College baseball Top 10 rankings: Tennessee leads the rally after 2024 College World Series win
Baseball America released its final rankings of the 2024 college baseball season and the top team isn't a surprise. Fresh off the program's first ever College World Series victory, Tennessee is the final No.1 for BA. Several of the other rankings might be a bit surprising though. Here's a rundown of the top 10.
College baseball Top 10 rankings, final 2024 edition
10. Georgia (43-17)
Georgia is one of two teams that didn't reach the College World Series to feature in the final top 10. This was new coach Wes Johnson's first team and led by the power bat of Charlie Condon, UGA made it to the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament before falling to NC State.
9. Oregon State (45-16)
Oregon State also fell short of Omaha, losing to Kentucky in a two-game sweep in the Super Regional round. OSU infielder Travis Bazzana will be one of the top picks in the 2024 MLB Draft, and OSU had a memorable college baseball season, even if it ended a step shy of the College World Series.
8. Virginia (45-17)
The Cavaliers made it to Omaha after besting Kansas State in the Super Regional round. There's good news and bad news there for UVA. They've made it to three College World Series appearances in the last four seasons, but they are 0-6 in the Series in that span.
7. NC State (38-23)
State overcame a number of hurdles in making their way to the College World Series. State had a team ERA of 6.05 for the year, but battled their way past Georgia on the road in the Super Regional round of the NCAA Tournament. NC State went 0-2 in Omaha, but each loss came by a single run.
6. Florida (36-30)
The Gators had a bizarre 2024 season. Despite a phenomenal season from slugger/pitching ace Jac Caglianone, Florida went 13-17 in the SEC and limped into one of the final spots in the NCAA Tournament field. But once in, Florida ousted Oklahoma and Clemson on their way to Omaha. Florida reached the semifinal round before falling to Texas A&M.
5. Florida State (49-17)
Florida State will always wonder 'what if'. The Seminoles made their way to Omaha easily. FSU had a two-run lead on Tennessee with the Vols down to their last out in their College World Series opener. But Tennessee came back for the win and then knocked FSU out in the semifinals of the Tournament.
4. North Carolina (48-16)
The Tar Heels won a series of close games to make their way to Omaha. Scott Forbes had a talented team including five-tool star Vance Honeycutt. UNC went just 1-2 in Omaha, getting knocked out fairly early. UNC is still the top-ranked team outside the SEC in the final rankings.
3. Kentucky (46-16)
The Wildcats made their first-ever trip to the College World Series and finished what is likely the best season in the history of the program. Kentucky was just 1-2 in Omaha and a lack of pitching got exposed there. But this was a memorable college baseball season for the Wildcats, and they earned their high ranking.
2. Texas A&M (53-15)
The Aggies rolled to the finals of the College World Series, where they lost the decisive third game by a single run. But they then lost coach Jim Schlossnagle to in-state rival Texas. A&M could use a reminder of the good news of this past college baseball season because the above-named pair of wounds are still fresh.
1. Tennessee (60-13)
Tennessee earned their first-ever College World Series crown. The Vols didn't necessarily make it look easy, losing a Super Regional game to Evansville.
UT also had to eke out a down-to-the-last out win over Florida State to open the College World Series, and won the finale by a single run. But UT is the champion of the sport and is a deserving college baseball No. 1.
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