Florida, the 2017 national champion, opens the 2018 season ranked No. 1 in the Baseball America Top 25, powered by Louisville Slugger. Florida is the first defending national champion to open the following season ranked No. 1 since Texas did so in 2006.

The Gators return 18 letterwinners from the team that claimed the first national championship in program history. Among the returners are righthanders Brady Singer and Jackson Kowar, who both rank in the top 10 of Baseball America’s Top 200 draft prospects, as well as All-American closer Michael Byrne.

Florida tops the preseason rankings for the fourth time in eight years. It also entered the season ranked No. 1 in 2011, 2012 and 2016. The Gators reached the College World Series in each of those seasons. Only Texas (six times) and Stanford (five times) have topped the Preseason Top 25 more often.

Florida is one of eight teams from the Southeastern Conference to open the season in the Top 25, the most of any conference. Joining Florida in the top 10 are Arkansas (No. 4), Kentucky (No. 8) and Texas A&M (No. 10). Louisiana State, the 2017 CWS runner-up, opens the year at No. 17.

Oregon State, which was ranked No. 1 for 10 straight weeks in 2017, opens the year at No. 2. Florida State is ranked No. 3 and leads a quintet of teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference in the Top 25. Texas Tech rounds out the top five and matches its highest ever preseason ranking.

The staff of Baseball America determines the Top 25 rankings. Last year’s records do not include ties.

Team | '17 Record | Final '17 Rk.

1. Florida | 52-19 | 1

2. Oregon State | 56-6 | 3

3. FSU | 46-23 | 6

4. Arkansas | 45-19 | 19

5. Texas Tech | 45-17 | 12

6. UNC | 49-14 | 11

7. TCU | 50-18 | 3

8. Kentucky | 43-23 | 9

9. Stanford | 42-16 | 15

10. Texas A&M | 41-23 | 10

11. Cal State Fullerton | 39-24 | 7

12. Clemson | 42-21 | 23

13. UCLA | 30-27 | NR

14. Texas | 39-24 | 24

15. Virginia | 43-16 | 12

16. Mississippi | 32-25 | NR

17. LSU | 52-20 | 2

18. Vanderbilt | 36-25 | 18

19. Louisville | 53-12 | 5

20. Indiana | 34-24 | NR

21. Southern Miss | 50-16 | 16

22. UCF | 40-22 | NR

23. Mississippi State | 40-27 | 14

24. South Alabama | 40-21 | NR

25. St. John's | 42-13 | NR