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With just five weekends left in the regular season, we have officially entered the homestretch of the 2025 season. In each week up to this point, I’ve focused on the four most prominent ranked matchups. However, starting this week, I will instead discuss four series that have notable postseason implications for one or both teams.
Nobody Wants To Play Texas A&M—And For Good Reason
After being no-hit 13 days ago at Tennessee, Texas A&M sat at a measly 14-15 overall and just 1-9 in SEC play. The preseason No. 1 team appeared as if it was on the fast track to miss the tournament entirely and its season was on life support. Since then, the Aggies have rattled off seven straight wins. They picked up a series victory over then-No. 1 Tennessee and a thrilling sweep over South Carolina in which they blasted two ninth-inning grand slams in the finale.
Talent has never been an issue with A&M—just take a look at its preseason ranking. It just took them a little while to put it all together. As it stands, the Aggies have played their way into our most recent Field of 64 projection and still have a handful of opportunities left to bolster their ever-improving resume. Prior to their series this weekend against No. 4 Arkansas (No. 2 in RPI), A&M’s RPI sits at 51. Its strength of schedule ranks 16th nationally, and its eight total wins against quad one and quad two opponents is also a solid mark.
Thirteen conference wins has been the magic number for SEC teams to earn an at-large bid. Texas A&M’s remaining schedule is a gauntlet that includes series against four current top 10 teams— No. 4 Arkansas, No. 1 Texas, No. 8 LSU and No. 3 Georgia—as well as a home matchup against Missouri. Seven wins will certainly be hard to come by, but I foresee the Aggies hitting their magic number and then some.
For any SEC buffs reading, Kentucky (6-9 in SEC), Mississippi State (5-10) and Florida (4-11) are also on “magic number watch” the rest of the way.
How To Watch Texas A&M At No. 4 Arkansas
Tonight’s game will be broadcast nationally on SEC Network, while Friday and Saturday’s games can be streamed via SEC Network Extra.
Iowa & Michigan Jockey For Potential At-Large Bid
Up until this season, the Big Ten had traditionally been a one, two or, in rare cases, a three-bid league. However, the additions of Oregon, UCLA, Southern California and Washington have improved the conference’s depth and talent. This year, there’s a chance that up to five Big Ten teams play their way into the field of 64. Two of them—Iowa and Michigan—square off this week in a huge series.
From an at-large perspective, Iowa is in a bit of a tricky spot. The Hawkeyes’ overall record of 22-11 (14-4 Big Ten) is appealing from an optics standpoint, though their underlying metrics are rather poor. They currently sit at 92 in RPI, and their overall and non-conference strength of schedules rank 195 and 264, respectively. While they have seven quad two wins, the Hawkeyes lack a quad one win. That could change this weekend, though, as a series victory in Ann Arbor would net them at least a pair of key quad one wins.
While Michigan’s record of 23-14 (8-7 Big Ten) is slightly worse than Iowa’s, they’re actually in a fairly strong position from a metrics standpoint. The Wolverines rank inside the top 45 in RPI and have a top 75 strength of schedule. They also have four total quad one and quad two victories. Michigan this weekend won’t be able to strengthen its tournament resume by a whole lot, but a series win is key in order to remain in the Big Ten regular-season title race.
A series loss for either team wouldn’t necessarily knock them out of the field of 64, though their respective resume would take a hit. For Iowa, this is one of three weekends left to earn quality wins. Come Sunday night, their next—and last—two chances will be when it faces No. 9 Oregon State and No. 25 Oregon across the final two weekends of the season. Michigan doesn’t have the luxury that Iowa has of facing quality opponents as the season winds down, and as it stands, its only remaining series against a top 70 RPI team is at Nebraska (69) on May 9. The Wolverines’ RPI will naturally slide, so they have less margin for error when it comes to potentially losing a series.
How To Watch Iowa At Michigan
All three games this weekend can be streamed via Big Ten Network Plus (subscription required).
In-State Rivals Clash Out West
The Big West this season has been one of the most underrated non-power conferences in the country. It has a chance to be a multi-bid league and has an outside shot of seeing one of its members host a regional. Speaking of underrated, Cal Poly has been one of the most underrated teams in college baseball. The Mustangs boast a 26-9 record, including a near-spotless 14-1 conference record. Their record alone is impressive, but their metrics have put them in a position to potentially host a regional when all is said and done.
At the moment, Cal Poly (19) ranks inside the top 20 in RPI. Additionally, its strength of schedule is No. 54 and its non-conference strength of schedule is No. 35. It has a total of nine quad one and quad two wins, and could net at least two more of the latter with a road series victory. The Mustangs’ leash is shorter than other teams as it pertains to hosting given who they’ll play the rest of the way, but they’re in a dynamite spot to earn at least an at-large bid.
On the flip side, it’s been an uncharacteristically rocky season for UC Santa Barbara. To describe a team that has a 24-11 (10-8 Big West) record’s season as “rocky” is, in a strange way, a compliment to the job that head coach Andrew Checketts has done in Santa Barbara. That being said, they’re on the outside looking in right now. This weekend is huge for the Gauchos, as it’s their last chance to earn a marquee series victory. Their RPI is a modest 81 with poor underlying metrics, so this weekend is essentially a must-win if they want to keep their at-large hopes alive.
To make matters a bit worse, outside of a midweek matchup Southern California (43), Santa Barbara does not have any remaining regular-season games against teams inside the RPI top 100. Another Big West series to keep an eye on this weekend is Hawaii at No. 16 UC Irvine.
How To Watch Cal Poly At UC Santa Barbara
Tonight and Saturday’s games can be streamed via ESPN+, while tomorrow’s game will be broadcast nationally on ESPNU.
Can Virginia Breathe New Life Into Its Season?
Over the next two weekends, Virginia (20-15, 9-9 ACC) has the chance to put some much-needed points on the board as it pertains to its tournament resume. As it stands, the Cavaliers are squarely on the bubble and are in danger of being left out of the field entirely. Their RPI of 84 leaves a lot to be desired, and they have just one quad one win on their resume. However, with matchups against No. 10 Florida State and No. 13 Georgia Tech over the next two weeks, the ‘Hoos could play their way into safer territory.
It’s a task that’s far easier said than done, but the opportunity is there nonetheless. While a pair of series wins would put Virginia rather safely in the field, a pair of series losses would leave it on the outside looking in with just three weekends left in the regular season.
How To Watch Virginia At No. 10 Florida State
Tonight and tomorrow’s games will be broadcast nationally on ACC Network and ESPN2, while Saturday’s finale can be streamed via ACC Network Extra.
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