What a nightmare week it has been for the former No. 2 team in the country, the LSU Tigers.
Last year’s Men’s College World Series winners got off to a pretty solid start to the season, but last week was definitely one to forget. Earlier in the week, LSU lost a home game to Northeastern 13-10, then suffered another loss on the road at UL-Lafayette, this time 7-2. With a home series against Sacramento State, it seemed like the Tigers were going to get the game back in order in Baton Rogue, and they did in the first game with a dominant 15-4 Mercy Rule win in seven innings. But disaster struck again when Sacramento State’s Cameron Sewell hit a grand slam in the eighth inning of Saturday’s contest, cementing the Hornets’ 5-4 win. The Hornets then won the final game of the series with a 6-1 victory. After Weeks 1-4, the Tigers dropped to No. 13 in this week’s rankings.
Outside of LSU, the Florida Gators suffered an even bigger drop, from No. 9 to No. 23, and the North Carolina Tar Heels fell from No. 8 to No. 15.
Two teams fell out of the rankings, the Miami Hurricanes and West Virginia Mountaineers, making room for the Virginia Cavaliers, who entered at No. 14 – the week’s biggest mover – and the USC Trojans at No. 25.
Here are the entire top 25 rankings from March 9, plus our favorite moments and what we’ll see in the week ahead.
Top moments
We had to include Sewell’s Grand Slam here. There’s nothing better than playing in one of the more hostile environments in all of college baseball, in addition to winning, of course.
Do you see that too?👀@SacStBaseball with a GRAND SLAM to extend its lead over LSU in the 8th!#NCAABaseball x 🎥 SECN+ / @11point7 pic.twitter.com/GpUwd1YhcC
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) March 7, 2026
Now let’s take a look at this super impressive throw from Kentucky’s Scott Campbell.
THAT’S A WORD, SCOTT CAMPBELL 😮💨🫨#NCAABaseball x 🎥 SECN+ / @UKBaseball
pic.twitter.com/cveujPSbeK
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) March 8, 2026
Player to keep an eye on
Daniel Jackson, C/OF, Georgia
We have some big hitters this year and this week’s new home run leader is Georgia’s Daniel Jackson. He’s already hit a total of 14 home runs this year – five of them just last week – and has been a key reason Georgia continues to climb in the rankings. With conference play increasing, how will he fare against SEC pitchers? We’ll just have to wait and see.
THAT’S A WORD, SCOTT CAMPBELL 😮💨🫨#NCAABaseball x 🎥 SECN+ / @UKBaseball
pic.twitter.com/cveujPSbeK
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) March 8, 2026
Series to watch
No. 3 Mississippi State at No. 5 Arkansas
Game 1:7 p.m. on Friday
Game 2: Saturday, 2 p.m
Game 3: 3 p.m. on Sunday
Conference play begins this weekend, and with multiple ranked teams competing, it was difficult to focus on just one with Clemson taking on Georgia Tech, Georgia hosting Tennessee and a midweek matchup between Florida and Florida State. But a top-five series between these two SEC heavyweights is hard to miss.
Although Mississippi State lost a close 7-6 game to Southern Miss last week, it responded with a series win against Lipscomb, but it wasn’t just any win. The Bulldogs scored 26 runs – yes, 26 – in the final game of the series and 43 runs throughout the weekend. Their clubs are hot right now and they should definitely take that momentum with them to Fayetteville. Meanwhile, Arkansas lost a weekend game against Stetson and expects to return to action on Monday for a fourth game against Stetson. The Razorbacks should certainly have plenty of time to prepare. And since this is a home series, the Razorbacks could have a slight advantage.
Updated Top 25
Here you will find the latest rankings from D1baseball.com as well as information about each team’s next game.
Always east.
1. UCLA Bruins
Previous rank: 1
Record: 13-2
Next game: vs. UC Irvine, Tuesday, 9 p.m
2. Texas Longhorns
Previous rank: 3
Record: 15-0
Next game: at Texas State, Tuesday, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
3. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Previous rank: 4
Record: 14-2
Next game: vs. Tulane, Tuesday, 7 p.m. (SEC Network+)
4. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Previous rank: 5
Record: 14-2
Next game: vs. West Georgia, Tuesday, 6 p.m. (ACC Network Extra)
5. Arkansas Razorbacks
Previous rank: 6
Record: 12-4
Next game: vs. Stetson, 1 p.m. on Monday (SEC Network+)
6. Auburn Tigers
Previous rank: 7
Record: 13-2
Next game: vs. UAB, Tuesday, 7 p.m. (SEC Network+)
7. Southern Miss Golden Eagles
Previous rank: 10
Record: 14-2
Next game: vs. Ole Miss, Tuesday, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
8. Georgia Bulldogs
Previous rank: 11
Record: 15-3
Next game: vs. Tennessee Volunteers, 6 p.m. on Friday (SEC Network+)
9. Oklahoma Sooners
Previous rank: 12
Record: 14-2
Next game: vs. UT Arlington, 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday (SEC Network+)
10. NC State Wolfpack
Previous rank: 13
Record: 14-2
Next game: vs. Elon, 3 p.m. on Tuesday (ACC Network Extra)
11. Clemson Tigers
Previous rank: 14
Record: 15-1
Next game: vs. Georgia Southern, 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday
12. Wake Forest Demon Deacons
Previous rank: 15
Record: 15-1
Next game: in Coastal Carolina, Tuesday, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
13. LSU Tigers
Previous rank: 2nd
Record: 12-5
Next game: vs. Creighton, 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday (SEC Network+)
14. Virginia Cavaliers
Previous rank: NO
Record: 13-3
Next game: vs. William & Mary, Tuesday, 4 p.m. (ACC Network Extra)
15. North Carolina Tar Heels
Previous rank: 8
Record: 13-3-1
Next game: vs. Bucknell, 4 p.m. on Tuesday (ACC Network Extra)
16. Chanticleers on the Carolina Coast
Previous rank: 16
Record: 9-6
Next game: vs. Wake Forest, Tuesday, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
17. TCU Horned Frogs
Previous rank: 17
Record: 9-6
Next game: vs. Kansas, Tuesday, 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
18. Oregon State Beavers
Previous rank: 18
Record: 10-4
Next game: against Xavier, 8:35 p.m. on Monday
19. Tennessee Volunteers
Previous rank: 19
Record: 12-4
Next game: vs. Tennessee Tech, 6 p.m. on Tuesday (SEC Network+)
20. Florida State Seminoles
Previous rank: 20
Record: 13-2
Next game: in Florida, Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. (SEC Network+)
21. Kentucky Wildcats
Previous rank: 21
Record: 14-2
Next game: vs. Ball State, 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday (SEC Network+)
22. Texas A&M Aggies
Previous rank: 22nd
Record: 14-1
Next game: vs. SFA, Tuesday, 7 p.m. (SEC Network+)
23. Florida Gators
Previous rank: 9
Record: 14-3
Next game: vs. Florida State, 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday (SEC Network+)
24. UTSA Roadrunners
Previous rank: 25
Record: 13-2
Next game: at Texas Tech, 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday (ESPN+)
25. USC Trojans
Previous rank: NO
Record: 15-0
Next game: vs. Long Beach State, Tuesday, 9 p.m
