SEC Baseball Power Rankings: Action-packed weekend leads to big changes

Another week of college baseball has wrapped up, and the SEC has again seen some interesting results. Seven teams from the SEC are ranked in the latest D1Baseball Top 25, six of which are in the top ten with all seven in the top 11. Additionally, On3’s SEC baseball power rankings have seen some major changes after the latest weekend.

The weekend featured some big-time matchups and rivalries at their peak. Paul Skenes and Chase Dollander, two likely top picks in the 2023 MLB Draft, battled on Thursday night. Over the weekend, a heated ejection led to one head coach mocking an entire fanbase while in hostile territory.

The weekend certainly delivered. With three weekends of SEC play now in the books, the conference is starting to take shape. But there is still plenty of baseball to be played.

Updated SEC Baseball Power Rankings

1. LSU

Weekly record: 3-1 (2-1 in SEC play)

Overall record: 24-4 (6-3)

Previous ranking: No. 1

What a weekend it was in Baton Rouge. After defeating Grambling 17-5 on Tuesday, LSU played host to Tennessee for a weekend series beginning on Thursday. Thursday night’s battle between two of the country’s best arms lived up to the hype, and LSU ultimately came away with a 5-2 victory. The Tigers then clinched the series with a 6-4 victory on Friday night. Tennessee was able to avoid the sweep on Saturday, winning 14-7.

LSU has been consistent in SEC play, going 2-1 in each of the first three weekends. The Tigers have another tough week ahead, beginning with a home date against Nicholls on Tuesday before hitting the road for a trip to No. 6 South Carolina starting on Thursday.

2. Vanderbilt

Weekly record: 4-0 (3-0)

Overall record: 23-5 (9-0)

Previous ranking: No. 2

Vanderbilt literally couldn’t have asked for a better start to SEC play. The Commodores are currently riding an 11-game winning streak that began the week conference play got underway. This week, Vanderbilt won 11-1 at home against Lipscomb on Tuesday before sweeping Georgia. The three-game series wasn’t close, with Vanderbilt winning 9-2 on Friday, 16-8 on Saturday and 4-0 on Sunday.

Vanderbilt is back at home on Tuesday against Western Kentucky before hitting the road for a three-game series at Missouri starting on Thursday.

3. Florida

Weekly record: 2-1 (2-1)

Overall record: 24-5 (7-2)

Previous ranking: No. 3

Florida was supposed to kick off the week against Florida State on Tuesday, but the game was postponed to later in the season. The Gators then kicked off their week with the opening game of a three-game series vs. Auburn on Friday. Florida looked to be in danger of falling this weekend, losing 10-1 in the opening game. The Gators rebounded in impressive fashion, though, winning 12-5 on Saturday and 17-8 on Sunday to come back and take the series.

After hosting Bethune-Cookman on Tuesday, Florida heads to No. 11 Tennessee for an intriguing series between two highly-ranked teams beginning on Thursday night.

4. Arkansas

Weekly record: 3-1 (2-1)

Overall record: 23-5 (6-3)

Previous ranking: No. 4

The week got off to a strong start for Arkansas, beating Omaha 16-3 on Tuesday. Alabama then came to town on Friday for a three-game series, and the Razorbacks were overwhelmed in a 12-1 loss to open the series. On Saturday, Arkansas responded with a 9-6 victory before winning 5-4 on Sunday to secure the series win. But the story of the weekend was Brad Bohannon’s ejection and subsequent mockery of the Hog Call, leading to an interesting response from Dave Van Horn.

Arkansas will host Arkansas State on Tuesday before hitting the road for a trip to Ole Miss beginning on Thursday.

5. South Carolina

Weekly record: 3-1 (2-1)

Overall record: 26-3 (8-1)

Previous ranking: No. 6 (+1)

South Carolina is one of the hottest teams in the country, and that continued this week. The Gamecocks started off with a 13-2 win over The Citadel on Tuesday before heading to Starkville over the weekend. Against Mississippi State, South Carolina won 6-4 on Thursday before falling 13-3 on Friday. In the rubber match on Saturday, the Gamecocks prevailed with a strong 14-5 win to clinch the series.

A challenging week awaits for South Carolina, with four games against ranked opponents coming up. It starts with a trip to Chapel Hill to take on No. 13 North Carolina on Tuesday before hosting top-ranked LSU over the weekend in a three-game series beginning on Thursday.

6. Tennessee

Weekly record: 2-2 (1-2)

Overall record: 21-8 (4-5)

Previous ranking: No. 5 (-1)

While Tennessee would have liked to come away with a series victory over LSU, it was a respectable showing for the Vols, who began the week with a 5-0 victory over UNC Asheville on Tuesday. Tennessee lost the first two games on Thursday and Friday, losing 5-2 and then 6-4. On Sunday, Tennessee came out firing on all cylinders and won 14-7 to avoid the sweep.

Sitting at 4-5 in league play, Tennessee wants to improve on that record. The Vols will have the chance to do that against a great team from Thursday to Saturday, with a top five Florida team coming to Knoxville. Tennessee does not have a midweek contest scheduled this week.

7. Kentucky

Weekly record: 4-0 (3-0)

Overall record: 25-3 (8-1)

Previous ranking: No. 7

In Kentucky’s last 22 games, they have lost just once. The eye-opening surge continued this week, with a 10-8 win at Western Kentucky on Tuesday before returning home to sweep Missouri over the weekend. The first two games were blowouts, with the Wildcats winning 12-2 on Friday and 10-0 on Saturday. Sunday’s finale was closer, but Kentucky came away with a 3-1 win to complete the sweep.

Kentucky is in a good position to continue its success this week, with a Tuesday trip against Dayton next up before a trip to Athens to take on a struggling Georgia team from Friday through Sunday.

8. Texas A&M

Weekly record: 2-2 (2-1)

Overall record: 17-11 (3-6)

Previous ranking: No. 11 (+3)

It had been a year to forget for the Aggies entering this week, but they come out of it with some added momentum. After falling to No. 21 Texas 5-2 on Tuesday, Texas A&M hosted Ole Miss over the weekend and picked up a series win. The Aggies won 8-6 on Friday before falling 14-7 on Saturday, but they bounced back with a 5-4 win on Sunday to secure the series.

Texas A&M is at home on Tuesday against Texas State, and the Aggies then head to Auburn to take on the Tigers starting on Thursday.

9. Auburn

Weekly record: 2-2 (1-2)

Overall record: 18-9-1 (3-6)

Previous ranking: No. 10 (+1)

After beating North Alabama 12-1 on Tuesday and Florida 10-1 on Friday, the Tigers looked poised to continue making some noise. Auburn was not able to continue the hot start to the week, though, falling 12-5 to the Gators on Saturday and 17-8 on Sunday. That didn’t stop Auburn from rising in our SEC baseball power rankings, though, largely due to the performances by other teams ranked in this range.

Auburn will hit the road and face UAB on Tuesday night before returning home for a three-game series against Texas A&M from Thursday to Saturday.

10. Alabama

Weekly record: 2-2 (1-2)

Overall record: 21-8 (3-6)

Previous ranking: No. 12 (+2)

Alabama’s week started with a 10-4 win over Middle Tennessee State on Tuesday, and that momentum rode into the weekend with a 12-1 series-opening win over Arkansas. Saturday’s game was undoubtedly filled with emotion, with the ejection taking center stage. But ultimately, Arkansas came back to win 9-6 to even the series before the Razorbacks clinched it with a 5-4 win on Sunday.

Even after losing the weekend, Alabama rose in this week’s SEC power rankings. It was a tight series throughout, which was enough to launch the Crimson Tide over a couple of teams. Next up is a Tuesday date against Troy before hosting Mississippi State starting on Thursday.

11. Missouri

Weekly record: 2-3 (0-3)

Overall record: 19-9 (3-6)

Previous ranking: No. 9 (-2)

Missouri’s week was a busy one, starting with two midweek victories. The Tigers won the two road midweek battles, beating Illinois 6-5 on Tuesday and Lindenwood 7-5 on Wednesday. Unfortunately for Missouri, that success didn’t follow them into the weekend. In the three-game sweep at Kentucky, the Tigers were outscored 25-3.

Even with no midweek on this week’s schedule, Missouri’s slate isn’t getting any easier. The Tigers host No. 4 Vanderbilt for a three-game series that starts on Thursday.

12. Ole Miss

Weekly record: 1-2 (1-2)

Overall record: 16-11 (1-8)

Previous ranking: No. 8 (-4)

This season has been incredibly frustrating for the defending national champions. Ole Miss didn’t have a midweek this week, and they started a three-game series at Texas A&M on Friday. The Rebels lost a tight 8-6 game on Friday, but responded on Saturday with a 14-7 victory. In the pivotal rubber match on Sunday, Ole Miss fell just short in a 5-4 defeat.

Now sitting at 1-8 in SEC play, Ole Miss is in desperate need of a series victory. After heading to Memphis on Tuesday, they’ll look for a big upset over the weekend against No. 5 Arkansas in a series starting on Thursday.

13. Georgia

Weekly record: 0-4 (0-3)

Overall record: 15-13 (1-8)

Previous ranking: No. 13

It was certainly a week to forget for the Bulldogs. Georgia started off with a 12-2 loss against Georgia Southern on Wednesday, but that was only the start. The Bulldogs lost all three games at Vanderbilt over the weekend, falling by a combined 29-10 score.

After hitting the road for a game at Kennesaw State on Tuesday, Georgia returns home for a three-game series against No. 10 Kentucky from Friday through Sunday.

14. Mississippi State

Weekly record: 2-2 (1-2)

Overall record: 16-13 (1-8)

Previous ranking: No. 14

After beating Samford 9-4 on Tuesday, Mississippi State looked to be in position to steal an impressive series win away from South Carolina after losing 6-4 on Thursday but winning 13-3 on Friday. The Bulldogs were unable to clinch the series on Saturday, falling 14-5 in the rubber match.

Next up for Mississippi State is Grambling at home on Tuesday night. Then, a three-game series against Alabama in Tuscaloosa begins on Thursday.