SEC Baseball Power Rankings: Preseason edition

Jonathan Wagner

It’s officially college baseball game week. The 2024 season will get underway on Friday, which means it’s time to take a preseason look at our SEC baseball power rankings.

Despite winning the College World Series in 2023, LSU does not find itself in the top spot, or even in the top two. That speaks volumes about the top-end strength of the loaded conference, and it doesn’t stop there.

Eight SEC teams are ranked in D1Baseball’s preseason top 25 rankings. Ten teams are projected by Baseball America to make the NCAA Tournament, with seven hosting.

It’s all setting up to be a great year of college baseball, especially in the SEC. And with so many talented teams throughout the SEC, there will surely be teams that feel like they are ranked too low in our preseason power rankings.

1. Arkansas Razorbacks

Jun 18, 2022; Omaha, NE, USA; Arkansas Razorbacks coach Dave Van Horn walks off the field after the national anthem before the game against the Stanford Cardinal at Charles Schwab Field. Mandatory Credit: Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports

2023 record: 43-18 (20-10 in SEC play)
2023 finish: Lost in Fayetteville Regional
Preseason Top 25 ranking (D1Baseball): No. 3
Opening weekend: vs. James Madison (Four-game series)

If Arkansas stays healthy, the Razorbacks are undoubtedly among the favorites to win the College World Series this season. Second baseman Peyton Stovall has already suffered a broken foot and will miss the opening month of the year, which is an unfortunate start. Regardless, Arkansas is loaded with talent. With at least four new faces in the lineup, there will be an adjustment. But the upside is incredibly high. The starting rotation is impressively strong, led by Hagen Smith and Brady Tygart, and further strengthened by the addition of Texas Tech transfer Mason Molina.

2. Florida Gators

Jun 21, 2023; Omaha, NE, USA; Florida Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan walks to the dugout after a visit to the mound against the TCU Horned Frogs in the first inning at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports

2023 record: 54-17 (20-10)
2023 finish: College World Series runner-up
Preseason Top 25 ranking (D1Baseball): No. 2
Opening weekend: vs. St. John’s

Florida is the highest-ranked SEC team heading into the season, and for good reason. The Gators’ strength begins with two-way star Jac Caglianone, who will hit middle of the order and be part of the weekend rotation. The Gators return a strong nucleus of talent offensively, despite losing many pieces to the draft. Florida did add Alabama transfer Colby Shelton, who hit 25 home runs last year, to the mix along with Virginia Tech transfer Brody Donay. It would not be surprising whatsoever to see Kevin O’Sullivan’s squad return to Omaha in 2024.

3. LSU Tigers

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

2023 record: 54-17 (19-10)
2023 finish: National Champions
Preseason Top 25 ranking (D1Baseball): No. 4
Opening weekend: vs. VMI (Friday, Sunday), vs. Central Arkansas (Saturday, Monday)

Even after winning the College World Series last season, LSU doesn’t find itself in the top spot in our preseason SEC baseball power rankings. It’s just nearly impossible to replace Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews, the first and second overall picks in the MLB Draft, in the same offseason. Regardless, though, the Tigers have a very impressive roster. The lineup should be among the nation’s best, while the rotation has some questions. Adding Luke Holman, a transfer from Alabama, to the mix helps, but a big jump will be needed from Thatcher Hurd. Gage Jump, a UCLA transfer that missed all of last season, could be a big addition as well.

4. Texas A&M Aggies

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

2023 record: 38-27 (14-16)
2023 finish: Lost in Stanford Regional
Preseason Top 25 ranking (D1Baseball): No. 8
Opening weekend: vs. McNeese

Texas A&M again enters the season with lofty expectations. The Aggies didn’t live up to their preseason expectations in 2023, but with a revamped lineup, they could be poised to do so in 2024. Notably, Braden Montgomery transferred in from Stanford, and he’s one of college baseball’s top hitters that could also contribute on the mound. Texas A&M also added Ted Burton from Michigan, Ali Camarillo from CSUN, and Hayden Schott from Columbia. The pitching rotation is a question mark, and jumps will need to be made for the Aggies to compete for Omaha. But the lineup will be able to compete with the country’s best.

5. Tennessee Volunteers

2023 record: 44-22 (16-14)
2023 finish: Lost in College World Series
Preseason Top 25 ranking (D1Baseball): No. 9
Opening weekend: Shriners Children’s College Showdown (in Arlington) vs. Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Baylor

Tennessee had eight players selected in the 2023 MLB Draft, and also lost Chase Burns to Wake Forest through the portal. But the Vols hit the portal hard and came away with two proven stars in NC State transfer catcher Cannon Peebles and Clemson transfer third baseman Billy Amick. The rotation is headlined by Drew Beam, and the Vols have quite a few options behind him. While some players will need to take a step forward, Tennessee has high expectations coming into the year and it’s not hard to see why.

6. Vanderbilt Commodores

Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin watches his team against Lipscomb University at First Horizon Park on March 29, 2022, in Nashville. © George Walker IV / Tennessean.com / USA TODAY NETWORK

2023 record: 42-20 (19-11)
2023 finish: Lost in Nashville Regional
Preseason Top 25 ranking (D1Baseball): No. 6
Opening weekend: vs. Florida Atlantic

If there’s one thing Vanderbilt is looking for, it’s power. The lineup has plenty of players that are capable of hitting around .300, but the lack of home run power pops out on paper. Transfer additions Jacob Humphrey and Jayden Davis could play big roles, but their acclimation to SEC pitching will be important to watch. The Commodores have a ton of talent on the mound, though, and that could lead them to great heights in 2024.

7. South Carolina Gamecocks

South Carolina batter Ethan Petry is congratulated by teammates after hitting a home run against LSU during the second round of the SEC Baseball Tournament at the Hoover Met Wednesday, May 24, 2023. © Gary Cosby Jr.-Tuscaloosa News / USA TODAY NETWORK

2023 record: 42-21 (16-13)
2023 finish: Lost in Gainesville Super Regional
Preseason Top 25 ranking (D1Baseball): No. 25
Opening weekend: vs. Miami (OH)

South Carolina was red hot to open the 2023 campaign, but fell off a little bit towards the end of the season. Regardless, the Gamecocks hosted and won a regional. Not many teams have a more dangerous lineup, as South Carolina returns Ethan Petry, Cole Messina and Gavin Casas, a trio that combined for 59 home runs last season. They also add Parker Noland and Kennedy Jones, notably, through the portal. If the Gamecocks can find stability in the pitching rotation, they are capable of hosting yet another regional. They’ll surely be able to hit well enough.

Preseason SEC Power Rankings: 8-14

Jun 12, 2022; Corvallis, OR, USA; Auburn Tigers head coach Butch Thompson looks on before Game 2 of the NCAA college baseball super regional against the Oregon State Beavers at Coleman Field. Mandatory Credit: Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

8. Alabama
9. Auburn
10. Kentucky
11. Ole Miss
12. Georgia
13. Mississippi State
14. Missouri

Alabama is the lone remaining SEC team to be ranked in D1Baseball’s top 25 rankings, though the Crimson Tide fall just short of cracking the top half of our preseason power rankings. Alabama, Auburn and Kentucky all made a regional last season, and they all ended up hosting as well.

Both Alabama and Georgia are breaking in a new coaching staff, with Rob Vaughn (previously at Maryland) now in Tuscaloosa and Wes Johnson (previously LSU’s pitching coach) now in Athens. With new faces and new rosters for both teams, we’ll be in a wait-and-see approach to begin the 2024 season.

Ole Miss, like Mississippi State, struggled immensely last season. Mississippi State won the College World Series in 2021, but hasn’t returned to the NCAA Tournament since. Ole Miss won it all in 2022, but missed last year. Both, in addition to Missouri, likely wouldn’t be at the bottom of the preseason power rankings if they weren’t in the SEC. But this season they must prove that they have taken a step.