DALLAS (NCBWA) – The National Collegiate
Baseball Writers Association continues its tradition of
NCAA Division I polls for the 23rd year with its 2020 weekly surveys
and Vanderbilt tops preseason poll for 2020, followed by Louisville
at No. 2 and Texas Tech at No. 3.
Vanderbilt is the preseason favorite for the second-straight
season, and previously was the preseason No. 1 pick in 2015. The
Commodores return a talented squad as they look to defend their
2019 NCAA College World Series title.
Previous No. 1 entries on the preseason NCBWA rankings have been
LSU in the 1998, 2001 and 2009 polls, Southern California (1999),
Miami (Fla.) (2000), Stanford (2002), Texas (2003, 06, 10), Rice
(2004, 07), Cal State Fullerton (2005, 14), Arizona State (2008),
North Carolina (2009), TCU (2011, 17), Florida (2012, 18), Arkansas
(2013), and Vanderbilt (2015, 19).
Louisville was selected second as they bring to the table a talented
squad in 2020, followed by Texas Tech at No. 3 for the second-straight
season. The Red Raiders finished the 2019 season by advancing to
the College World Series for the fourth time in six years.
Georgia comes in a No. 4 while Miami rounds out the top five.
Overall, there are six SEC schools in the top 10, followed by
two ACC schools and one Big 12 and Pac-12 program apiece.
Miami is the biggest mover in the poll, going from No. 24 in
the final poll of 2019 to preseason No. 5. Both Arizona State and
Florida move into the top 10 at No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, after
just receiving votes in the 2019 poll.
Wake Forest and Oklahoma jump into the top 25 at No. 23 and No.
24, respectively, after not being represented in the final poll
of 2019.
The 2020 poll voters come from among 35 college baseball writers
and related media persons from throughout the nation. After a preseason
Top 35 listing, the remainder of the polls will feature a national
Top 30 beginning with the Feb. 17 NCBWA DI survey.
The current survey has representation by 10 different conferences
among the 295 baseball-playing schools in the 2019 NCAA Division
I ranks. For more information or to join the NCBWA, please go to
ncbwa.com.
2020 NCBWA DIVISION I PRESEASON POLL (FEB. 3) |
1. |
Vanderbilt |
SEC |
0-0 |
1 |
2. |
Louisville |
ACC |
0-0 |
3 |
3. |
Texas Tech |
Big 12 |
0-0 |
4 |
4. |
Georgia |
SEC |
0-0 |
16 |
5. |
Miami |
ACC |
0-0 |
24 |
6. |
Arkansas |
SEC |
0-0 |
7 |
7. |
Arizona State |
Pac-12 |
0-0 |
RV |
8. |
Florida |
SEC |
0-0 |
RV |
9. |
Mississippi State |
SEC |
0-0 |
5 |
10. |
Auburn |
SEC |
0-0 |
8 |
11. |
UCLA |
Pac-12 |
0-0 |
9 |
12. |
Michigan |
Big Ten |
0-0 |
2 |
13. |
LSU |
SEC |
0-0 |
15 |
14. |
Florida State |
ACC |
0-0 |
6 |
15. |
Duke |
ACC |
0-0 |
17 |
16. |
Stanford |
Pac-12 |
0-0 |
10 |
17. |
N.C. State |
ACC |
0-0 |
29 |
18. |
Oklahoma State |
Big 12 |
0-0 |
11 |
19. |
North Carolina |
ACC |
0-0 |
14 |
20. |
East Carolina |
American Athletic |
0-0 |
13 |
21. |
Texas A&M |
SEC |
0-0 |
20 |
22. |
Georgia Tech |
ACC |
0-0 |
18 |
23. |
Wake Forest |
ACC |
0-0 |
NR |
24. |
Oklahoma |
Big 12 |
0-0 |
NR |
25. |
Ole Miss |
SEC |
0-0 |
12 |
26. |
Arizona |
Pac-12 |
0-0 |
NR |
27. |
Dallas Baptist |
Missouri Valley |
0-0 |
28 |
28. |
TCU |
Big 12 |
0-0 |
RV |
29. |
Oregon State |
Pac-12 |
0-0 |
21 |
30. |
Texas |
Big 12 |
0-0 |
NR |
31. |
Southern Miss |
Conference USA |
0-0 |
RV |
32. |
Ohio State |
Big Ten |
0-0 |
NR |
33. |
Miami (Ohio) |
Mid-American |
0-0 |
NR |
34. |
UC Santa Barbara |
Big West |
0-0 |
22 |
35. |
West Virginia |
Big 12 |
0-0 |
19 |
Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically):
Alabama (0-0), Baylor (0-0), BYU (0-0), Cal State
Fullerton (0-0), Clemson (0-0), Coastal Carolina
(0-0), Connecticut (0-0), Creighton (0-0), Florida
Atlantic (0-0), Fresno State (0-0), Hawaii (0-0),
Indiana (0-0), Indiana State (0-0), Lafayette (0-0),
Louisiana (0-0), Minnesota (0-0), New Mexico State
(0-0), North Carolina A&T (0-0), Old Dominion
(0-0), Sam Houston State (0-0), San Diego State
(0-0), South Alabama (0-0), Southern (0-0), Tennessee
(0-0), UC Irvine (0-0), Virginia (0-0), Washington
(0-0). |
By conference: SEC 9, ACC 8, Big 12 6, Pac-12
5, American Athletic 1, Big Ten 2, Big West 1, Conference
USA 1, Mid-American 1, Missouri Valley 1. |
Previous rank
is from final 2019 poll |
|
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of
college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and
publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory,
newsletter updates and official votes in the Dick Howser Trophy,
Regional Players of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA
also sponsors Division I Players of the Week, the Stopper of the
Year, and publication and writing contests.
|