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After securing a trio of marquee returners—outfielder Jace LaViolette, third baseman Gavin Grahovac and starting pitcher Ryan Prager—and bringing in one of the best transfer classes in the country, Texas A&M enters the 2025 season ranked first in Baseball America’s College Baseball Top 25.
This year’s Preseason Top 25 includes 10 SEC schools, seven ACC schools, two Big 12 schools, two Big Ten schools, two Big West schools, one program from Conference USA and one independent school.
Players from Preseason Top 25 teams make up 65% of Baseball America’s Top 100 College Draft prospects, including 13 of the top 20 and all of the top five: LaViolette, UC Santa Barbara righty Tyler Bremner, Florida State southpaw Jamie Arnold, Clemson center fielder Cam Cannarella, and Indiana outfielder Devin Taylor.
“This is absolutely the golden age of college baseball,” Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle told BA. “The top of the game is just unbelievable right now and it’s only getting better.”
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Here is BA’s Preseason Top 25, as decided on by our staff:
Last season: 53-15 (19-11 SEC); Finished as national runner up in College World Series
Final 2024 ranking: No. 2
Coach (record at school; years completed): Michael Earley (1st season)
First-year head coach Michael Earley kept the core intact from Texas A&M’s 2024 team that reached the College World Series final, including wooing potential No. 1 pick Jace LaViolette back to campus. The Aggies also return 2024 SEC Freshman of the Year Gavin Grahovac, budding shortstop Kaeden Kent, staff ace Ryan Prager and Saturday starter Justin Lamkin, among others. Three of the last 10 national runner-ups have returned to Omaha the following season. The Aggies appear well-positioned to make it a fourth and have the talent to finish the job in 2025.
Click here to see Texas A&M’s season preview
Last season: 43-23 (13-17 SEC); eliminated in Chapel Hill Regional
Final 2024 ranking: NR
Coach (record at school): Jay Johnson (137-62, 4th season)
LSU underachieved in 2024 but still reached the NCAA Tournament as a regional No. 2 seed. For 2025, it bolstered its roster by signing nine top-100 transfer players, including pitchers Anthony Eyanson, Jacob Mayers and Zac Cowan, and infielder Daniel Dickinson. While the influx of transfers strengthened the team, success will depend on how quickly they adjust to SEC competition. Dickinson, a key addition, is expected to provide leadership and offensive firepower. LSU aims for a deep run in 2025, with a strong roster but questions about the pitching depth after key departures.
Click here to see LSU’s season preview
Last season: 60-13 (22-8 SEC); won College World Series
Final 2024 ranking: No. 1
Coach (record at school): Tony Vitello (295-112, 8th season)
The Volunteers’ 2024 national championship performance will surely be a tough act to follow a year later without key contributors like second baseman Christian Moore, first baseman Blake Burke, third baseman Billy Amick, outfielders Dylan Dreiling and Kavares Tears and pitchers Drew Beam, AJ Causey and Aaron Combs around to uphold their dominance. However, eighth-year head coach Tony Vitello gave his program a chance by infusing the No. 7-ranked portal class into his group of returners, which includes hard-hitting shortstop Dean Curley. Former Louisville shortstop Gavin Kilen (BA No. 3 overall transfer), former Ole Miss third baseman Andrew Fischer (No. 6) and southpaw Liam Doyle (No. 20) and Kennesaw State righthander Tanner Franklin (No. 63) are all expected to step into starting roles as Tennessee looks to become the first team to win back-to-back titles since South Carolina in 2010-11.
Click here to see Tennessee’s season preview
Last season: 44-16 (20-10 SEC); eliminated in Fayetteville Regional
Final 2024 ranking: No. 15
Coach (record at school): Dave Van Horn (883-457, 23rd season)
Entering his 23rd season atop the Arkansas baseball program, head coach Dave Van Horn hopes that the offseason allowed him to reestablish balance in his roster after the Razorbacks ranked among the nation’s elite on the mound but struggled to consistently create offense, which contributed to their elimination in their home regional. To fix it, Arkansas returned All-SEC shortstop Wehiwa Aloy and surrounded him with transfer additions, including outfielders Charles Davalan (Florida Gulf Coast) and Logan Maxwell (TCU) and first baseman Rocco Peppi (Fresno State). The Razorbacks should be elite again on the mound with Preseason SEC Pitcher of the Year Gabe Gaeckle, East Carolina transfer southpaw Zach Root and returnee Gage Wood likely making up their rotation.
Click here to see Arkansas’ season preview
Last season: 46-17 (18-12 SEC); reached College World Series
Final 2024 ranking: No. 8
Coach (record at school): Brian O’Connor (885-370-2, 22nd season)
Virginia head coach Brian O’Connor has demonstrated recent mastery of the road to Omaha, reaching the College World Series three times in the last four years. The Cavaliers returned the bulk of a high-octane offense from 2024, including leading hitter Henry Godbout, slugger Harrison Didawick, catcher Jacob Ference and freshman all-American Henry Ford. Returning talent on the mound could be a boon, too, with starting pitchers Evan Blanco and Jay Woolfolk set to lead the charge. O’Connor said he felt his team needed to be deeper on the mound to snap a six-game Omaha losing streak. He expressed confidence that Virginia accomplished that.
Click here to see Virginia’s season preview
Last season: 49-17 (17-12 ACC); reached College World Series
Final 2024 ranking: No. 5
Coach (record at school): Link Jarrett (72-48, 3rd season)
After becoming the first Florida State head coach to post a single-season losing record in the school’s history in 2023, Link Jarrett got things right back on track in Tallahassee as the Seminoles returned to Omaha and finished the season with 49 wins, their most since 2012. Florida State is hoping to repeat that success with a different method in 2025 when pitching will be its clear strength with southpaw Preseason Pitcher of the Year Jamie Arnold leading the charge.
Click here to see Florida State’s season preview
Last season: 36-30 (13-17 SEC); reached College World Series
Final 2024 ranking: No. 6
Coach (record at school): Kevin O’Sullivan (717-349, 18th season)
Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said he learned valuable lessons in 2024 when the Gators were one of the last teams included in the Field of 64 and reached Omaha despite finishing the regular season ranked last in the SEC in ERA. It led him to lean more heavily on the transfer portal, where he added center fielder and leadoff hitter Kyle Jones from Stetson and Miami transfer Blake Cyr (BA’s No. 10 transfer), among others. Between transfers and key offensive returners, Florida should be a force at the plate. How well it can pitch with mostly returners and freshmen will likely determine whether or not the Gators can return to regular-season dominance.
Click here to see Florida’s season preview
Last season: 34-16 (20-10 ACC); eliminated in Clemson Super Regional
Final 2024 ranking: No. 11
Coach (record at school): Erik Bakich (88-35, 3rd season)
Clemson demonstrated key improvement in its second year under head coach Erik Bakich. It won a regular-season conference title for the first time since 2018 and advanced to the super regional round for the first time since 2010. The Tigers appear poised to take the next step—reaching the College World Series—with center fielder Cam Cannarella, a Player of the Year contender, and 2024 freshman All-American righthanded starter Aidan Knaak back in the fold. Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the year and BA Second-Team Freshman All-American Luke Gaffney, among a handful of other transfers, should help offset draft losses.
Click here to see Clemson’s season preview
Last season: 45-16 (19-10 Pac-12; now independent); eliminated in Lexington Super Regional
Final 2024 ranking: No. 9
Coach (record at school): Mitch Canham (176-87, 6th season)
Without a conference affiliation, Oregon State is entering a unique era as the first true independent national title contender since Miami in 2004. The Beavers return southpaw Nelson Keljo, who will transition from bullpen standout to rotation frontman, and brought in touted freshman Dax Whitney and junior-college standout Ethan Kleinschmit to round out their weekend rotation. The Beavers put together a lineup with elite transfers, like shortstop Aiva Arquette (BA No. 5), and returners, including third baseman Trent Caraway. Eighth-year head coach Mitch Canham’s team should once again be a force.
Click here to see Oregon State’s season preview
Last season: 40-20 (16-14 ACC); eliminated in Norman Regional
Final 2024 ranking: No. 24
Coach (record at school): Chris Pollard (379-274, 13th season)
First-round elimination from the 2024 tournament led Duke head coach Chris Pollard to pursue more lefthanded hitting and pitching, which he said he and his staff accomplished mostly via the transfer portal. The Blue Devils also returned sophomore two-way player Kyle Johnson, who last year slashed .253/.398/.480 with three home runs, six doubles, a triple and 11 RBIs and pitched to a 4.38 ERA with 53 strikeouts in 49.1 innings. Duke will need Johnson and others to help make up for the losses of staff ace Jonathan Santucci and all-American closer Charlie Beilenson, who combined to account for nearly 30% of Duke’s strikeouts last season.
Click here to see Duke’s season preview
Last season: 43-17 (17-13 SEC); eliminated in Athens Super Regional
Final 2024 ranking: No. 10
Coach (record at school): Wes Johnson (43-17, 2nd season)
Georgia enters 2025 riding high on the momentum it generated in head coach Wes Johnson’s first season. The Bulldogs, after being picked to finish second-to-last in the now-extinct SEC Eastern Division, hosted a super regional behind 2024 College Player of the Year Charlie Condon. Johnson brought back plenty of production from that team, including infielders Slate Alford and Kolby Branch, outfielder Tre Phelps and starting pitchers Leighton Finley and Kolten Smith. They’ll need to make up for the loss of Condon’s thunderous bat and improve upon a 10th-place finish in the SEC in ERA.
Click here to see Georgia’s season preview
Last season: 48-16 (22-8 ACC); reached College World Series
Final 2024 ranking: No. 10
Coach (record at school): Scott Forbes (154-89, 5th season)
Behind catcher Luke Stevenson, a Player of the Year candidate, and starting pitcher Jason DeCaro, who emerged as staff ace toward the end of the 2024 season, North Carolina appears poised to once again rank among the nation’s most balanced teams. The Tar Heels lineup will likely include returners at every infield position while transfers, including Kane Kepley, should make up their outfield. North Carolina also has plenty of experience on the mound, where it ranked among the best teams in the country last season. Without center fielder Vance Honeycutt, the Tar Heels will need to find new offensive leaders in 2025.
Click here to see North Carolina’s season preview
Last season: 42-19 (19-9 Big 12); eliminated in Stillwater Regional
Final 2024 ranking: No. 18
Coach (record at school): Josh Holliday (445-236-2, 14th season)
In six of the last 10 years, at least one of Texas, Oklahoma or Oklahoma State have won a share of the Big 12 regular-season title. The Cowboys are the lone remaining member of the Big 12 of that trio, giving them an opportunity to further establish their dominance in a conference they’ve won multiple times. Oklahoma State brought back premium outfielder Nolan Schubart, a Player of the Year and first-round hopeful, and surrounded him with three other players who hit at least 10 home runs in 2024. Top-100 draft prospect righthander Gabe Davis and Hawaii transfer Harrison Bodendorf will lead a rotation that needs to quickly find new leaders after replacing last year’s entire group.
Click here to see Oklahoma State’s season preview
Last season: 36-24 (20-10 Big 12; now in SEC)
Final 2024 ranking: NR
Coach (record at school): Jim Schlossnagle (First season)
The Longhorns made the biggest coaching splash of the offseason when they hired Jim Schlossnagle away from rival Texas A&M the day after the Aggies lost the College World Series. Schlossnagle’s first team in Austin is stocked with hitters, including outfielders Max Belyeu and Will Gasparino, shortstop Jalin Flores and first baseman Kimble Schuessler, all of whom hit at least 10 home runs for the Longhorns last year. There are some question marks on the mound for Texas heading into the year. Indiana State transfer southpaw Jared Spencer, who’s expected to pitch on Friday nights to open the season, could help take some pressure off the staff as it sorts out roles.
Click here to see Texas’ season preview
Last season: 38-23 (13-17 SEC); eliminated in Clemson Regional
Final 2024 ranking: NR
Coach (record at school): Tim Corbin (921-443-1, 23rd season)
Tim Corbin decided to make changes to his coaching staff and roster after the Commodores went 13-17 in conference play and didn’t host a regional for just the fourth time in the last 10 tournaments in 2024. Corbin said those alterations, specifically the hirings of assistants Jayson King and Ty Blankmeyer, have sparked renewed energy in Nashville. Shortstop Jonathan Vastine, outfielder RJ Austin and starting pitchers JD Thompson and Ethan McElvain make up the foundation of Vanderbilt’s 2025 squad as it looks to quickly establish more consistency on both sides of the ball.
Click here to see Vanderbilt’s season preview
Last season: 38-23 (18-11 ACC); reached College World Series
Final 2024 ranking: No. 7
Coach (record at school): Elliott Avent (1,036-615, 29th season)
NC State in 2024 made it to Omaha for the third time under 29th-year head coach Elliott Avent, then brought back several key pieces from that team, including two-thirds of their primary weekend rotation, lefties Dominic Fritton and Ryan Marohn. The Wolfpack lineup will mostly feature newcomers from the transfer portal. They’ll need to establish offensive contributors early to have another run at Omaha in a loaded ACC.
Click here to see NC State’s season preview
Last season: 38-22 (15-15 ACC); eliminated in Greenville Regional
Final 2024 ranking: NR
Coach (record at school): Tom Walter (456-361-1, 16th season)
Wake Forest coach Tom Walter readily admits that his 16th Demon Deacon team might not be as talented as his 15th in terms of pro upside. He is confident, however, that this year’s group will be more balanced at the plate and deeper on the mound. Former Marist outfielder Ethan Conrad, former St. John’s catcher Jimmy Keenan, former Princeton outfielder Matt Scannell and former Butler infielder Kade Lewis are all expected to start, as is freshman infielder Dalton Wentz. The Demon Deacons’ rotation is also likely to feature only newcomers. As a result, Wake Forest is depending on more players than usual to acclimate quickly to elevated competition levels.
Click here to see Wake Forest’s season preview
Last season: 40-23 (17-13 SEC); eliminated in Charlottesville Regional
Final 2024 ranking: No. 17
Coach (record at school): Chris Lemonis (207-116, 7th season)
Mississippi State snapped a two-year stretch of sub-.500 records in 2024, winning 40 games and reaching the NCAA Tournament for the first time since winning the national championship in 2021. The Bulldogs should have the tools to keep up their winning ways with an older roster, which includes senior first baseman Hunter Hines, senior outfielder Bryce Chance and senior starting pitchers Pico Kohn and Karson Ligon. Kohn, Ligon and others will need to step up big time in 2025 as Mississippi State lost 73% of its total innings from last season to graduation and the draft.
Click here to see Mississippi State’s season preview
Last season: 40-20 (19-11 Pac-12; now Big Ten); eliminated in College Station Super Regional
Final 2024 ranking: No. 12
Coach (record at school): Mark Wasikowski (164-90; 7th season)
Oregon head coach Mark Wasikowski has his program on an excellent trajectory, having led the Ducks to four straight regionals and two straight super regionals for the first time in program history. This season might be their best chance yet to reach Omaha. Oregon returns eight of the nine hitters who started in the College Station Super Regional last season and signed the No. 10-ranked transfer class. There’s some uncertainty on the mound as the Ducks will likely turn to newcomers behind ace Grayson Grinsell. They’re confident, however, that Saint Mary’s transfer Jason Reitz, a 6-foot-10 righty who was up to 98 mph in the fall, is ready for the job.
Click here to see Oregon’s season preview
Last season: 46-16 (22-8 SEC); reached College World Series
Final 2024 ranking: No. 3
Coach (record at school): Nick Mingione (264-166; 9th season)
Kentucky stayed true to its formula for success in today’s era of college baseball by recruiting a roster brimming with older talent and an average age of 22.1 years old. It worked great in 2024 when the Wildcats reached the College World Series for the first time and hit 88 home runs, stole an SEC-leading 119 bases and posted a team OBP of .401, which ranked fifth in the conference. Head coach Nick Mingione brought in 29 newcomers ahead of his ninth season in Lexington, which means a ton needs to go right for his team to put together a repeat performance. However, Kentucky has a strong track record for talent identification in recent seasons.
Click here to see Kentucky’s season preview
Last season: 45-15 (17-7 C-USA); eliminated in Tucson Regional
Final 2024 ranking: NR
Coach (record at school): Dan Heefner (652-326-1, 18th season)
Dallas Baptist head coach Dan Heefner is no stranger to success. The Patriots have reached 13 NCAA Tournaments, including each of the last 10, and two super regionals since 2008. That’s why his evaluation that he has one of his best teams carries so much weight heading into 2025. The Patriots are once again built to dominate with a lineup full of returning talent, including five players who earned all-Conference USA honors last season. Sophomore righties Luke Pettitte, who was named CUSA freshman of the year, and James Ellwanger return and will pitch at the front of the Patriots’ rotation. LSU transfer righty Micah Bucknam figures to be a candidate to join them. Dallas Baptist should be a postseason presence again this season. Whether inexperienced arms have success could determine just how far it goes.
Click here to see Dallas Baptist’s season preview
Last season: 36-23 (20-10 Pac-12; now in Big 12); eliminated in Tucson Regional
Final 2024 ranking: No. 21
Coach (record at school): Chip Hale (108-74, 4th season)
Arizona exceeded expectations in its third season under head coach Chip Hale, winning the Pac-12 final regular-season and tournament titles and securing top-16 seeding status. All of the central figures from the Wildcats offense are back in the fold this year, including outfielder Brendan Summerhill, who hit .324/.399/.550 with 32 extra-base hits and 59 RBIs in 58 games as a sophomore last year. Clark Candiotti, Jackson Kent and Cam Walty, who combined to make 45 starts, pitch 272 innings and maintain a 3.57 ERA last year, have all moved onto the pros. Several pitchers have huge shoes to fill.
Click here to see Arizona’s season preview
Last season: 44-14 (26-4 Big West); eliminated in Santa Barbara Regional
Final 2024 ranking: No. 20
Coach (record at school): Andrew Checketts (453-248-3, 14th season)
Having established itself as one of the nation’s premier pitching factories, UC Santa Barbara should once again be a leader in the category with potential No. 1 pick Tyler Bremner fronting its rotation and promising sophomore Jackson Flora behind him. The Gauchos might not be the most offensively dominant team in the country this year but they should be able to out-pitch most of their regular season opponents.
Click here to see UC Santa Barbara’s season preview
Last season: 45-14 (22-8 Big West); eliminated in Corvallis Regional
Final 2024 ranking: No. 25
Coach (record at school): Ben Orloff (203-97, 7th season)
UC Irvine left little doubt about its NCAA Tournament candidacy in 2024, a year after it was viewed as a snub from the field. First baseman Anthony Martinez, an early-round draft prospect, second baseman Will Bermudez, outfielder Chase Call and pitchers Danny Suarez, Trevor Hansen, Ricky Ojeda, Ryder Brooks and Riley Kelly all return from that 45-win team. There is an element of inexperience to UC Irvine’s roster this year as Martinez and Bermudez are the only position players on its roster who received more than 100 Division I at-bats last season. Suarez has appeared in just 10 games over the last two seasons due to Tommy John and sophomore Ricky Ojeda, who thrived in the Irvine bullpen last season, has never made a Division I start.
Click here to see UC Irvine’s season preview
Last season: 33-26-1 (15-9 Big Ten); eliminated in Knoxville Regional
Final 2024 ranking: NR
Coach (record at school): Jeff Mercer (175-125-1, 7th season)
The Hoosiers are going to hit in 2025 with a lineup that includes Player of the Year contender Devin Taylor, a junior outfielder who batted .357/.449/.660 with a conference-leading 20 home runs and 67 runs while also adding 11 doubles, one triple, 54 RBIs and 38 strikeouts to 37 walks. Indiana also added Preseason Big Ten Freshman of the Year Hogan Denny, freshman first baseman Jake Hanley and Louisville transfer outfielder Korbyn Dickerson to a lineup that led the Big Ten in scoring last year. The Hoosiers struggled on the mound and in the field last year and will need to take a step forward in those capacities. Their offense should give them plenty of buffer, though.
Click here to see Indiana’s season preview
