The SEC has owned the diamond in recent years, winning five straight College World Series titles. As the 2025 postseason approaches, three powerhouse programs are leading the charge for a potential sixth.
SEC Seeks Sixth Straight College World Series
The University of Florida just won the NCAA men’s basketball championship, grabbing national headlines. Now, the focus shifts to baseball. In like manner, three SEC teams boast the highest odds of hoisting the championship trophy.
With six teams residing in the top ten, the probability remains in their favor. Then again, from the outside, critics cite the fact the conference lures top athletic programs to their ranks. Over time, that benefited the 16 schools in regard to national acclaim in a myriad of sports.
Tennessee
The defending national championship picked right up where they left off a year ago. Tony Vitello’s team looks even better than a year ago. Whereas, in 2024, you’d see a few moments of sustained vulnerability, the 2025 Volunteers do not have that issue in the slightest.
On offense, Tennessee displays patience and understanding of pitch selection and situational awareness.
Their .441 on-base percentage means that they will not swing at poor pitches. Instead, the offense frustrates pitchers. As a result, pitchers get frustrated and will make mistakes deposited over the wall.
Despite the MLB Draft around the corner, infielder Andrew Fischer leads the team with 13 home runs. Tennessee’s 2025 regular season litmus test arrives from April 25-27th, when they venture out to Baton Rouge to face LSU.
LSU
Speaking of the Bayou Bengals, once again they look like a title contender. The schedule maker did the Tigers zero favors with season-ending series against Tennessee, Auburn (this weekend) and Ole Miss.
Despite leading the conference in team batting average (.345) and on-base percentage (.468), the team doesn’t rely on the long ball.
In fact, the program ranks tied for sixth (37), 21 dingers behind conference leader Georgia. Junior first baseman Jared Jones paces the lead with a .387 average.
The winningest team in SEC history from a numerical and championship standpoint.
Arkansas
The Razorbacks have lost three games the entire season. Currently, Arkansas is one of the tougher outs in the SEC.
Batters in the regular lineup reach base at a 40 percent clip. Moreover, head coach Dave Van Horn preaches an attacking approach that permeates the rest of his squad.
Granted, they do not boast the baseball pedigree of either Tennessee or LSU, but the team doesn’t sweat any disrespect.
This weekend Van Horn faces friend and colleague Wes Johnson, now the Georgia head coach. Johnson coached at UA alongside Van Horn.
The current Arkansas head baseball coach discussed his former co-worker with the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
“It was really hard for him to leave Arkansas,” Van Horn said. “He was really emotional with me. … It was almost like he had to take the Twins job, and he’ll probably tell you that. And you know, when he was with the Twins toward the end, he made a few calls to me about a few things, but we’ll keep that between Wes and I.”
Overview
The SEC will never be just a three-team race for baseball supremacy. Like just about every single sport in the conference, the wide-open nature will carry on to the diamond.
Now, we all know that Omaha, in the late spring, became an SEC vacation spot. This year, the view doesn’t really change.
However, many think Arkansas earned a spot as the quietest nationally known story in all of Division 1 college baseball.
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In 2018, the Razorbacks reached the championship set of the CWS. While they did not bring the trophy back to Fayetteville, they made their presence felt again.
However, with that taste of elite success, pretty much goes for all three, just reaching the College World Series isn’t just the goal — it’s title or bust.
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