DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association continues its tradition of NCAA Division I polls for the 21st year with its 2018 weekly surveys. For the second-straight week the Pac-12 holds down two of the top three spots, with No. 1 Oregon State and Stanford at No. 3. However, the SEC has six of the top 10 positions, led by No. 2 Florida.
Oregon State remains No. 1 after sweeping California to open up Pac-12 play last weekend. The Beavers are now 18-1 on the season.
The Gators stay put at No. 2 after going 3-1 with a midweek win over Florida State and a series win over South Carolina.
Stanford was idle last week due to finals and remain at No. 3 in the rankings, 14-2 on the season. The Cardinal opens up Pac-12 play this weekend against USC.
Arkansas and Ole Miss jump up into the top five from No. 9 and 8, respectively. The Razorbacks were an impressive 5-0 last week, with two midweek victories over Texas and a series sweep over last weeks No. 4-ranked team, Kentucky. Ole Miss was 4-1 last week, including a series win over Tennessee.
Florida State stayed put at No. 6 after a series win over Notre Dame on the weekend.
Texas A&M and Ole Miss each jumped up a spot, to No. 7 and No. 8, respectively, with each side going 5-0 last week.
Auburn and Vanderbilt moved into the top 10 at No. 7 and No. 8, respectively. Auburn went 5-1 last week, including a series victory over Texas A&M. The Commodores jump up to No. 8 after a series win on the road at Mississippi State.
The highest mover of the week was North Carolina State, who jumped up seven spots to No. 13 after going 5-0 last week, including a sweep of Clemson.
Newcomers into the rankings this week include Sam Houston State at No. 25, Wichita State at No. 28 and Coastal Carolina at No. 30.
The 2018 poll voters come from among 35 college baseball writers and related media persons from throughout the nation. After a preseason Top 35 listing, the remainder of the polls will feature a national Top 30 beginning with the Feb. 19 NCBWA DI survey.
The current survey has representation by 12 different conferences among the 299 baseball-playing schools in the 2018 NCAA Division I ranks. The rankings of 2017 had 13 different DI conferences rated at least one week. For more information or to join the NCBWA, please go to ncbwa.com.
Founded in 1962, the NCBWA is dedicated to the advancement of college baseball. Membership is open to writers, broadcasters and publicists of the sport. Members receive a membership card, directory, newsletter updates and official votes in the Dick Howser Trophy, Regional Players of the Year and NCBWA All-America voting. The NCBWA also sponsors Division I Players of the Week, the Stopper of the Year, and publication and writing contests.