SEC Baseball Power Rankings: South Carolina surges as other top teams fall

On3 imageby:Jonathan Wagner04/24/23

Jonathan Wagner

This weekend was a memorable (or forgettable for many teams) one across college baseball. 12 top 25 teams lost their series over the weekend, eight of which came by way of the sweep. After most of the top teams in the SEC suffered upset losses over the weekend, On3’s SEC baseball power rankings have seen some changes.

Out of the SEC’s seven series over the weekend, five finished in a sweep. Of those seven series, five were won by the team ranked lower in last week’s power rankings.

In the latest D1Baseball top 25 rankings, seven teams were included from the SEC on Monday morning. Five of those are ranked inside the top ten.

With just four weekends remaining in the regular season, the time is now for teams to go on runs if they want to strengthen their postseason hopes.

Updated SEC baseball power rankings

1. LSU

Weekly record: 3-1 (3-0 in SEC play)

Overall record: 32-7 (12-5)

Previous ranking: No. 1

The week didn’t start off how the top-ranked Tigers wanted it to, losing 8-5 at home against Louisiana on Tuesday. LSU then hit the road for a trip to Ole Miss over the weekend. The series was closer than many truly thought it would be, with LSU sweeping but not winning any game by more than four runs. The Tigers won 7-3 on Friday, 8-4 on Saturday and 7-6 on Sunday to secure the sweep.

LSU returns home on Tuesday for a date with Nicholls, and the Tigers then host Alabama over the weekend in a series beginning on Friday.

2. South Carolina

Weekly record: 4-0 (3-0)

Overall record: 34-6 (13-4)

Previous ranking: No. 5 (+3)

South Carolina lost a series against No. 4 Vanderbilt last weekend, but the Gamecocks got another shot at a top five team this weekend back at home against No. 3 Florida. After beating Charleston Southern 10-4 on Tuesday, South Carolina wasted no time over the weekend. Against the Gators, South Carolina cruised to a three-game sweep, winning 13-3 on Thursday, 5-2 on Friday and 7-5 on Saturday.

South Carolina has risen to No. 3 in the D1Baseball top 25 and No. 2 in our SEC baseball power rankings. The Gamecocks will be off during the midweek this week, and then return home again for a three-game with Auburn starting on Friday.

3. Florida

Weekly record: 1-3 (0-3)

Overall record: 31-10 (11-7)

Previous ranking: No. 3

For the most part, Florida has cruised through this season. That continued to begin this week, as the Gators won 17-7 over FAMU on Tuesday. Then, Florida hit the road for a trip to No. 6 South Carolina over the weekend. The Gators fell 13-3 on Thursday in the series opener, but the other two games were closer. South Carolina took Friday 5-2 and Saturday 7-5, stunning Florida in a three-game sweep.

Any other week, Florida likely drops a couple of spots. But thanks to essentially every other top team in the SEC falling this week, the Gators stand pat at No. 3. They will look to get back on track this week with four home games, beginning on Tuesday against North Florida before hosting Missouri starting on Friday.

Weekly record: 0-4 (0-3)

4. Vanderbilt

Overall record: 29-11 (13-5)

Previous ranking: No. 2 (-2)

Coming off of a series win over South Carolina, Vanderbilt entered the week with a ton of momentum. That momentum did not carry over, as the Commodores fell at home to Indiana State on Tuesday, losing 10-2. Vanderbilt then lost a tight game on Friday at Tennessee, losing 4-3. Saturday’s game wasn’t close, with Tennessee jumping out to a commanding first inning lead and ultimately winning 17-1. The Vols then won on Sunday 10-5 to finish the sweep.

Vanderbilt’s body of work this season is still strong, and like Florida, other teams struggling helped the Commodores stay in the top four. They are off during the midweek, but then return home for a three-game series against Kentucky over the weekend.

5. Arkansas

Weekly record: 1-3 (0-3)

Overall record: 30-10 (11-7)

Previous ranking: No. 4 (-1)

Injuries are piling up for Arkansas, and that can’t be ignored. But the Razorbacks truly struggled this week and in surprising fashion. After beating Central Arkansas on Tuesday, Arkansas went to Georgia in a series that most would have thought the Razorbacks would easily win. Instead, Georgia won all three games, though they were close as the total score for the series was 22-16 in favor of the Bulldogs.

Like Florida and Vanderbilt, but even moreso, Arkansas was saved by other struggles in the conference this week. The Razorbacks are in danger of another fall if they can’t turn things around this week. It will be an intriguing test, starting with a road trip to Missouri State on Tuesday before Texas A&M visits starting on Thursday.

6. Tennessee

Weekly record: 3-1 (3-0)

Overall record: 26-14 (8-10)

Previous ranking: No. 8 (+2)

Tennessee was swept last weekend at Arkansas, and the Vols’ losing streak extended to four on Tuesday after losing 12-5 to Tennessee Tech. The skid ended there and in strong fashion, though, as Tennessee swept No. 4 Vanderbilt over the weekend. Tennessee won 4-3 on Friday before blowing out the Gators with a 17-1 win on Saturday. Sunday’s finale was a 10-5 victory for Tennessee.

Even though things have been up and down this season for the Vols, this weekend showed that they are still capable of beating anybody. They’ll be at home four times this week, beginning with Bellarmine on Tuesday before Mississippi State comes to town on Thursday.

7. Texas A&M

Weekly record: 3-1 (2-1)

Overall record: 25-15 (9-9)

Previous ranking: No. 7

After a rocky start to the year, Texas A&M is finding its groove. The Aggies haven’t lost a weekend series since late March. They hosted Prairie View on Wednesday and cruised to a 13-3 win, and then traveled to Kentucky over the weekend. Friday’s opener was postponed, setting up a doubleheader on Saturday. Texas A&M took both ends of it, winning 6-3 in the first game and 8-7 in the second. The Aggies fell 8-1 in the finale, but still came away with the series win.

After hosting Sam Houston on Tuesday, Texas A&M travels to Arkansas to take on an injury-struck Razorbacks team beginning on Thursday. Another strong week could result in another rise in the SEC baseball power rankings for the Aggies.

8. Kentucky

Weekly record: 2-2 (1-2)

Overall record: 30-9 (11-7)

Previous ranking: No. 6 (-2)

Kentucky was ranked in the top ten a couple of weeks ago, but the Wildcats have hit a bit of a down stretch over recent weeks. This week, they beat Xavier 13-2 on Tuesday before hosting Texas A&M over the weekend. Saturday’s doubleheader wasn’t kind to the Wildcats, losing 6-3 and 8-7 to drop the series in a single day. Kentucky salvaged the finale, though, winning 8-1 on Sunday.

That marks three consecutive series losses for Kentucky, with a challenging stretch ahead. The pivotal stretch run begins on Tuesday with a home date against No. 21 Louisville, before hitting the road on Friday for a trip to No. 5 Vanderbilt.

9. Alabama

Weekly record: 3-1 (3-0)

Overall record: 29-12 (9-9)

Previous ranking: No. 9

After losing four consecutive series to open SEC play, Alabama has now won two in a row. After beating Auburn last weekend, the Crimson Tide hit the road for a trip to UAB on Tuesday. Alabama ended up losing that one, falling 4-3. They then hit the road for a trip to Missouri, and it was a smooth weekend. Alabama won Friday’s opener 6-3 before winning 10-4 on Saturday to clinch the series and 3-2 on Sunday to finish the sweep.

Earning a third consecutive series win won’t be easy for Alabama, as No. 1 LSU plays host to the Crimson Tide over the weekend. That’s not before Alabama hosts Samford on Tuesday.

10. Georgia

Weekly record: 4-0 (3-0)

Overall record: 23-17 (7-11)

Previous ranking: No. 13 (+3)

The Bulldogs have quietly turned things on over the last three weekends. Georgia won a series over Kentucky two weeks ago and lost a tight one against Florida last week. After beating Clemson on the road on Tuesday, the Bulldogs hosted No. 5 Arkansas. Georgia won 6-5 on Thursday in the opener before clinching the series with a 7-3 victory on Friday. In the final game on Saturday, the Bulldogs won 9-8 to finish the sweep in stunning fashion.

Georgia is in a position to continue its recent success in SEC play, with a trip to Ole Miss coming up over the weekend after a home battle with Georgia State on Tuesday.

11. Auburn

Weekly record: 3-1 (2-1)

Overall record: 23-16-1 (7-11)

Previous ranking: No. 12 (+1)

Auburn entered the week having lost three straight series, and they knew they were in need of a win against Mississippi State. The Tigers began the week with a 13-3 win over Samford before hosting the Bulldogs, and they won Friday’s opener 2-1. Mississippi State evened the series with an 11-10 win on Saturday, but Auburn came away with a 12-11 victory in Sunday’s series finale.

Auburn will host Troy on Tuesday before hitting the road on Friday for a matchup against No. 3 South Carolina.

12. Mississippi State

Weekly record: 1-2 (1-2)

Overall record: 23-17 (6-12)

Previous ranking: No. 11 (-1)

On the heels of two straight SEC series victories, Mississippi State traveled to Auburn this weekend looking for a third. The Bulldogs had no midweek action, and then lost Friday’s opener 2-1. After finishing an 11-10 win on Saturday, Mississippi State fell 12-11 in Sunday’s rubber match.

Mississippi State is back at home on Tuesday, with a familiar foe coming to town. Ole Miss will be visiting, and the Bulldogs then hit the road for a trip to No. 24 Tennessee over the weekend.

13. Missouri

Weekly record: 1-3 (0-3)

Overall record: 23-16 (5-13)

Previous ranking: No. 10 (-3)

Missouri’s struggles continued into this week, although the Tigers did win 7-6 against Missouri State on Tuesday to kick things off. Missouri then lost all three games at home against Alabama, falling 6-4 on Friday, 10-4 on Saturday and 3-2 on Sunday. That marks five straight series losses for Missouri.

The Tigers are on the road against SIUE on Wednesday night, and they then travel to take on No. 4 Florida over the weekend.

14. Ole Miss

Weekly record: 1-3 (0-3)

Overall record: 21-19 (3-15)

Previous ranking: No. 14

After beating Arkansas State on the road on Tuesday, Ole Miss geared up for a tough challenge against No. 1 LSU over the weekend. The series was tight, but unfortunately for the Rebels, they were unable to get a victory. LSU won 7-3 on Friday, 8-4 on Saturday and 7-6 on Sunday. It wasn’t all bad for Ole Miss, though, as starting pitcher Hunter Elliott returned from injury and pitched on Saturday. That could be a big boost down the stretch. For now, though, Ole Miss sits at the bottom of the SEC baseball rankings.

Ole Miss has a rare midweek SEC showdown on Tuesday, hitting the road for a trip to Mississippi State. The Rebels then return home on Friday to begin a three-game series against Georgia.