Jac Caglianone of the Florida Gators runs to third base during a game against the Auburn Tigers at Condron Family Ballpark on April 01, 2023 in Gainesville, Florida. Caglianone is a two-way threat, throwing heat from the mound and clobbering home runs at the plate. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)
By Matthew Tallarini
World Baseball Network
The 2024 NCAA Division I baseball season will begin Friday, Feb. 16 with a slate of non-conference games.
The 2023 National Champion Louisiana State University Tigers will open up at home at Alex Box Stadium in Baton Rouge, La. at 3 p.m. EST on Feb. 16. LSU is ranked at No. 4 in the top 25 D1Baseball.com rankings.
The top 25 preseason rankings for D1Baseball.com were released on January 16.
Wake Forest University is ranked No. 1 in the country prior to the start of the 2024 season and will play Fordham University at home on Feb. 16 in Winston-Salem, N.C. at 5 p.m. EST at David F. Couch Ballpark.
The University of Florida is ranked No. 2, which was their final rank from last year and lost in the best-of-three championship series in Omaha to the Bayou Bengals in three games. Florida will open up the 2024 regular season against St. John’s University at home in Gainesville, Fla. at 6:30 p.m. EST on Feb. 16.
Texas Christian University is No. 5 in the country and appeared at the 2023 College World Series, playing in Bracket 1 and losing to the University of Florida 3-2. TCU will play Florida Gulf Coast University at home on Feb. 16 in Fort Worth, Texas.
Stanford University was not ranked in the top 25 preseason rankings despite appearing at the 2023 College World Series.
The University of Tennessee, ranked No. 9, played in Omaha and lost to their Southeastern Conference rival LSU on June 20 by a score of 5-0, resulting in their elimination. Tennessee will open the 2024 regular season against Texas Tech University at 8 p.m. EST on Feb. 16 at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
The University of Virginia is No. 14 in the preseason rankings prior to Feb. 16 and will play Hofstra University at home to start the 2024 season at 4 p.m. EST in Charlottesville, V.a.
Oral Roberts University is not ranked in the top 25 preseason rankings despite appearing in Omaha at the 2023 College World Series.
The 2024 NCAA Division I CWS will take place at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Neb. from June 14-24.
D1Baseball.com’s 2024 Preseason Ranking
| Rank | Team | 2023 Record | Final 2023 Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wake Forest | 54-12 | 3 | |
| 2 | Florida | 54-17 | 2 | |
| 3 | Arkansas | 43-18 | 16 | |
| 4 | LSU | 54-17 | 1 | |
| 5 | TCU | 44-24 | 5 | |
| 6 | Vanderbilt | 42-20 | 19 | |
| 7 | Oregon State | 41-20 | 23 | |
| 8 | Texas A&M | 38-27 | NR | |
| 9 | Tennessee | 44-22 | 7 | |
| 10 | Clemson | 44-19 | 18 | |
| 11 | East Carolina | 47-19 | 24 | |
| 12 | Duke | 39-24 | 15 | |
| 13 | NC State | 36-21 | NR | |
| 14 | Virginia | 50-15 | 6 | |
| 15 | North Carolina | 36-24 | NR | |
| 16 | Texas | 42-22 | 14 | |
| 17 | UC Santa Barbara | 35-20 | NR | |
| 18 | Coastal Carolina | 42-21 | 21 | |
| 19 | Alabama | 43-21 | 10 | |
| 20 | Iowa | 44-16 | NR | |
| 21 | Texas Tech | 41-23 | NR | |
| 22 | UCLA | 28-24-1 | NR | |
| 23 | Northeastern | 44-16 | NR | |
| 24 | Kansas State | 35-24 | NR | |
| 25 | South Carolina | 42-21 | 13 |