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USA Today
11 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Way-too-early SEC baseball power rankings for 2026 season
Similar to years past, the SEC was likely the premier conference across college baseball in 2025. As to why, not only did the SEC have a majority of its' teams ranked within the Top 25 polls nationally throughout the season, but the conference also followed that up with a memorable postseason as well. During the postseason, the SEC sent a total of 13 teams to the NCAA Tournament, but nine however saw themselves be eliminated in the regional round. As a result, only four advances to super regionals, as well as two to the College World Series in Omaha. Both teams in Omaha would impress as well, one of which was the last team standing in college baseball to bring home the SEC's sixth consecutive national championship. Looking ahead to 2026 however, the SEC is once again set to be college baseball's premier conference, chasing their seventh-straight national title. However, who are some of the SEC's top teams shaping up to be next season? Here is a look at our way-too-early SEC baseball power rankings for the 2026 season. 16. Missouri Tigers Missouri is coming off a rough 2025 campaign in which the Tigers finished with a 16-39 overall record, as well as a 3-27 mark in SEC play to finish at the bottom of the conference. The Tigers are also retaining head coach Kerrick Jackson this offseason, and will need a major bounce back campaign in order to be in SEC contention in 2026. 15. South Carolina Gamecocks South Carolina struggled in year one under head coach Paul Mainieri, concluding the season with a 28-29 overall record, as well as a 6-24 mark in SEC play. Similar to Missouri previously, South Carolina will likely need a massive bounce back season in order to contend in the SEC in 2026. 14. Kentucky Wildcats Led by head coach Nick Mingione, Kentucky made a regional appearance in the NCAA Tournament by going 31-26 overall, as well as 13-17 in SEC play. The Wildcats will likely be in contention to make the NCAA Tournament again next season. 13. Texas A&M Aggies After entering this past season with a significant amount of hype, Texas A&M struggled in 2025 by finishing at 30-26 overall (11-19 in SEC) to miss the NCAA Tournament. The Aggies are also retaining head coach Michael Earley going into next season, but will need a bounce back campaign that will not be an easy task after likely losing Jace LaViolette, among others, to the MLB draft. 12. Oklahoma Sooners Oklahoma's first season as a member of the SEC included a NCAA Tournament appearance in which the Sooners went 38-22 overall, as well as 14-16 in conference play. The Sooners should be positioned to make another NCAA Tournament appearance next season, even despite likely losing ace Kyson Witherspoon to the MLB draft. 11. Mississippi State Bulldogs Mississippi State is the lone SEC team set to begin a new era in 2026, as Brian O'Connor takes over a Bulldogs team that made the NCAA Tournament at 36-23 overall, as well as 15-15 in conference play. O'Connor comes to Starkville from Virginia, and has already landed multiple impact additions so far this offseason through the transfer portal. 10. Florida Gators Florida is coming off what was likely a down 2025 in which the Gators made the NCAA Tournament at 39-22 overall, as well as 15-15 in SEC play. As with every offseason, the Gators will reload, and Florida should be back in NCAA Tournament contention in 2025. 9. Alabama Crimson Tide Led by head coach Rob Vaughn, Alabama is coming off a season in which the Crimson Tide went 41-18 overall (16-14 in SEC) to make the NCAA Tournament. The Crimson Tide are currently set to return one of the SEC's top players next season in shortstop Justin Lebron, and should be in NCAA Tournament contention. 8. Ole Miss Rebels The Ole Miss Rebels had likely their best season in years during 2025, ending with a 43-21 overall record (16-14 in SEC) to make the NCAA Tournament. One of the SEC's surprise teams from this past season, all eyes will be on the Rebels again in 2025 to see if they can repeat their success. 7. Auburn Tigers Auburn reached the super regionals of the NCAA Tournament this past season with a 41-20 overall record (17-13 in SEC). The Tigers will likely lose some key names off this past season's team such as Ike Irish, but should still be one of the top teams in the SEC. 6. Vanderbilt Commodores The 2025 SEC Tournament champions, Vanderbilt had an early exit from the NCAA Tournament following earning the No. 1 overall seed, and as a result, ended the season at 43-18 overall (19-11 in SEC). Tim Corbin and Vanderbilt will reload once again this upcoming offseason, and will be back in NCAA Tournament in 2026. 5. Georgia Bulldogs Georgia had a memorable 2025 season in which they went 43-17 overall, as well as 18-12 in SEC play, but saw an early exit occur in the regionals of the NCAA Tournament. Wes Johnson and the Bulldogs have been one of the top SEC winners in the transfer portal so far this offseason, and should be back among the top of the conference next year. 4. Arkansas Razorbacks Arkansas made a deep run in the NCAA Tournament this past season, reaching the College World Series where the Razorbacks were one win away from the Finals, ending the year at 50-15 overall (20-10 in SEC). The Razorbacks should be back in the NCAA Tournament next season, despite some likely significant losses in Wehiwa Aloy, Zach Root, and Gage Wood, among others. 3. Tennessee Volunteers Tennessee fell just short of Omaha this past season, falling in the super regionals to conclude the year at 46-19 overall (16-14 in SEC). Tony Vitello and the Volunteers will reload in the offseason to contend in 2026, even with likely departures to prominent names such as Liam Doyle, Gavin Kilen, and Andrew Fischer. 2. Texas Longhorns The SEC regular season champions announced their entrance to the conference in a big way in 2025, finishing with a NCAA Tournament appearance at 44-14 overall, as well as a 22-8 mark in SEC play. Led by head coach Jim Schlossnagle, the Longhorns will be back among the SEC's best in 2025 led by returning Freshman of the Year Dylan Volantis. 1. LSU Tigers LSU was college baseball's final team standing in 2025, winning the national championship after a perfect run at the Men's College World Series to end the season at 53-15 overall (19-11 in SEC). The Tigers' second title in the last three years, LSU will be back in title contention yet again in 2026, despite some likely key losses in Kade Anderson, Anthony Eyanson, and Jared Jones. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Alabama Baseball 2025 Opponent Preview: Missouri Tigers
Alabama Baseball 2025 Opponent Preview: Missouri Tigers Having dropped three consecutive series' against SEC opponents, it is no secret that the Alabama Crimson Tide are looking to get back in the conference win column. Well, to do that, Alabama's next chance now comes this upcoming weekend inside of Sewell-Thomas Stadium via a three-game series against the Missouri Tigers. A team that struggled this season, Missouri is likely the worst SEC baseball team this season, and come to town as the conference's lone winless team against in-conference opponents, as well as the lone below .500 on the year. However, even despite their struggles, could Missouri still come to Tuscaloosa to give Alabama troubles? Here are a few things you need to know about Missouri ahead of this weekend's series in Tuscaloosa. Missouri Tigers 2025 Team Overview Conference: SEC SEC Stadium: Taylor Stadium, Columbia, Missouri Taylor Stadium, Columbia, Missouri 2025 Record: 13-27 overall (0-18 in SEC) 13-27 overall (0-18 in SEC) Ranking: Unranked in USA TODAY Sports College Baseball Coaches Poll, Unranked in D1Baseball Top 25 As mentioned above, Missouri has certainly struggled so far this season, especially in conference play where they are the SEC's lone winless team at 0-18. Missouri also comes to Tuscaloosa owning a 13-27 overall record for the season, and have also lost four-straight that includes an 11-0 road loss at Missouri State this past Tuesday night. Missouri Tigers 2025 Coaching Staff Head Coach: Kerrick Jackson Kerrick Jackson Assistant Coach: Jabari Brown Jabari Brown Assistant Coach: Tim Jamieson Tim Jamieson Assistant Coach: Bryson LeBlanc Leading the Missouri program into Tuscaloosa is head coach Kerrick Jackson, who is in his second season with the Tigers. Jackson's first season at Missouri in 2024 featured a 23-32 overall record in which the Tigers went 9-21 in SEC play. Missouri Tigers 2025 Hitting Stats AVG: .271 (.220 in SEC) .271 (.220 in SEC) OBP: .379 (.320 in SEC) .379 (.320 in SEC) SLG: .431 (.355 in SEC) .431 (.355 in SEC) OPS: .810 (.675 in SEC) .810 (.675 in SEC) HR: 41 (16 in SEC) 41 (16 in SEC) RBI: 233 (64 in SEC) 233 (64 in SEC) SB: 59-of-78 (15-of-24) Offensively, Missouri comes to Tuscaloosa batting for a combined .271 AVG this season, but are struggling however in SEC play at only .220. Missouri's OPS also sits at .810 for the season, while also .675 in SEC action. Missouri Tigers 2025 Pitching Stats ERA: 9.60 (13.43 in SEC) 9.60 (13.43 in SEC) WHIP: 2.05 (2.52 in SEC) 2.05 (2.52 in SEC) K: 322 (133 in SEC) 322 (133 in SEC) BB: 217 (128 in SEC) 217 (128 in SEC) AVG: .324 (.360 in SEC) Missouri's pitching staff has struggled mightily so far this season, which includes a combined 9.60 ERA for the year, as well as 13.43 against SEC opponents. Opponents are also batting for a .324 AVG against the Tigers this season, as well as .360 in SEC play. Missouri Tigers 2025 Hitters to Know Jackson Lovich, Infielder - Junior - Junior Pierre Seals, Outfielder - Senior - Senior Cayden Nicoletto, Outfielder - Senior - Senior Kaden Peer, Outfielder/Infielder - Sophomore - Sophomore Mateo Serna, Catcher - Sophomore Offensively, undoubtedly Missouri's biggest name to know is junior infielder Jackson Lovich, who leads the Tigers in multiple statistical categories such as AVG (.357), OPS (1.059), HR (8), and RBI (40). Lovich has also been by far the Tigers top hitter during SEC play as well where he owns a .340 AVG with a 1.024 OPS. Missouri Tigers 2025 Pitchers to Know Kadden Drew, Left-Handed Pitcher - Junior - Junior Xavier Lovett, Right-Handed Pitcher - Graduate Student - Graduate Student Ian Lohse, Left-Handed Pitcher - Graduate Student - Graduate Student Wil Libbert, Left-Handed Pitcher - Redshirt Freshman - Redshirt Freshman Kaden Jacobi, Right-Handed Pitcher - Senior The Tigers' pitching staff overall has only three players with an ERA under 5.00 so far this season, with Ian Lohse and Wil Libbert among Missouri's top starters. Arguably the top reliever for the Tigers to know is Xavier Lovett, a right-hander who owns a 5.85 ERA across 32.1 innings pitched so far this season. Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion.
