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Texas head coach Jim Schlossnagle (Photo by Eddie Kelly/ ProLook Photos)
It’s hard to believe, but the home stretch of the 2025 regularseason has commenced. There are just four series left and every game is important for teams to cement their postseason status.
This weekend’s slate is headlined by what is perhaps the one series every college baseball fan has had circled on their calendar since last July: Texas vs. Texas A&M. Also on tap is a top five showdown in Baton Rouge and two massive series in the Big West and Southland Conferences.
The Series We’ve All Been Waiting For
Since coach Jim Schlossnagle shocked the college baseball world last June when he left Texas A&M and took the job at Texas, everyone has been looking forward to this weekend. Pitching coach Max Weiner also joined Schlossnagle in Austin, while hitting coach Caleb Longley joined coach Michael Earley in College Station. The storylines don’t stop there as current Aggies Gavin Kash and Josh Stewart both began their careers at Texas, Kimble Schuessler began his career at Texas A&M and star freshman Adrian Rodriguez flipped his commitment from Texas A&M to Texas.
On top of the plethora of roster connections, Texas A&M began the season as the unanimous No. 1 team. However, they got off to a shockingly slow start and sat at 14-15 overall and a measly 1-9 in SEC play. Not only did the Aggies free fall outside of the Top 25, but they were also in real danger of missing the postseason entirely. But since being no-hit by Tennessee on April 4, they are 10-1 with series wins over then-No. 1 Tennessee and a top-five Arkansas team. They have surged back into the Field of 64, and hosting is not outside the realm of possibility.
Currently, the Aggies are a top 40 RPI team, have the 11th-best strength of schedule and seven Quadrant 1 one wins. With three top 10 series left against No. 1 Texas, No. 4 LSU and No. 9 Georgia, Texas A&M has a chance to head into the postseason with a wealth of momentum.
While Texas was a preseason Top 25 team, not many envisioned its ascension to the pole position. The Longhorns have yet to have a losing weekend and currently sit at 34-5 overall, including a remarkable 16-2 in SEC play. Not only are they in an excellent spot as it pertains to earning a top eight national seed, but if the season ended today, they would be the No. 1 overall seed. Texas’ pitching—the team’s 3.15 cumulative ERA ranks No. 2 nationally—is its biggest strength, but it has also seen every hitter in its starting nine come through with a key swing at one point or another.
Both teams will likely roll with the “it’s just another series” narrative, but I find it hard to believe that there isn’t a lot of extra juice in each clubhouse. For as hot as Texas A&M is right now, it’s difficult to pick against the Longhorns, and I think they notch a hard-fought series win.
How To Watch Texas A&M (24-16, 8-10 SEC) At No. 1 Texas (34-5, 16-2 SEC)
Tomorrow’s game will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network, while both Saturday and Sunday’s games will be on ESPN2.
Top 5 Showdown In Baton Rouge
The best individual series this weekend will take place in Baton Rouge, where No. 5 Tennessee will do battle with No. 4 LSU. Since the calendar has flipped to April, the Volunteers have looked more human and have dropped two of their last three series. They struggled to produce offensively last weekend, which is a task that won’t get any easier going against LSU’s formidable one-two punch of Kade Anderson (6-1, 3.92 ERA) and Anthony Eyanson (6-1, 3.52 ERA).
While Tennessee is in a bit of a rut right now, they’re in an excellent spot to be a top-eight national seed. The Vols right now are No. 11 in RPI, and their 13 Quadrant 1 wins rank second nationally. Their roster is chock-full of talent on both sides of the baseball, and it feels inevitable that they’ll get rolling again soon.
LSU last weekend bounced back from its sweep at Auburn with an impressive ranked series win over Alabama. However, the Tigers on Tuesday were dealt a stunning run-rule loss at the hands of Northwestern State, which is a result they’ll look to flush in short order. Like its opponent, LSU also has a bevy of high-end talent up and down its roster. Star freshman Derek Curiel (.369/.495/.554) is on track to take home SEC Freshman of the Year honors, while both Daniel Dickinson (.347/.489/.585) and slugger Jared Jones (.359/.460/.665) are also in the midst of fantastic seasons.
From a resume standpoint, LSU is not too unlike Tennessee. The Tigers have the 12th-best RPI and, like the Volunteers, have 15 total Quadrant 1 and 2 wins. They’re also comfortably a top eight national seed. This weekend won’t affect either team’s tournament resume all that much, but come Sunday, someone will have another big-time series win on its resume.
How To Watch No. 5 Tennessee (34-7, 12-6 SEC) At No. 4 LSU (34-8, 12-6 SEC)
Tomorrow’s game can be streamed via SEC Network+, while Saturday and Sunday’s games will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU and SEC Network, respectively.
A Battle Between The Big West’s Best
Each season, the Big West is home to some of the best programs on the West Coast. This year is no different, though UC Santa Barbara is strangely on the outside-looking-in of the top of the conference standings. Leading the pack are No. 13 UC Irvine (29-9, 16-2 Big West) and Cal Poly (28-11, 15-3 Big West). The Anteaters have cruised through conference play, though they also have impressive standalone wins over Southern California and, most recently, No. 18 UCLA.
There is no weak link within UCI’s lineup, and it’s a unit that’s led by the quartet of Colin Yeaman (.409/.500/.761), Jacob McCombs (.392/.473/.713), Chase Call (.308/.440/.601) and Anthony Martinez (.296/.366/.464). They’ve combined to drive in 164 runs, while Yeaman, McCombs and Martinez all project as top 10-round draft picks this July. The Anteaters are far from a one-trick pony, however, as they also have an impressive starting rotation that’s headlined by the duo of Riley Kelly (4-0, 1.88 ERA) and Trevor Hansen (6-0, 3.20 ERA).
From a postseason perspective, UCI is currently in the mix to host. With an RPI of 14, top 20 non-conference strength of schedule and 11 Quadrant 1 and 2 wins, Irvine’s resume is strong. However, its margin of error is a lot smaller than traditional Power 4 schools, and one series loss could knock it out of the hosting picture.
Cal Poly has been one of the more surprising teams on the West Coast and is just one game behind first-place UC Irvine. It lacks the impressive wins the Anteaters have, but boasts an impressive tournament resume of its own. With an RPI of 19 and a top-55 strength of schedule, the Mustangs are comfortably in the bracket. Even with their top 20 RPI, however, they’re unlikely to host due to an underwhelming remaining schedule. Nonetheless, barring an unforeseen collapse, they profile as a No. 2 seed that no team will want to see in its regional.
Seven of Cal Poly’s nine regulars have 20 or more RBIs, led by Alejandro Garza (.348/.409/.457) and Jack Collins (.322/.389/.618). While it doesn’t have the rotation firepower that UCI can claim, the bullpen duo of Jake Torres (2-2, 1.84 ERA) and Tanner Sagouspe (3-2, 2.27 ERA) have been dynamite late in games. While I think Cal Poly wins a game, I think UC Irvine’s depth will be too much to overcome.
How To Watch No. 13 UC Irvine (29-9, 16-2 Big West) At Cal Poly (28-11, 15-3 Big West)
All three games this weekend can be streamed via ESPN+ (subscription required).
The Most Underrated Conference In College Baseball?
The subject head says it all, but it bears repeating: The Southland is perhaps the most underrated conference in college baseball. The league boasts six top 85 RPI teams, which is a mighty impressive mark for a non-Power 4 conference. UTRGV and McNeese State sit at 36 and 42, respectively, and are also the top two teams atop the conference standings. Remarkably, the conference has a chance to earn two bids on Selection Monday. The first would go to the conference winner, while the second bid—especially if UTRGV does not win the conference tournament—would presumably be given to McNeese. For more on this, be sure to check out this week’s college podcast.
Outside of its RPI, UTRGV’s underlying metrics are also rather impressive. It has a top 70 strength of schedule, a top 30 non-conference strength of schedule and seven Quadrant 1 and 2 wins. While McNeese has a similar RPI, it lags behind in all of the aforementioned metrics, which is why UTRGV is better-positioned for a potential at-large bid. Both teams have handled business to this point, though McNeese’s series win over Southeastern Louisiana is something UTRGV lacks. This weekend’s result is key as far as the conference standings are concerned, but also have postseason implications, especially for UTRGV’s at-large aspirations.
How To Watch McNeese (28-8, 16-5 Southland) At UTRGV (26-14, 17-8 Southland)
All three games this weekend can be streamed via ESPN+ (subscription required).
SEC Roundup
Florida (28-15, 6-12 SEC) needs seven wins across its final four regular-season series and SEC tournament to reach the magic number of 13 conference wins. Its remaining schedule includes series against No. 7 Arkansas, South Carolina, No. 1 Texas and No. 24 Alabama. If the Gators can hit the 13-win mark, its top 25 RPI and additional underlying metrics make for a compelling at-large case.
No. 11 Oklahoma has won two-straight SEC series and will look to carry the momentum its built into its series at No. 9 Georgia. As it stands, the Sooners are on the hosting bubble, but a series win this weekend would go a long way towards them earning a top 16 seed. On the other hand, a series loss would be a ding against their hosting resume. Georgia right now is No. 1 in RPI and is in a strong position to host.
Also at 6-12 in conference play, Mississippi State needs at least seven wins to feel even somewhat confident about earning an at-large bid. Its RPI of 47 is modest, but its remaining schedule—which includes series against No. 12 Auburn, Kentucky, No. 22 Ole Miss and last-place Missouri—is more forgiving.
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