The post-Week 8 2024 NCAA College Baseball rankings are out and come with a major shakeup at the bottom half of the list. The top six from last week all stayed in position but several powers fell. One of those teams is LSU, as the Tigers are now out of the top 25.
Here’s a look at the top 25 USA Today/Coaches poll after Week 8 of the 2024 NCAA college baseball season:
- Arkansas
- Clemson
- Texas A&M
- Tennessee
- Oregon State
- Vanderbilt
- Duke (+3)
- Kentucky (+8)
- Florida State (+3)
- Virginia (+1)
- East Carolina (+2)
- North Carolina (-5)
- Dallas Baptist (-5)
- UC Irvine (+3)
- Wake Forest (+7)
- Virginia Tech (-1)
- Alabama (-3)
- Florida (-9)
- UCF (JUMP)
- Coastal Carolina (+1)
- Nebraska (+2)
- Oregon (JUMP)
- Mississippi State (JUMP)
- Louisiana (JUMP)
- Oklahoma State (JUMP)
Nebraska, who jumped into the top 25 last week, moved up two spots to #21.
Five schools jumped into the top 25, including UCF and Oklahoma State. UCF was in some rankings before Week 8 but solidified its strong position with a series victory over Big 12 rival Kansas State. Matt Prevesk, who leads UCF in batting average (.372), had four hits in the Knights’ two victories.
As for the Cowboys, Oklahoma State had an uneven start to 2024. OK State lost their series to Sam Houston State and UCF but did deal Arkansas one of their three losses on February 24. However, series wins over TCU, West Virginia, and Oklahoma have the Cowboys in the top 25.
Nolan Schubart, who missed nearly a month of action before returning in late March, had two hits, including a home run this past weekend against the Sooners.
The MSU Bulldogs also jumped into the top 25 after what was a heated series with Georgia, which included 11 ejections on April 6. Dakota Jordan, who had two hits in the Bulldogs’ victory on April 8, is tied with Jace Rinehart and Drew Burress for 12th in the nation in total bases (96).
Five schools, LSU, TCU, Georgia, NC State, and South Carolina, dropped out. It’s a stunning fall for LSU, the reigning national champions and a team on paper is very strong.
However, the Tigers left play on April 7 with a 3-9 record in SEC play. Still, the Tigers boast a strong pitching crop, highlighted by Luke Holman. Holman is seventh in the nation in total strikeouts (71).