Final 2023 College Top 25
Image credit: Tre' Morgan #18 of the LSU Tigers reacts after making a play during the eighth inning against the Wake Forest Demon Deacons at Charles Schwab Field on June 22, 2023 in Omaha, Nebraska.(Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images)
Photo: Jay Biggerstaff/Getty Images
After winning the College World Series, LSU tops the final Baseball America Top 25 for 2023.
LSU defeated Florida to win the College World Series finals, clinching the championship with an 18-4 victory in Game 3. The Tigers went 11-2 in the NCAA Tournament, sweeping through the Baton Rouge Regional and Super Regional. They went 6-2 in Omaha, beating Tennessee, Wake Forest and Florida along the way.
The national championship is the seventh in program history for LSU, the second most all-time. Its last title came in 2009. The Tigers are also just the second team in the 21st century to win the national championship after being ranked No. 1 in the Preseason Top 25, joining 2019 Vanderbilt.
Wake Forest was ranked No. 1 in the Top 25 at the end of the regular season and falls to No. 3 after losing to LSU in the bracket final. That is still the Demon Deacons’ highest finish to the season in the 43-year history of the Top 25. Indiana State (11) and Campbell (22) also establish new highs for a final ranking.
The staff of Baseball America determines the Top 25 rankings. Records indicated are through the end of the season.
1. Louisiana State (SEC)
Previous Ranking: No. 7
Overall: 54-17, 19-10 in SEC
Weekend Record: 11-2-1
NCAA Tournament: 11-2, won CWS
LSU won the seventh national championship in program history, beating Florida in three games in the CWS finals. The Tigers swept through regionals and super regionals before falling into the loser’s bracket in Omaha with a tough loss to Wake Forest. LSU ran off three straight wins, including twice beating Wake, to advance to the finals. The Tigers secured the championship with an 18-4 rout in the winner-takes-all game 3.
2. Florida (SEC)
Previous Ranking: No. 2
Overall: 54-17, 20-10 in SEC
Weekend Record: 12-2
NCAA Tournament: 10-3, CWS runner-up
Florida finished as the national runner-up, falling to LSU in three games in the CWS championship series. The Gators put together an impressive NCAA Tournament run, overcoming an early loss in regionals to Texas Tech to come through the loser’s bracket and win the Gainesville Regional. They then swept South Carolina in super regionals and swept their CWS bracket before falling to the Tigers. Florida made its first trip to Omaha since 2018 and fell one win shy of the program’s second national championship.
3. Wake Forest (ACC)
Previous Ranking: No. 1
Overall: 54-12, 22-7 in ACC
Weekend Record: 14-0
NCAA Tournament: 7-2, reached Omaha
Wake dominated its competition in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the CWS with a plus-59 run differential. The Demon Deacons started 2-0 in Omaha despite not leading before the eighth inning in either game against Stanford or LSU, but a pair of tough losses to the Tigers ultimately knocked them out of the tournament in the bracket final. It was the first time all season that the Deacs lost back-to-back games. Wake still finished with a program-record 54 wins, the ACC title and its first trip to Omaha since its 1955 national championship.
4. Texas Christian (Big 12)
Previous Ranking: No. 24
Overall: 44-24, 13-11 in Big 12
Weekend Record: 8-6
NCAA Tournament: 7-2, reached Omaha
TCU heated up in May and rode that momentum all the way to Omaha. The Horned Frogs went 21-4 in May and June, including sweeps through the Big 12 Tournament, the Fayetteville Regional and the Fort Worth Super Regional. TCU advanced all the way to the bracket final in the CWS before falling to Florida. It was the Horned Frogs’ first trip to Omaha since 2017 and the first under second-year coach Kirk Saarloos.
5. Tennessee (SEC)
Previous Ranking: No. 20
Overall: 44-22, 16-14 in SEC
Weekend Record: 8-6
NCAA Tournament: 6-3, reached Omaha
Tennessee went on an NCAA Tournament run, first sweeping through the Clemson Regional and then beating Southern Miss in three games on the road in super regionals. The Volunteers advanced to the CWS for the second time in three seasons and won their first game in Omaha since 2001. While it wasn’t always easy this year for Tennessee, the Volunteers still got back to the CWS behind an outstanding pitching staff.
6. Stanford (Pac-12)
Previous Ranking: No. 6
Overall: 44-20, 23-7 in Pac-12
Weekend Record: 11-2-1
NCAA Tournament: 6-4, reached Omaha
Stanford produced another strong season, winning the Pac-12 title for the second straight season and making a third straight trip to the CWS. The Cardinal didn’t make it easy on themselves in the NCAA Tournament, first fighting through the loser’s bracket in regionals and then coming back from a game 1 loss to beat Texas. Stanford’s three straight Omaha appearances are its most since going five straight times from 1999-2003.
7. Oral Roberts (Summit League)
Previous Ranking: NR
Overall: 52-14, 23-1 in Summit League
Weekend Record: 12-2
NCAA Tournament: 6-3, reached Omaha
Oral Roberts was the underdog story of the NCAA Tournament. It became the third No. 4 seed in the 64-team era (since 1999) to reach Omaha after it swept through the Stillwater Regional and then won the Eugene Super Regional. The Golden Eagles opened the CWS with a win against TCU before back-to-back tough losses against Florida and TCU ended their run. Only Florida, LSU and Wake Forest won more games this season than ORU, which made its second-ever trip to the CWS and first since 1978.
8. Virginia (ACC)
Previous Ranking: No. 10
Overall: 50-15, 19-11 in ACC
Weekend Record: 9-4
NCAA Tournament: 5-3, reached Omaha
Virginia swept through the Charlottesville Regional and then came back from a game 1 loss in super regionals against Duke to reach the CWS for the second time in three years. The Cavaliers made a quick exit in Omaha, as they went 0-2 for the first time in their six appearances under coach Brian O’Connor. Still, Virginia posted its first 50-win season since 2014.
9. Texas (Big 12)
Previous Ranking: No. 15
Overall: 42-22, 15-8 in Big 12
Weekend Record: 10-4
NCAA Tournament: 4-2, eliminated in super regionals
Texas swept through the Coral Gables Regional, beating host Miami twice. The Longhorns beat Stanford in game 1 of super regionals but couldn’t quite finish the Cardinal off and lost in walkoff fashion in game 3. Texas won the Big 12 title, its second in three seasons.
10. Duke (ACC)
Previous Ranking: No. 21
Overall: 39-24, 16-13 in ACC
Weekend Record: 8-4-1
NCAA Tournament: 4-3, eliminated in super regionals
Duke went on the road to win the Conway Regional and won its super regional opener against Virginia. But the Blue Devils weren’t able to push past the Cavaliers and lost in three games. While Duke is still looking for its first CWS appearance since 1961, its 39 wins this year tied for the second most in program history and it has reached super regionals three times in five seasons.
11. Indiana State (Missouri Valley)
Previous Ranking: No. 25
Overall: 45-17, 24-3 in Missouri Valley
Weekend Record: 11-3
NCAA Tournament: 3-2, eliminated in super regionals
The Sycamores’ remarkable run carried them through their first-ever home regional, as they swept past Wright State and Iowa. A scheduling conflict cost Indiana State the chance to host TCU in super regionals and the Horned Frogs swept the series at home. The Sycamores still had their best season since their 1986 Omaha appearance, as they won a regional for the second time in program history and their 45 wins were their most since 1989.
12. Southern Mississippi (Sun Belt)
Previous Ranking: No. 17
Overall: 46-20, 22-8 in Sun Belt
Weekend Record: 11-3
NCAA Tournament: 5-3, eliminated in super regionals
Southern Miss won the Auburn Regional, bouncing back from an opening loss to Samford before winning four straight games to reach super regionals for the second straight season. Southern Miss got off to a strong start at home in super regionals against Tennessee, winning game 1 and getting out to an early lead in game 2, but the Golden Eagles weren’t able to close out the series win. The Scott Berry era still reached a strong conclusion, as the Golden Eagles won back-to-back regionals for the first time in program history.
13. Oregon (Pac-12)
Previous Ranking: NR
Overall: 41-22, 16-14 in Pac-12
Weekend Record: 9-5
NCAA Tournament: 4-2, eliminated in super regionals
Oregon carried the momentum from its Pac-12 Tournament title run into the NCAA Tournament and swept through the Nashville Regional, beating Xavier and Vanderbilt. The Ducks advanced to super regionals for the first time since 2012, hosting Oral Roberts. They won game 1 but couldn’t finish off the series win, ending the season one win shy of Omaha. Oregon’s 41 wins were its most since 2014 and it advanced to super regionals for the second time in program history.
14. Vanderbilt (SEC)
Previous Ranking: No. 3
Overall: 42-20, 19-11 in SEC
Weekend Record: 11-3
NCAA Tournament: 1-2, eliminated in regionals
Vanderbilt made a quick exit in the NCAA Tournament as it went just 1-2 in the Nashville Regional. The Commodores hadn’t lost a home series all season but took a pair of one-run losses to Oregon and Xavier. Vanderbilt still posted a 40-win season and won the SEC Tournament.
15. Clemson (ACC)
Previous Ranking: No. 4
Overall: 44-19, 20-10 in ACC
Weekend Record: 9-5
NCAA Tournament: 1-2, eliminated in regionals
Clemson stormed into the postseason as one of the hottest teams in the country but ultimately made a quick exit in the Clemson Regional. After losing an extra-innings battle against Tennessee, its season ended with a loss to Charlotte. Clemson can still feel very good about its season, however, as it orchestrated a sensational mid-season turnaround that led to an ACC Tournament title and the No. 4 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament.
16. Arkansas (SEC)
Previous Ranking: No. 5
Overall: 43-18, 20-10 in SEC
Weekend Record: 11-3
NCAA Tournament: 2-2, eliminated in regionals
Arkansas had a disappointing appearance in regionals, twice getting routed by TCU at home. Despite the quick exit in the NCAA Tournament, the Razorbacks still had a strong overall year. They overcame a slew of injuries to win the SEC West and earn the No. 3 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament. Lefthander Hagen Smith emerged as the team’s ace, as he went 8-2, 3.64 with 109 strikeouts in 71.2 innings.
17. South Carolina (SEC)
Previous Ranking: NR
Overall: 42-21, 16-13 in SEC
Weekend Record: 8-5-1
NCAA Tournament: 3-2, eliminated in super regionals
South Carolina took care of business in the Columbia Regional, sweeping through Central Connecticut State, North Carolina State and Campbell. The Gamecocks were swept by Florida in super regionals, losing a tough 5-4 game 1 and then getting shut out, 4-0, in game 2. South Carolina advanced to super regionals for the first time since 2018 and was a No. 1 seed for the first time since 2016.
18. Alabama (SEC)
Previous Ranking: No. 18
Overall: 43-21, 16-14 in SEC
Weekend Record: 8-6
NCAA Tournament: 3-2, eliminated in super regionals
Alabama’s impressive run over the final month of the season carried it to super regionals for the first time since 2010. The Crimson Tide went 13-6 after May 4, when coach Brad Bohannon was fired, and hosted regionals for the first time since 2006. The Tide’s remarkable run came to an end against top-seeded Wake Forest in super regionals.
19. Kentucky (SEC)
Previous Ranking: NR
Overall: 40-21, 16-14 in SEC
Weekend Record: 8-6
NCAA Tournament: 4-3, eliminated in super regionals
Kentucky came through the loser’s bracket to win the Lexington Regional, beating Indiana in the championship game. The Wildcats were swept on the road by LSU in super regionals, outscored, 22-3. Kentucky this year made the NCAA Tournament and won a regional for the first time since 2017 (and the second time in program history).
20. Coastal Carolina (Sun Belt)
Previous Ranking: No. 8
Overall: 42-21, 23-7 in Sun Belt
Weekend Record: 13-0-1
NCAA Tournament: 3-2, eliminated in regionals
Coastal nearly fought out of the loser’s bracket of the Conway Regional after a tough, extra-innings loss to Rider in the opener. But it fell short against Duke in the championship game. The Chanticleers’ 2023 season will be remembered for its Sun Belt title and first home regional since 2018.
21. Miami (ACC)
Previous Ranking: No. 9
Overall: 42-21, 18-12 in ACC
Weekend Record: 11-3
NCAA Tournament: 2-2, eliminated in regionals
Miami went 2-2 in the Coral Gables Regional, losing to Texas in the final. It was the second straight season the Hurricanes lost a home regional, but their 42 wins were their most since 2016 and they finished as ACC Tournament runners-up.
22. Campbell (Big South)
Previous Ranking: No. 11
Overall: 46-15, 22-5 in Big South
Weekend Record: 13-0
NCAA Tournament: 2-2, eliminated in regionals
Campbell reached the Columbia Regional final before falling to host South Carolina. The Camels were still one of the best mid-major teams all season long, didn’t have a losing weekend all season and won both the regular season and tournament title in their final season in the Big South before moving to the Colonial Athletic Association.
23. Oklahoma State (Big 12)
Previous Ranking: No. 12
Overall: 41-20, 15-9 in Big 12
Weekend Record: 10-4
NCAA Tournament: 0-2, eliminated in regionals
Oklahoma State made a quick NCAA Tournament exit, as it lost to Oral Roberts and Dallas Baptist in the Stillwater Regional. It was the Cowboys’ first 0-2 showing in a regional since 2017. Oklahoma State did, however, win more than 40 games and host regionals for the second straight season.
24. East Carolina (AAC)
Previous Ranking: No. 13
Overall: 47-19, 18-6 in American
Weekend Record: 12-2
NCAA Tournament: 2-2, eliminated in regionals
The Pirates got a difficult NCAA Tournament draw, as they were sent to Charlottesville as the No. 2 seed. They went 2-2, losing to Virginia in the championship game. ECU this season won its fourth straight American Athletic Conference title and exceeded 40 wins for the fifth straight season.
25. Dallas Baptist (C-USA)
Previous Ranking: No. 14
Overall: 47-16, 25-5 in CUSA
Weekend Record: 13-1
NCAA Tournament: 2-2, eliminated in regionals
DBU reached the Stillwater Regional final before falling to Oral Roberts. The Patriots still put together a special season, as they won Conference USA in their first season in the league and won a program record 47 games.
