College baseball Week 12: Top 25, best moments and what to watch
With two weeks left in conference play, college baseball teams are eager to make one last push before the conference tournaments roll around and prove they deserve a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
No new teams entered this week’s top 25 for the second time in a row, but there was still plenty of movement. Kansas entered the top 10 for the first time this season at No. 7 after another perfect 4-0 week, sweeping Arizona and beating Wichita State in a midweek matchup. Arkansas and Alabama were two other big risers this week, moving up five spots each.
Oklahoma and Nebraska fell significantly in the rankings, dropping nine spots to 24th and 25th, respectively. UCLA remained in the lead, with the rest of the top five remaining stable as well.
Here’s the entire top 25 as of May 4, plus our favorite moments and what we’re watching in the week ahead.
The best moments
This is exactly the type of game that excites us for regionals.
HOMER = STOLEN 😤#NCAABaseball x 🎥B1G+ / @UW_Baseball pic.twitter.com/LH8Fhf3szN
– NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) May 2, 2026
We’re all in on the Jayhawks right now. They look pretty tough to beat.
Rock chalk explosion 🚀
Josh Dykhoff with a 2-point HOMER to increase KU’s lead!#NCAABaseball x 🎥ESPN+ / @KUBaseball pic.twitter.com/XzdkYH8B9e
– NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) May 2, 2026
Player to watch
Dylan Volantis, RHP, Texas
Volantis was in his bag last weekend.
HAVE A NIGHT, DYLAN VOLANTIS 👏
6 FT
3 hours
0 ER
2 BB
12KTHE @TexasBaseball sophomore ranks No. 22 in 2027 college draft class 🔥
(🎥@TexasBaseball) pic.twitter.com/xsWInqI7oq
– Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) May 2, 2026
He might just be the best Friday night starter in all of college baseball. Even though ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel ranks him behind fellow Longhorn Ruger Riojas in his rankings of 2026 college aces, Volantis is really finding his stride when it matters most.
Series to watch
No. 13 Oregon at No. 1 UCLA
Game 1: 10 p.m. ET Friday
Game 2: 9:30 p.m. ET Saturday
Game 3: 3 p.m. ET Sunday
This could very well be a preview of the Big Ten Tournament championship as the league’s top teams will face off in Los Angeles. UCLA held on throughout the conference series, and the Bruins only lost four games all season and already won the regular season title. Oregon, however, could pose the Bruins’ toughest challenge yet and prepare them for the playoffs.
Top 25 updated
Here are the latest standings from D1baseball.com, along with information on each team’s next game.
All times ET.
1. UCLA Bruins
Previous rank: 1
Save: 43-4
Next game: at LMU, 9 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN+)
2. North Carolina Tar Heels
Previous rank: 2
Save: 37-9
Next game: vs. Winthrop, 6 p.m. Wednesday (ACC Network Extra)
3. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Previous rank: 3
Save: 39-8
Next game: vs. Duke, Friday at 7 p.m. (ACC Network Extra)
4. Texas Longhorns
Previous rank: 4
Save: 35-10
Next game: vs. UTSA, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
5. Georgia Bulldogs
Previous rank: 5
Save: 38-11
Next game: vs. LSU, 6 p.m. Friday (SEC Network)
6. Auburn Tigers
Previous rank: 8
Save: 32-14
Next game: at UAB, 7 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN+)
7. Kansas Jayhawks
Previous rank: 11
Save: 37-11
Next game: in Creighton, 7 p.m.
8. Coastal Carolina Chanticleers
Previous rank: 9
Save: 33-14
Next game: vs. Clemson, 6 p.m. (ESPN+)
9. Texas A&M Aggies
Previous rank: 7
Save: 35-10
Next game: vs. Prairie View, 7 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
10. Oregon State Beavers
Previous rank: 6
Save: 36-11
Next game: against Portland, 9 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN+)
11. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Previous rank: 10
Save: 36-12
Next game: vs. Nicholls, 7 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
12. Miss Golden Eagles of the South
Previous rank: 12
Save: 34-14
Next game: at James Madison, 6 p.m. Friday (ESPN+)
13. Oregon Ducks
Previous rank: 13
Save: 35-12
Next game: at UCLA, 10 p.m. Friday
14. Florida State Seminoles
Previous rank: 14
Save: 33-14
Next game: vs. Jacksonville, 6 p.m. Tuesday (ACC Network Extra)
15. West Virginia Mountaineers
Previous rank: 18
Save: 31-12
Next game: against Marshall, 6 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN+)
16. Arizona State Sun Devils
Previous rank: 19
Save: 33-15
Next game: vs. Oklahoma State, 9 p.m. Friday (ESPN2)
17. Arkansas Razorbacks
Previous rank: 22
Save: 32-17
Next game: vs. Oklahoma, 7 p.m. Friday (SEC Network+)
18. USC Trojans
Previous rank: 21
Save: 37-12
Next game: vs. Cal State Fullerton, 10 p.m. Tuesday
19. Alabama Crimson Tide
Previous rank: 24
Save: 32-16
Next game: at Troy, 7 p.m. Tuesday (ESPN+)
20. Ole Miss Rebels
Previous rank: 17
Save: 32-17
Next game: vs. Texas A&M, 7:30 p.m. Friday (SEC Network+)
21. Florida Gators
Previous rank: 25
Save: 31-17
Next game: vs. North Florida, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday (SEC Network+)
22. Boston College Eagles
Previous rank: 20
Save: 35-16
Next game: vs. NJIT, 4 p.m. Saturday (ACC Network Extra)
23. Virginia Cavaliers
Previous rank: 23
Save: 32-16
Next game: vs. Cal, 6 p.m. Friday (ACC Network Extra)
24. Oklahoma’s Earliest
Previous rank: 15
Save: 30-16
Next game: in Arkansas, 7 p.m. Friday (SEC Network+)
25. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Previous rank: 16
Save: 34-14
Next game: vs. Iowa, 7 p.m. Friday
