While D1Baseball looked the other way in their Preseason Top 25 rankings last week, Baseball America just validated the Ole Miss hype, slotting Mike Bianco’s squad at No. 16 in its Preseason Top 25 rankings released Monday.
The D!Baseball snub stung, but it would only be more motivation for the Rebels to remove that 'worst-to-first' chip on their shoulder from 2025.
Coming off a 48-win season in 2025, the Rebels should be charged up to remove the chip on their shoulder in 2026 after getting eliminated in the Oxford Regionals last season.
Bianco isn't short on talent supply either. The 23 returning veterans and 14 fresh faces reflect the core of urgency in his squad, while making him one of the deepest bullpens in the country.
Baseball America Preseason Top 25
1. UCLA
- Last Season: 48-18 (22-8 Big Ten)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 6
2. LSU
- Last Season: 53-15 (19-11 SEC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 1
3. Mississippi State
- Last Season: 36-23 (15-15 SEC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: Unranked
4. Georgia Tech
- Last Season: 41-19 (19-11 ACC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 25
5. Auburn
- Last Season: 41-20 (17-13 SEC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 10
6. Georgia
- Last Season: 43-17 (18-12 SEC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 20
7. North Carolina
- Last Season: 46-15 (18-11 ACC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 9
8. Texas
- Last Season: 44-14 (22-8 SEC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 18
9. TCU
- Last Season: 39-20 (19-11 Big 12)
- Final 2025 Ranking: Unranked
10. Arkansas
- Last Season: 50-15 (20-10 SEC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 3
11. Coastal Carolina
- Last Season: 56-14 (26-4 Sun Belt)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 2
12. Florida State
- Last Season: 42-16 (17-10 ACC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 11
13. Tennessee
- Last Season: 46-19 (16-14 SEC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 12
14. Virginia
- Last Season: 32-18 (16-11 ACC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: Unranked
15. Oregon State
- Last Season: 48-16-1
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 5
16. Ole Miss
- Last Season: 43-21 (16-14 SEC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 19
17. Vanderbilt
- Last Season: 43-18 (19-11 SEC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 17
18. Louisville
- Last Season: 42-24 (15-15 ACC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 4
19. Oklahoma
- Last Season: 38-22 (14-16 SEC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: Unranked
20. Clemson
- Last Season: 45-18 (18-12 ACC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 24
21. West Virginia
- Last Season: 44-16 (19-9 Big 12)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 13
22. Florida
- Last Season: 39-22 (15-15 SEC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 23
23. Southern Miss
- Last Season: 47-16 (24-6 Sun Belt)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 21
24. East Carolina
- Last Season: 35-27 (13-14 American)
- Final 2025 Ranking: Unranked
25. Miami (FL)
- Last Season: 35-27 (15-14 ACC)
- Final 2025 Ranking: No. 16