Image credit: LSU celebrates its 2025 national championship. (Photo by Eddie Kelly/ProLook Photos)

LSU bookended the postseason the way it started—on top.

The Tigers, ranked No. 1 entering the NCAA Tournament, ripped through the postseason with a 10-1 record and claimed their eighth national title and second in three years. Their 5-3 win over Coastal Carolina in the College World Series finals cemented what many suspected: no team in the country had a higher gear.

The Tigers headline the final Baseball America Top 25 of the 2025 season, a ranking filled with first-time College World Series stories and powerful returns to prominence.

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1. LSU

Previous ranking: No. 1
Overall: 53-15, 19-11 in SEC
NCAA Tournament: 10-1, won College World Series

The best team in the country finished like it. LSU tore through the NCAA Tournament at 10-1 to capture its eighth national championship and second in three years. Head coach Jay Johnson joined elite company with his second title, becoming just the sixth coach since 1999 to win multiple championships and the only one to do so in the transfer portal era (since 2018). The Tigers peaked when it mattered, combining high-end talent with elite depth and relentless edge. From No. 1 entering the postseason to the final dogpile in Omaha, LSU left no doubt.

2. Coastal Carolina

Previous ranking: No. 8
Overall: 56-13, 26-4 in Sun Belt
NCAA Tournament: 8-2, College World Series runner-up

Coastal Carolina ripped off 26 straight wins—the longest streak ever to reach the College World Series finals—and came just two games short of a national title. The Chanticleers went 56-13 and dominated the Sun Belt at 26-4, showcasing elite balance, relentless belief and a pitching staff that posted numbers rivaled by few. First-year head coach Kevin Schnall led a program that played loose, fast and fearless all the way to Omaha. Coastal didn’t just return to national relevance, it nearly claimed a second crown. Even in defeat, this season will be remembered as one of the program’s most remarkable.

3. Arkansas

Previous ranking: No. 4
Overall: 47-15, 23-4 in AAC
NCAA Tournament: 7-2, reached College World Series

Arkansas came within inches of the national title series, undone by a trio of defensive miscues in a gut-wrenching College World Series semifinal against LSU. That heartbreak shouldn’t obscure the Razorbacks’ accomplishments. Head coach Dave Van Horn crafted one of his most complete teams, led by Golden Spikes winner Wehiwa Aloy and a relentless lineup that carried the team’s offense for most of the year. Steady pitching also defined a 50-win season that included a 20-10 mark in the SEC. Roster turnover looms, but Arkansas has the talent and culture to make another run.

4. Louisville

Previous ranking: NR
Overall: 42-24, 15-15 in ACC
NCAA Tournament: 7-3, reached College World Series

Back in Omaha for the first time since 2019, Louisville reminded everyone what its ceiling looks like. The Cardinals surged through the postseason behind a roster stacked with early-round draft talent and rediscovered the edge that defined their best teams under Dan McDonnell. Roster turnover is inevitable, but McDonnell has long proven he can reload with elite arms and athletic bats. After an up-and-down regular season, Louisville found its stride when it mattered most. The run to the College World Series wasn’t a fluke, it was a return to form.

5. Oregon State

Previous ranking: No. 11
Overall: 48-17-1
NCAA Tournament: 7-4, reached College World Series

Oregon State’s path back to Omaha was unconventional but no less impressive. The Beavers became the first Independent to reach the College World Series since 2004 Miami, leaning on a gritty, balanced roster and a coaching staff that pushed every right button. This marked their first Omaha trip since winning it all in 2018, and it may not be the last. With loads of talent expected to return in 2026, this feels more like the start of a run than a one-off. Corvallis is buzzing again, and for good reason.

6. UCLA

Previous ranking: No. 15
Overall: 48-18, 22-8 in Big Ten
NCAA Tournament: 6-2, reached College World Series

If there were an award for college baseball’s most remarkable turnaround, UCLA would win it outright. The Bruins jumped from 19 wins in 2024 to the College World Series in 2025, and they did it the hard way—without the portal. Head coach John Savage stuck with 37 homegrown players, nearly all high school recruits, and trusted that experience and continuity would win out. A more mature, physically developed roster found its identity and rode that cohesion all the way to Omaha. With much of the core set to return, UCLA won’t sneak up on anyone in 2026.

7. Arizona

Previous ranking: NR
Overall: 44-21, 18-12 in Big 12
NCAA Tournament: 5-3, reached College World Series

Arizona roared back into the national spotlight in 2025, charging to Omaha and reestablishing itself as a postseason force with its second post-COVID run to the College World Series. Head coach Chip Hale has the program humming with a roster that combined physicality, speed and just enough pitching to make noise deep into June. The draft and transfer portal will shape what’s next, but this staff has proven it can build a contender in the new-look Big 12.

8. Murray State

Previous ranking: NR
Overall: 44-17, 17-8 in Missouri Valley
NCAA Tournament: 5-4, reached College World Series

Murray State became college baseball’s Cinderella, capturing hearts with a gutsy, unforgettable run to Omaha. The Racers knocked off Georgia Tech and host Ole Miss in the Oxford Regional, then won back-to-back elimination games in the Durham Super to punch their first-ever ticket to the College World Series. They became just the fourth four-seed to reach Omaha in the super regional era, etching their name into tournament lore. Sustaining that magic won’t be easy, but head coach Dan Skirka’s new four-year extension gives the program a foundation to chase more history.

9. North Carolina

Previous ranking: No. 2
Overall: 46-15, 18-11 in ACC
NCAA Tournament: 4-3, eliminated in Chapel Hill super regional

North Carolina’s season ended short of Omaha, but calling it a disappointment would ignore the bigger picture. The Tar Heels reached their third super regional in four years—a mark few programs can match—and looked poised for more after a dominant Game 1 win over Arizona in the super regional round. The roster had the talent, but the breaks didn’t fall their way. Head coach Scott Forbes has built a consistent contender, and there’s no reason to think a return trip to Omaha isn’t in the cards for 2026.

10. Auburn

Previous ranking: No. 7
Overall: 41-20, 17-13 in SEC
NCAA Tournament: 3-2, eliminated in Auburn super regional

Auburn flipped the script in 2025, bouncing back from a dismal SEC season to reach the super regionals and reassert itself as a national factor. The Tigers were swept by eventual runner-up Coastal Carolina, but the progress was undeniable. Head coach Butch Thompson leaned on a gifted freshman class and will welcome another strong wave of transfers, giving Auburn staying power in the SEC gauntlet. This wasn’t a blip—it was a reawakening. With young stars already in place, the Tigers look built to make more noise in 2026 and beyond.

11. Florida State

Previous ranking: No. 9
Overall: 42-16, 17-10 in ACC
NCAA Tournament: 4-2, eliminated in Corvallis super regional

Florida State came painfully close to a second straight Omaha trip, falling one win short in the Corvallis super regional. Link Jarrett crafted a balanced, well-constructed roster that rarely wavered throughout the year. The Seminoles played with poise, power and polish, but simply ran into a red-hot Oregon State team. With several top contributors off to the pros, Jarrett faces a retooling challenge in 2026. Given his track record and developmental acumen, it’s a safe bet the Seminoles will be right back in the mix.

12. Tennessee

Previous ranking: No. 23
Overall: 46-19, 16-14 in SEC
NCAA Tournament: 3-3, eliminated in Fayetteville super regional

No team looked more loaded on paper than Tennessee, which rolled out future big leaguers at nearly every position. But the Vols sputtered late, dropping five straight series to close the season before falling in the Fayetteville super regional. The talent was undeniable, but the execution faded down the stretch. Still, reaching the final 16 in a “down year” speaks to the program’s elevated baseline. With another elite transfer class incoming, expect Tony Vitello’s group to reload and re-emerge as a serious Omaha threat in 2026.

13. West Virginia

Previous ranking: NR
Overall: 44-16, 19-9 in Big 12
NCAA Tournament: 3-2, eliminated in Baton Rouge super regional

West Virginia swept its way through the Clemson regional before being eliminated in Baton Rouge by the eventual national champions. The Mountaineers sandwiched their victory over Clemson with a pair of exciting one-run wins over Kentucky. Though West Virginia is still trying to break down the door to Omaha, it made a super regional for the second year in a row. Its 44 overall wins and 19 conference wins are both new single-season records.

14. Duke

Previous ranking: NR
Overall: 41-21, 17-13 in ACC
NCAA Tournament: 4-2, eliminated in Durham super regional

The Blue Devils ran the table in the Athens regional, going a perfect 3-0 with two wins over Oklahoma State and an impressive 6-3 triumph over No. 7 overall seed Georgia. Duke’s regional-clinching win was particularly exciting, as it scored three runs in the eighth to win by one run. The Blue Devils appeared on their way to their first College World Series appearance since 1961, but—after winning the first game of the super regional against Murray State—dropped the next two. After the season, head coach Chris Pollard left for the Virginia job. Former Wake Forest pitching coach Corey Muscara will lead the Blue Devils in 2026.

15. UTSA

Previous ranking: No. 20
Overall: 47-15, 23-4 in AAC
NCAA Tournament: 3-2, eliminated in Los Angeles super regional

UTSA entered the tournament as one of the more intriguing No. 2 seeds in the field and quickly showed why. Following a convincing 10-2 win over Kansas State, the Roadrunners beat No. 2 overall seed Texas twice in as many days en route to their first-ever regional title. Though they wound up getting swept by UCLA, 2025 was the best season in program history. In addition to its regional championship, UTSA’s 47 overall wins are a new single-season record. As a nice cherry on top, head coach Pat Hallmark recently inked a four-year contract extension which runs through the 2029 season.

16. Miami

Previous ranking: NR
Overall: 35-27, 15-14 in ACC
NCAA Tournament: 4-3, eliminated in Louisville super regional

Miami limped into the tournament following a run-rule loss to California in the ACC tournament, yet it made plenty of noise. The Hurricanes knocked off host Southern Miss 5-4 en route to their first regional title since 2016 before giving Louisville all it could handle. They took the Cardinals to an all-important third game before falling 3-2. Its season ended in painful fashion, but Miami has made the tournament in two of the last three years and has plenty of momentum to build off of as the 2026 season approaches.

17. Vanderbilt

Previous ranking: No. 10
Overall: 43-18, 19-11 in SEC (5-6 vs. Top 25)
NCAA Tournament: 1-2, eliminated in Nashville regional

Vanderbilt entered the tournament as the No. 1 overall seed, but lost on its home field in a stunning upset to fourth-seeded Wright State. The Commodores needed a comeback win to beat the Raiders to open the tournament, then lost to them two days later. Vanderbilt’s offense was snake-bitten all weekend and scored just 10 runs across three games. The early exit leaves a sour taste, but Vanderbilt this year captured its second SEC tournament title in the last three seasons and earned a plethora of quality victories.

18. Texas

Previous ranking: No. 5
Overall: 44-14, 22-8 in SEC
NCAA Tournament: 2-2, eliminated in Austin regional

After a tournament-opening win over Houston Christian, Texas dropped a pair of games to UTSA and failed to advance to a super regional. The Longhorns notched a convincing 15-8 win over Kansas State to advance to the regional final, but the Roadrunners scored five runs in the third inning and left no doubt. While Texas’ 2025 season came to a screeching halt, its first year under head coach Jim Schlossnagle was quite impressive. The Longhorns won the SEC regular season title in their first season in the conference after going 22-8 within the league–the third-most conference victories in program history.

19. Ole Miss

Previous ranking: No. 16
Overall: 43-21, 16-14 in SEC
NCAA Tournament: 3-2, eliminated in Oxford regional

Ole Miss rallied from a 9-6 loss to Murray State to open the tournament by winning three consecutive games to force a decisive regional title game. The Rebels trailed 12-3 in the bottom of the seventh, but they scored eight straight runs to cut Murray State’s lead to 12-11 heading into the ninth. However, their “Swayze magic” came up just short. It was a crushing end to a bounceback season for Ole Miss. The Rebels hosted a regional for the second time since 2019 and their 19 SEC wins were their most since 2009.

20. Georgia

Previous ranking: No. 3
Overall: 43-17, 18-12 in SEC
NCAA Tournament: 1-2, eliminated in Athens regional

Georgia hit the ground running in regional play and walloped Binghamton 20-4. However, the Bulldogs’ bats were held in check a day later against Duke before Oklahoma State scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth to eliminate Georgia on its own field. The Bulldogs have not made the College World Series since 2008, but its 43 wins were the second most in a single season since 2008 and the program is in fantastic hands under head coach Wes Johnson.

21. Southern Miss

Previous ranking: No. 17
Overall: 47-16, 24-6 Sun Belt
NCAA Tournament: 3-2, eliminated in Hattiesburg regional

Hattiesburg proved to be one of the tournament’s most exciting regionals. Southern Miss dropped its opening game 11-4 to fourth-seeded Columbia before earning a come-from-behind win over second-seeded Alabama to stave off elimination. The Golden Eagles proceeded to earn a pair of convincing victories to force an all-important regional title game, yet Miami came out on top. While a regional title would have clinched its third super regional appearance in the last four seasons, Southern Miss this year won 40-plus games for the ninth straight season and its 27 Sun Belt victories were the most in program history.

22. Oregon

Previous ranking: No. 6
Overall: 42-16, 22-8 in Big Ten
NCAA Tournament: 0-2, eliminated in Eugene regional

There’s no way around it: Oregon had one of the most disappointing showings of the tournament. After earning the No. 12 overall seed, the Ducks dropped consecutive games to Utah Valley and Cal Poly. To make matters worse, they blew a three-run seventh inning lead against Cal Poly. For as discouraging as its regional performance was, Oregon this season captured the Big Ten regular-season title in its first year as a member of the conference and its 42 wins were the most in a single season since 2014.

23. Florida

Previous ranking: No. 12
Overall: 39-22, 15-15 in SEC
NCAA Tournament: 1-2, eliminated in Conway regional

Florida entered the tournament with plenty of momentum, yet it was convincingly knocked off twice by East Carolina to seal its first non-Omaha season since 2022. Florida appeared to be dead in the water after an abysmal 1-11 start in SEC play, yet the Gators righted the ship and ended the season with six-straight conference series wins. Most notably, they took down both Arkansas and Texas. Remarkably, Florida has made the tournament in each of the last 17 seasons and will look to return to college baseball’s promised land in 2026.

24. Clemson

Previous ranking: No. 14
Overall: 45-18, 18-12 in ACC
NCAA Tournament: 1-2, eliminated in Clemson regional

Clemson opened its regional with seven unanswered runs to defeat USC-Upstate but followed by blowing a late lead against West Virginia and suffering a season-ending 16-4 loss to Kentucky. After not hosting a regional since 2018, the Tigers have now done so three straight years. Clemson also reached the ACC tournament title game for the second time in three seasons and recorded 21 conference wins, marking its third consecutive 20-win ACC campaign.

25. Georgia Tech

Previous ranking: No. 19
Overall: 41-19, 19-11 in ACC
NCAA Tournament: 1-2, eliminated in Oxford regional

Georgia Tech entered the tournament as a formidable No. 2 seed and delivered with a 9-2 win over a strong Western Kentucky team. But the Yellow Jackets squandered multi-run leads on back-to-back days against Murray State and Ole Miss to end their season. In legendary head coach Danny Hall’s final year, Georgia Tech captured its first ACC regular-season title since 2011 and topped 40 wins for just the second time in that span. The James Ramsey era begins in 2026.