings after a 1-2 week against Arizona on the road.