Much has changed since last season. This time last year, it was evident the State of Texas wouldn't end up with a host site in the NCAA postseason. The state never got that host site, Texas, Texas Tech, Houston and TCU all missed the postseason, and even Texas A&M narrowly made it into the field of 64. Things have changed for the better this season, and TCU and Texas Tech are the latest Lone Star State programs to enter the Perfect Game College Top 25 rankings.
The Horned Frogs have been red-hot the past few weeks, especially on the mound, allowing just three runs in the last six weekend contests, three of those contests on the road against Texas. TCU entered this week's rankings at No. 22, while head coach Tim Tadlock continues his amazing resurgence of Texas Tech's program, moving in this week at No. 23 with a fantastic overall record and good conference record. Meanwhile, despite a home series loss to Oklahoma State over the weekend, Texas remains ranked, dropping from No. 11 to No. 18.
While the surge in Texas is impressive, top-ranked Virginia isn't the only program making a lot of noise in its state. The Cavaliers remain atop the rankings after taking two of three on the road from Florida State, while Liberty has emerged as a very legitimate option for an NCAA Regional host with a strong, consistent, 35-10 overall record. The Flames entered the rankings at No. 24 this week after going 4-1 last week.
Elsewhere in the rankings, Oregon State moved closer to the top spot, vaulting from No. 5 to No. 3 after a home series sweep over rival Oregon, while Florida moved from No. 9 to No. 4 after taking care of business in yet another SEC series. Meanwhile, LSU moves into the top five after a home series win over Tennessee, and both Ole Miss (15 to 11) and Miami (16 to 12) benefitted from impressive sweeps over the weekend, the Rebels sweeping Kentucky on the road, and the Hurricanes, Clemson, on the road.
Indiana and Oklahoma State continue to the climb the rankings, too. The Hoosiers have been tremendous in conference play and consistency is paying off with a move from No. 24 to No. 15, while the Cowboys went 2-2 last week, but vaulted from No. 21 to No. 17 after taking a road series from Texas.
The Perfect Game College Top 25 rankings are released every Monday throughout the season.
COLLEGE CHAT: Weekly chat transcript w/ Kendall Rogers
| 1 |
1 |
Virginia |
37-8 |
4-1 |
| 2 |
2 |
Louisiana-Lafayette |
39-6 |
3-1 |
| 3 |
5 |
Oregon State |
31-8 |
4-1 |
| 4 |
9 |
Florida |
30-15 |
3-2 |
| 5 |
6 |
Louisiana State |
33-11 |
3-1 |
| 6 |
4 |
Florida State |
33-11 |
3-2 |
| 7 |
7 |
Washington |
29-10 |
2-2 |
| 8 |
10 |
South Carolina |
34-11 |
4-1 |
| 9 |
3 |
Cal Poly |
36-7 |
2-2 |
| 10 |
12 |
Louisville |
33-11 |
5-0 |
| 11 |
15 |
Mississippi |
33-12 |
3-1 |
| 12 |
16 |
Miami |
32-13 |
5-0 |
| 13 |
13 |
Houston |
31-12 |
2-2 |
| 14 |
8 |
Alabama |
29-15 |
1-3 |
| 15 |
24 |
Indiana |
28-12 |
3-1 |
| 16 |
17 |
Rice |
31-15 |
2-2 |
| 17 |
21 |
Oklahoma State |
31-13 |
2-2 |
| 18 |
11 |
Texas |
32-13 |
2-2 |
| 19 |
19 |
UC Santa Barbara |
26-11 |
2-1 |
| 20 |
22 |
Vanderbilt |
33-12 |
4-0 |
| 21 |
14 |
Oregon |
31-13 |
0-3 |
| 22 |
NR |
Texas Christian |
30-13 |
4-0 |
| 23 |
NR |
Texas Tech |
35-13 |
3-2 |
| 24 |
NR |
Liberty |
35-10 |
4-1 |
| 25 |
25 |
Pepperdine |
30-9 |
0-0 |
Dropped out: Kentucky (18), Mississippi State (20), Clemson (23)