The 2025 NCAA Division I college baseball season starts in February and now, we’ve received our first look at what the coaches think about the top teams heading into the year. The USA Today/coaches preseason poll released on February 3, and the top two schools from 2024 headline the list.
Six SEC schools are in the top 10, and 11 of the top 26 — Oklahoma tied with Troy for #25 — are from the power conference. At the top spot is 2024 runner-up Texas A&M, a team that went through considerable turmoil last offseason thanks to coaching changes. However, the Aggies’ roster — despite some defections — retained their power bats from 2024.
Outfielder Jace LaViolette, arguably the best college hitter right now, is set to lead an Aggies team that includes Caden Sorrell, Kaeden Kent, and Gavin Grahovac.
Reigning champion Tennessee, which had a strong transfer group last summer, comes in at #2. LSU, another team that did well in the transfer portal and is set to welcome back Chase Shores to their rotation, comes in at #3.
The ACC, as expected, also comes in strong in the USA Today poll. Six ACC schools are in the top 25, highlighted by #4 Virginia. Virginia welcomes back Harrison Didawick and Jay Woolfolk, two key pieces of their 2024 College World Series team and names who didn’t go pro last season. The Cavaliers had a strong freshman recruit class, plus returned key pieces in Henry Ford and Henry Godbout.
Florida State, fresh off a CWS run, return likely 2025 first-round pick Jamie Arnold, sit at #6. North Carolina, with Jason DeCaro, clocks in at #8. DeCaro was one of the freshman pitchers in the NCAA last year. Clemson and Duke, armed with likely first-round talents in 2025 and 2026, come in at #11 and #12, respectively.
Here’s a look at the preseason top 25:
- Texas A&M
- Tennessee
- LSU
- Virginia
- Arkansas
- Florida State
- Oregon State
- North Carolina
- Georgia
- Florida
- Clemson
- Duke
- Texas
- Oregon
- Wake Forest
- NC State
- Oklahoma State
- Vanderbilt
- Mississippi State
- Arizona
- Dallas Baptist
- UC Santa Barbara
- TCU
- Kentucky
- Troy/Oklahoma
The 2025 NCAA season will start on February 14. Make sure to continue checking out our college baseball coverage.