Ranking each SEC baseball team entering conference play
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BVM) – The SEC was already the best conference in college baseball and that gap widened with the additions of Oklahoma and Texas. Both programs are off to strong starts with a combined 27-2 record, yet they are in the middle of the pack in the conference as 12 of the SEC’s 16 teams are ranked, with four being in the top five.
This is how the conference stacks up as league play begins.
16. Missouri
The Tigers have had a poor start to the season with an 8-8 record and their schedule will only become significantly harder. Missouri has split four-game series against Evansville and Binghamton and it will head to Baton Rouge to play No.1-ranked LSU to kick off conference play. It could be a long season on the diamond for the Tigers.
15. Mississippi State
The Bulldogs are not a bad team, but they are ranked 15th due to how strong the SEC is. Mississippi State went 1-2 in the Astros Foundation College Classic and dropped two midweek games to two of the strongest mid-major teams in the country in Southern Miss and Troy. The Bulldogs are still 11-4 overall, led by sophomore third baseman Ace Reese and senior designated hitter Noah Sullivan. Freshman shortstop Dylan Cupp has also looked great and should be a building block for the program going forward.
14. Kentucky
The Wildcats are 12-2 after making their first College World Series appearance in 2024. Kentucky will be a pain once again for other SEC teams throughout 2025. Senior outfielder Cole Hage has a stunning 1.454 OPS in 61 plate appearances, but Friday-night starter Nic McCay has been the biggest surprise with a 0.42 ERA in 21 ⅓ innings. The righthander transferred in from North Dakota State in the offseason.
Nic McCay’s day is over. His final stat-line:
🔷 5.0 IP
🔷 2 H
🔷 0 ER
🔷 2 BB
🔷 4 K— Daniel Hager (@DanielHagerKSR) February 14, 2025
