SEC Baseball Power Rankings: Tennessee falls after Vols continue to struggle in SEC play
This weekend was filled with upsets across college baseball, and the SEC had plenty of exciting action within itself. After another week went into the books, On3’s SEC baseball power rankings have been updated with changes throughout.
Additionally, D1Baseball unveiled new top 25 rankings on Monday morning. Six teams were included from the SEC, with one notable program falling out of this week’s rankings.
Conference play is now halfway through for the SEC, with five weekends left before the regular season comes to an end.
Updated SEC baseball power rankings
1. LSU
Weekly record: 3-1 (2-1 vs. SEC opponents)
Overall record: 29-6 (9-5)
Previous ranking: No. 1
LSU continued rolling on Tuesday, kicking off the week with an 11-5 victory at Tulane. The Tigers then went into an important weekend vs. No. 12 Kentucky and again took care of business. LSU run-ruled Kentucky in the opener on Thursday, largely behind two early grand slams. The Wildcats took the second game to even the series, but LSU was able to respond on Saturday with a tight 7-6 win to secure the weekend.
LSU is again back at home on Tuesday with a game against Louisiana, and the Tigers then hit the road for a trip to Ole Miss starting on Friday.
2. Vanderbilt
Weekly record: 3-1 (2-1)
Overall record: 29-7 (13-2)
Previous ranking: No. 2
This weekend’s series between No. 4 Vanderbilt and No. 6 South Carolina could have drastically impacted the top of the SEC. Vanderbilt entered the weekend after beating North Alabama 14-2 on Tuesday, but South Carolina won 14-6 in the opener on Friday. The Commodores responded with an 8-5 win on Saturday to even the series, and then won 6-4 in Sunday’s rubber match to pick up an impressive series victory.
Vanderbilt continues to prove that it’s one of the top teams in college baseball, and they’ll get to prove that again this week. After hosting Indiana State on Tuesday, Vanderbilt heads to Tennessee over the weekend.
3. Florida
Weekly record: 3-1 (2-1)
Overall record: 30-7 (11-4)
Previous ranking: No. 3
Florida’s week got started with a 5-3 win at home vs. Florida State, and a three-game series against Georgia began on Friday. The SEC baseball power rankings looked like they could see even more big changes after Friday’s game, which Georgia won 13-11. But Florida responded with a 2-1 win on Saturday and an 11-6 victory on Sunday to secure the series.
After hosting FAMU on Tuesday, Florida hits the road for a trip to No. 6 South Carolina starting on Thursday.
4. Arkansas
Weekly record: 3-0 (3-0)
Overall record: 28-6 (11-4)
Previous ranking: No. 5 (+1)
Arkansas was busy this week with five home games. During the midweek, the Razorbacks split two games against Little Rock, winning 21-5 on Tuesday and losing 11-4 on Wednesday. Arkansas then welcomed No. 16 Tennessee to town, and it wasn’t a fun stay for the Vols. Friday’s opener was a 5-2 win for the Razorbacks, and they went on to win 6-3 on Saturday and 7-2 on Sunday.
After hosting Central Arkansas on Tuesday, Tennessee hits the road for a trip to Georgia over the weekend in a series that begins on Thursday.
Weekly record: 2-2 (1-2)
Overall record: 30-6 (10-4)
Previous ranking: No. 4 (-1)
The week started in strong fashion for the Gamecocks, beating South Carolina Upstate 7-2 on Tuesday before taking the opener at No. 4 Vanderbilt, 14-6. Saturday and Sunday were close games, but South Carolina fell just short, losing 8-5 on Saturday and 6-4 on Sunday.
After hosting Charleston Southern on Tuesday, South Carolina will play against a top five opponent for the third consecutive weekend. The Gamecocks host No. 3 Florida in a three-game series beginning on Thursday night.
6. Kentucky
Weekly record: 1-2 (1-2)
Overall record: 28-7 (10-5)
Previous ranking: No. 7 (+1)
Kentucky’s midweek battle at No. 10 Louisville was postponed, meaning the weekend got underway on Thursday at No. 1 LSU. After the Tigers run-ruled the Wildcats 16-6 in the first game, many thought LSU would run away with the series. That didn’t happen. Kentucky won 13-10 on Friday to even the series and then fell 7-6 in a very tight weekend finale.
Even though Kentucky lost the weekend, they showed that they can compete with anybody in the country. It was enough for the Wildcats to slightly rise in this week’s SEC baseball power rankings. Next up is a four-game home week that begins with Xavier on Tuesday before Texas A&M visits starting on Friday.
7. Texas A&M
Weekly record: 2-2 (2-1)
Overall record: 22-14 (7-8)
Previous ranking: No. 8 (+1)
The Aggies suffered a 5-1 loss on Tuesday, but it was against a strong UTSA team that just entered the D1Baseball top 25 rankings. Texas A&M then began its weekend with two victories over Missouri, taking Thursday’s game 13-5 and Friday’s game 13-1. Missouri won 13-5 on Saturday to avoid the sweep, but it was a strong weekend for Texas A&M either way.
Texas A&M has now won three straight weekend series, and they’ll look for another strong victory this week. After hosting Prairie View on Wednesday, they’ll hit the road for a trip to No. 13 Kentucky.
8. Tennessee
Weekly record: 1-3 (0-3)
Overall record: 23-13 (5-10)
Previous ranking: No. 6 (-2)
SEC play has not been kind to Tennessee, and that didn’t change this past week. After winning 14-2 over Eastern Kentucky on Tuesday, the Vols got swept on the road at the hands of No. 5 Arkansas. The Razorbacks won 5-2 on Friday, 6-3 on Saturday, and 7-2 on Sunday.
Tennessee has fallen out of D1Baseball’s top 25, and they have dropped in our SEC baseball power rankings as well. This week isn’t letting up, though, with a Tuesday date vs. Tennessee Tech before No. 4 Vanderbilt visits over the weekend.
9. Alabama
Weekly record: 3-1 (2-1)
Overall record: 26-11 (6-9)
Previous ranking: No. 10 (+1)
Alabama has been a bit inconsistent over recent weeks, but this week was a strong one in Tuscaloosa. The Crimson Tide started off with a 13-0 victory over Southern Miss on Tuesday, and then hosted Auburn over the weekend. Auburn won Friday’s opener 8-4, but Alabama responded with a 4-2 win on Saturday and a 6-1, series-clinching win on Sunday.
Alabama is gearing up for a road trip this week, starting with UAB on Tuesday before heading to Missouri on Friday.
10. Missouri
Weekly record: 2-2 (1-2)
Overall record: 22-13 (5-10)
Previous ranking: No. 9 (-1)
It was a four-game road week for Missouri, and it started with a 10-1 win at Missouri State on Tuesday. The Tigers then fell 13-5 on Thursday and 13-1 on Friday against Texas A&M, but responded with a 13-5 win on Sunday to salvage a .500 week overall and avoid the weekend sweep.
Missouri will host Missouri State on Tuesday before Alabama comes to town for a three-game series starting on Friday.
Weekly record: 3-1 (2-1)
Overall record: 22-15 (5-10)
Previous ranking: No. 13 (+2)
Mississippi State has quietly been playing some solid baseball as of late. They won 7-3 at UAB on Tuesday to begin the week, and then returned home for an electric atmosphere against Ole Miss. Even for a series between two of the SEC’s worst teams, it didn’t disappoint. The Bulldogs fell 3-2 on Friday, but then won 8-7 on Saturday and 5-3 on Sunday to clinch the series.
Mississippi State hosts Southern on Tuesday before hitting the road for a trip to Auburn starting on Friday.
12. Auburn
Weekly record: 1-3 (1-2)
Overall record: 20-15-1 (5-10)
Previous ranking: No. 11 (-1)
After losing 12-8 at Georgia Tech on Tuesday, Auburn entered the weekend at Alabama having lost six of their last seven games. The Tigers were able to win 8-4 on Friday, but their struggles returned for the rest of the weekend. Alabama won 4-2 on Saturday and 6-1 on Sunday, handing Auburn another disappointing SEC series loss.
Auburn will look to get back on track this week with four home games, starting with Samford on Tuesday before Mississippi State visits over the weekend.
13. Georgia
Weekly record: 1-3 (1-2)
Overall record: 19-17 (4-11)
Previous ranking: No. 12 (-1)
Georgia’s week began with a home date with Clemson, but the Tigers came away with the 8-1 win on Tuesday. Georgia then came out hot over the weekend, stunning No. 3 Florida with a 13-11 win on Friday. That would end up being Georgia’s one and only win of the week, unfortunately, with the Gators winning 2-1 on Saturday and 11-6 on Sunday.
Georgia will hope to rebound this week, and Tuesday offers the chance for revenge against Clemson. After that road game, the Bulldogs return home to host No. 5 Arkansas starting on Thursday.
14. Ole Miss
Weekly record: 2-2 (1-2)
Overall record: 20-15 (3-12)
Previous ranking: No. 14
Ole Miss started their week off with two straight wins, beating Alcorn State 13-4 on Tuesday and Mississippi State 3-2 on Friday. The Rebels fell just short in the weekend’s final two games, losing 8-7 on Saturday and 5-3 on Sunday.
Ole Miss hits the road for a trip to Arkansas State on Tuesday before returning home to host No. 1 LSU over the weekend.