A regular-season conference championship can have various meanings in college baseball.
For some, it symbolizes hope, a cultural reset that could lead to future accomplishments. For others, it’s just one step closer to a bigger goal — queue the late Kobe Bryant’s famous “job’s not finished” quote during the 2009 NBA Finals.
Even though a regular season title doesn’t translate automatically to an NCAA Tournament appearance, it strengthens a team’s case tremendously. This was the case last year, where out of the 30 conferences represented in the 2024 NCAA Tournament, 10 saw more than one team reach the regional round.
Here’s a look at favorites and sleepers pick to win their conference.
SEC
Favorite: Tennessee
Is a breakdown for Tennessee even needed?
The Volunteers haven’t shown a chink in their armor yet. Junior left-hander Liam Doyle looks like a National Pitcher of the Year candidate with a 0. 44 ERA in his four starts, while the pitching staff has a collective 1.83 ERA. Eight players are batting over .300, with freshman catcher/infielder Levi Clark (.513) and junior infielder Gavin Kilen head and shoulders above the rest. Yes, those are real batting averages.
Tennessee’s opponent to start conference play is Florida, which will be its first true test. Until then, there’s no question they should be favorites to win the SEC and make another deep run to Omaha.
Sleeper: Alabama
Whenever a team has arguably the best player in the country, they always have a chance to win. This year, it’s Alabama and sophomore shortstop Justin Lebron.
The Crimson Tide raced out to a 16-0 start, a program best, aided by Lebron’s top-notch performances. He’s hitting .394, leads the country in home runs with 11 — all with a 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame — and has recorded at least a hit in 15 of Alabama’s 17 games. And Florida native isn’t the only one raking, he has the fourth-best batting average on the team with three players in the .400.
The Golden Spikes Award is calling Lebron’s name, but his supporting cast could be the reason the Crimson Tide make a run in the deep SEC.
ACC
Favorites: Florida State/North Carolina
There are at least two to three teams that could join Florida State and North Carolina at the winner’s circle, like Clemson and Wake Forest, but for now, the Seminoles and Tar Heels will share the top spot.
Florida State entered the 2025 season as favorites and has done nothing to prove otherwise. The Seminoles were undefeated after 15 games, and still have three players hitting over .400 and three more above .300. The pitching staff hasn’t batted an eye with three starters’ ERA under two.
Although FSU sputtered against Florida on Mar. 11 and lost its first contest of the season, they have the second-best record in the ACC.
Yes, the Tar Heels lost their opening series of ACC play to Stanford, but let’s not forget how strong this team is. They were 14-0 entering last weekend and have the power — hitting and pitching wise — to overwhelm any opponent.
ACC’S UPSETS: No. 4 North Carolina, No. 9 Virginia lose series in ACC baseball opening weekend
Sleeper: Stanford
Joining a conference already flooded with talent and a disappointing 2024 campaign, Stanford flew under the radar entering 2025. Less than a month into this season and that fog is gone; the Cardinal is legit.
Stanford started 9-0 — the longest win streak to open a season since 2018 — and was one swing away from reaching double digits. Although losing their series to Xavier, Stanford bounced back with a statement road series win over North Carolina. Clutch hitting from junior first baseman Brandon Larson in game one and pitching from sophomore right-hander Joey Volchko led the way.
The Cardinal have looked like a brand new ball club than it did 365 days ago.
Big 12
Favorite: Arizona
Arizona’s disappointing start to the season was like a sucker punch. Losing all three contests in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown, capped off by a run-rule defeat to Louisville, the Wildcats found themselves outside the top 25 the following week.
Fast forward a couple of weeks and Arizona’s looked brand-new. After a second-place finish in the Astros Foundation College Classic with wins over Texas A&M and Mississippi State, the Wildcats went on to sweep Pepperdine in four games. Five players are hitting over .300, while sophomore right-hander Collin McKinney has shined for the starting rotation.
West Virginia and Kansas could fit the mold for favorites here, and it’s never wise to count out Oklahoma State, but it feels like the Wildcats are quickly putting the pieces together.
Sleepers: Kansas/UCF
Kansas and UCF are two teams that have let their bats do the talking this season, and it’s paid them back tenfold.
The Jayhawks have jumped out to their best start in program history at 15-2 and have scored eight or more runs in 11 contests — over 20 runs twice. The latest 20 or run barrage came on Mar. 12, where they beat Minnesota 29-1 and tied the NCAA DI record of five straight home runs.
UCF’s 13-3 record isn’t impressive because of how strong it is, but how they’ve gotten there. The Knights have outscored their opponents 94-14 during their seven-game winning streak. These aren’t just victories, they are onslaughts.
UCF has nine players batting over .300, including the conference’s batting leader in junior infielder Edian Espinal at .524, and five guys with more than 20 hits.
MAKING HISTORY: Kansas blasts five-straight home runs, ties NCAA DI record
Big Ten
Favorite: Oregon
Oregon has lived up to preseason expectations, sitting at 14-3 and held an 11-game win streak at one point.
Seven players are hitting over .300, headlined by sophomore shortstop Maddox Moloney at .400. Although preseason All-American left-hander Grayson Grinsell has had some ups and downs, he delivered in his last start, only giving up two runs and four hits over five innings against Southern California.
How Oregon would deal with the Big Ten’s cold and unpredictable weather was a major question after they joined the conference, but that won’t be a concern any time soon — its first series not on the West Coast won’t be until Mar. 28.
Sleepers: UCLA/Michigan State
This wasn’t meant to be a West Coast fan post, but man, the Bruins have made a full 180 from last season. A 13-4 record, UCLA has already beaten four Big Ten teams in Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State and Southern California.
And surprisingly, no player has been named conference Player/Pitcher of the Week, emphasizing how much of a team effort the Bruins’ hot start has been.
Michigan State’s another team that dominated non-conference play starting 12-3 — the program’s best start to a season through 15 games since 2016. The Spartans arguably have the best arm in the Big Ten with junior left-hander Joseph Dzierwa, who’s won Pitcher of the Week twice.
Both teams’ strong starts provide optimism for what’s to come, but there’s a large question mark on whether they maintain them.
Conference USA
Favorite: Dallas Baptist
Dallas Baptist hasn’t shown many signs of weakness, even in its four losses. Two came against top-ranked LSU and an 11-3 UTRGV, and the others on walk-off hits.
The Patriots haven’t lost a series yet and picked up back-to-back midweek wins versus Oklahoma and Oklahoma State — two teams bound for regional appearances at the least. Starting right-handers graduate Rian Schwede (1.88) and junior James Ellwanger (1.42) have performed well and the team is hitting .285.
Multiple teams in the conference have started the season hot, but DBU’s performances against a strong non-conference schedule make them an appealing candidate.
Sleeper: Western Kentucky
At 16-1 with an 11-game win streak, WKU is off to the best start in program history. The Hilltoppers are on a roll to start the 2025 season, most recently demolishing the Missouri Valley Conference top team in Southern Illinois on Mar. 11, 21-2.
Junior outfielder Ryan Wideman leads the CUSA in batting average at .457, and the pitching staff has maintained a 2.24 ERA. Western Kentucky hasn’t faced any ranked opponents yet, but has manhandled nearly everyone that’s stepped in their way.
WKU has become more than just a dark horse in the CUSA; it’s become a real threat.
POWER RANKINGS: Oregon joins Week 4 college baseball Power 10 rankings
Sun Belt
Favorite: Troy
Troy started the season 11-1 before hitting a few bumps in the road, three to be exact, and now sits at 13-4. Yet, the Trojans found themselves still ranked — that’s how much potential this team has.
The quickest way to see the vision is through the batting lineup. Senior outfielder Shane Lewis and junior infielder Sean Darnell were named Sun Belt Player of the Week back-to-back, while seniors outfielder Steven Meier (.419) and infielder Blake Cavill (.396) are top five in conference batting averages.
Expect this talented, veteran-led team to do damage in the Sun Belt.
Sleeper: Georgia Southern
With 10 teams at or above .500 and three ranked, the Sun Belt’s competitive level is closer to the Power 4 than ever before. They have more ranked teams than the Big Ten and Big 12 combined.
That said, a lot of teams could fit this spot. For now, Georgia Southern will occupy the seat.
Led by the winningest coach in program history, in coach Rodney Hennon, the Eagles are 10-6 and in the middle of conference standings. They’ve won three straight and senior outfielder Sean Smith leads the Sun Belt in batting average (.475) and home runs (8).
The American
Favorites: Florida Atlantic/UTSA
Florida Atlantic and UTSA are neck and neck for the top spot, sitting at one and two in the AAC’s standings.
The Owls are 13-3 behind consistent production at the plate and on the mound. FAU is batting .303 in part from TCU and Blinn transfers junior outfielder Jake Duer (.493) and Marshall Lipsey (.342).
UTSA is in a similar boat, holding a 15-4 record and leading the AAC in batting average at .342. Seven players are hitting over .300 with 40 or more at-bats, including the conference’s most recent Player of the Week, junior outfielder Drew Detlefsen (.386).
Sleeper: East Carolina
Preseason favorites to win their conference typically don’t fall into the dark horse category, but East Carolina is the exception.
The Pirates are 8-8 and outside the top six in AAC standings with series losses to ranked teams North Carolina and Coastal Carolina. Most wouldn’t expect a slow start for the defending champions, let alone the projected winners.
Then again, the American doesn’t start conference play for another week, so there’s still time for the Pirates to get things in order. And with sophomore lefty Ethan Norby, who struck out 19 against the Chanticleers, at the front of the rotation, they could turn it around.
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Big East
Favorite: UConn
One might do a double-take when seeing the Huskies here after their disappointing start to the season. Losing their first five games and the third-worst record in the Big East at 5-8, the reigning regular season conference champions don’t have many positives to look at.
However, there are signs that a turnaround is brewing.
UConn’s 4-1 in its last five contests with wins against teams like Vanderbilt and Miami twice. Sophomore infielder Tyler Minick was named Big East Player of the Week. The Huskies started last season slow with a 4-9 record, so this feeling isn’t anything new. Plus, their schedule isn’t run-of-the-mill.
Sleeper: Xavier
Southern hospitality wouldn’t be the correct way to describe Xavier’s road trip down South. They are 7-10, riding a five-game losing streak with matchups against Tennessee, Vanderbilt and LSU — honestly, what team would be able to get through that train wreck unscathed?
The Musketeers’ recent woes might make one forget they started 7-5 and received conference honors for junior infielder Connor Misch (Player of the Week) and freshman right-hander Jack Nobe (Pitcher of the Week).
An extended losing streak early in the season could turn out to be detrimental or a moment of reflection for a program. If Xavier takes the latter route and bounces back, the Musketeers could be a team to keep an eye on.
Big West
Favorites: UC Santa Barbara
UC Santa Barbara was named favorite to win the Big West ahead of the season, and a week into conference play, the Gauchos have done nothing to make anyone think otherwise.
UCSB is 14-2, went 3-0 in the Tony Gwynn Legacy in February against West Coast foes and has developed a sense of continuity in its batting lineup. At least six players have recorded a hit in 12 of their 16 contests. First-team preseason All-American junior right-hander Tyler Bremner is holding opposing hitters to a .179 ERA. UC Santa Barbara’s biggest test yet will come this weekend against an 11-4 Hawaii team.
The Gauchos have won three of the last five Big West titles. Why not add another to the hardware case?
Sleepers: Hawaii/UC Riverside
The Road Warriors have had their fair share of pros and cons. They’ve put together multiple four or three-game win streaks and lost a 13-inning game and series to UC Riverside to open conference play.
Even in these ups and downs, Hawaii has shown promise. The team is hitting .295, led by senior infielder Shunsuke Sakaino’s .414 average, and senior right-hander Liam O’Brien has shined on the bump, allowing zero runs and four hits over 21.1 innings of work. It’s a veteran-led team that can give some squads trouble. And what better way to solidify this than a successful weekend against UCSB?
UC Riverside is another team to consider as a sleeper pick, jetting out to a 10-6 start and beating Hawaii. They were projected to finish last in the conference’s preseason poll.
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Missouri Valley
Favorite: Southern Illinois
The Salukis are the only team in the Missouri Valley that have double-digit wins thus far, and one of two teams over .500. There are 10 teams in the conference, just food for thought.
These numbers weren’t meant to harp on the teams struggling, but a bigger reason why Southern Illinois should finish at the top of conference standings in late May. SIU has received conference honors in three of the four weeks of the season: senior first baseman Cecil Lofton and junior outfielder Kristian Sprawling were named MVC Player of the Week and senior left-hander Alec Nigut was named Pitcher of the Week.
Between these three and multiple other impactful bats and arms, the Salukis could make a run at their second regular season title in three years.
Sleeper: Murray State
The other team over .500 in the MVC? Murray State.
The Racers raced, coincidentally, out to a 7-0 start and now sit at 9-3. They have the conference’s leaders in batting average with junior infielder Luke Mistone (.453) and home runs with junior catcher Will Vierling. Three of the conferences’ five best ERA’s don the navy blue-and-gold: senior right-handed Isaac Silva (2.00) and juniors lefty Dylan Zentko (2.30) and right-handed Nic Shutte (2.57).
Murray State finished second in conference standings, upping its winless streak to 39 years. Snapping it on the 40th anniversary would be historic for the program.
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