The seventh week of the 2024 NCAA college baseball season came to an official close on March 31, even though many schools wrapped up a day earlier due to Easter. It was a tough weekend for some of the traditional powers, while one Big 10 school jumped into the top 25 after yet another strong week.
Cornhuskers Move into Top 25
Nebraska has navigated the losses of Brice Matthews and Max Anderson just fine, as the Cornhuskers jumped into the top 25 after a sweep of Big 10 rival Northwestern this past weekend. Nebraska sits at 20-5, heading into a week where they’ll face Creighton and Ohio State.
It’s been a fantastic year both at the plate and on the mound for Nebraska. Staff ace Brett Sears struck out 47 over his first 46.1 IP and opposing batters have hit just .137 off him. Rhett Stokes and Cole Evans have helped lead a strong offense.
Here’s a look at the top 25 USA Today/Coaches poll after Week 7 of the 2024 NCAA college baseball season:
- Arkansas
- Clemson (+1)
- Texas A&M (+1)
- Tennessee (+1)
- Oregon State (-3)
- Vanderbilt (+3)
- North Carolina (+4)
- Dallas Baptist (+2)
- Florida (-3)
- Duke (+3)
- Virginia (-3)
- Florida State (+5)
- East Carolina (+3)
- Alabama (+4)
- Virginia Tech
- Kentucky (+5)
- UC Irvine (+2)
- LSU (-11)
- South Carolina (-5)
- NC State (+2)
- Coastal Carolina (-1)
- Wake Forest (-10)
- Nebraska (JUMP)
- Georgia
- TCU
Arkansas sticks in the top spot, while Texas A&M joined the top three.
LSU, Wake Forest Continue to Tumble
Speaking of Arkansas, the Razorbacks shut down SEC rival LSU this past weekend. Arkansas swept the LSU Tigers at home and Hagen Smith played a key role in that. The Arkansas ace struck out 10 over six strong frames on March 28.
North Carolina, meanwhile, swept Wake Forest on the road this past weekend and helped the Demon Deacons slide 10 spots. Senior infielder Parks Harber played a role in that, as he hit four home runs in the Tar Heels’ sweep of Wake Forest.
Alabama, Kentucky Rise Yet Again
Rob Vaughn’s first season in Tuscaloosa has been a success so far. The Crimson Tide took two of three from Ethan Petry and South Carolina this past weekend to push Alabama up to #14 in the college baseball rankings.
Alabama, who entered the day on April 1 with the 10th-best average (.326) in the nation, has been powered by senior T.J. McCants and junior Gage Miller. The duo have 22 combined home runs this season.
Alabama will meet another SEC power in Kentucky this weekend. The Wildcats swept Ole Miss this past weekend and scored 32 combined runs over the final two days of that series.