The 12 Best College Baseball Teams Ranked

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Collegiate baseball has existed for over a century, allowing fans to watch their alma mater and favorite schools. Which programs and seasons stand out? From the late 1940s to today, townball spectators have witnessed elite squads. Here’s a rundown of the best college baseball teams, programs and players of all time. 

The Best College Baseball Teams of All Time 

What determines the best squads ever to compete? It’s a combination of top baseball prospects and sheer domination. While some couldn’t complete their championship run, they still deserve top honors. Here are the 12 most outstanding college teams to step on the diamond.

12. 2016 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers

Cinderella stories are more famous in the NCAA basketball tournaments, with Florida Gulf Coast and George Mason stealing hearts. However, Coastal Carolina did the unthinkable in 2016 by running the table. The Chanticleers were in their last year of the Big South Conference before moving to the Sun Belt Conference, and boy, did they make it count. 

Gary Gilmore led Coastal Carolina to 55 wins and an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.  The Chanticleers took out host North Carolina State before facing the juggernaut, LSU. You might think the Tigers would handle business, but Coastal shocked baseball fans by dominating the Super Regional. Afterward, they conquered Florida, TCU and Arizona to claim the championship. 

11. 1978 USC Trojans

1978 was a great year to be a USC student due to the school’s athletic success. While the football championship was disputed, the baseball title was unquestioned. Rod Dedeaux capitalized on his 37th season as the Trojans’ head coach and compiled a 54-9 record. It may have been his last, but it was arguably the best year. 

The 1978 USC team started the season with a 7-4 record, which wasn’t good enough for Dedeaux’s standards. Two losses came against Arizona State, whom the Trojans later faced in the College World Series. However, they went on an incredible run and never missed a beat in the postseason. USC outscored its opponents 38-13 before holding up the trophy. 

10. 2024 Tennessee Volunteers

Being the No. 1 overall seed should be a blessing, but it might be a curse. Only twice in tournament history has the top dog won it all, but the 2024 Tennessee Volunteers proved it can happen. The club from Knoxville won 60 regular-season games before dominating the SEC and NCAA tournaments. 

It took Tennessee a while to reach the Mount Everest of NCAA baseball, but they made it happen with electrifying hitting. Five players had at least 20 home runs during the season, which would make Ted Williams and Willie Mays proud of their efforts. The Volunteers faced stiff competition from North Carolina and Texas A&M, but they stood tall as the champs.  

9. 2018 Oregon State Beavers

Oregon State faced heartbreak in the 2017 College World Series after losing two games to LSU. However, the Beavers toughened up for a revenge tour in 2018. The Pac-12 team remained near the top of the college baseball rankings all season and cruised to the NCAA Tournament. Despite falling short of a conference title, they were ready for takeoff. 

The Regional and Super Regional went smoothly before dropping game one of the championship series to Arkansas. However, Kevin Abel’s excellent pitching won the next two games and a big trophy for the Corvallis school. Later that year, the Beavers sent excellent baseball hitters like Steven Kwan to the MLB. 

8. 1977 Arizona State Sun Devils

The best college baseball teams of 1977 weren’t always accessible on TV — instead, you had to watch them yourself. However, the lack of visibility doesn’t discount the 1977 Arizona State squad. The Sun Devils were by far the best team in the Western Athletic Conference and won a staggering 57 games that season! 

Jim Brock led a treasure trove of talent through the postseason and only lost one game en route to the championship. The star of the show was Bob Horner, who won the Most Outstanding Player award and First Team All-American honors. However, it was also stacked with Mike Henderson, Jamie Allen, Brandt Humphry and Chris Nyman. 

7. 1991 LSU Tigers

LSU baseball was dormant for much of its history until the 1980s. Skip Bertman’s arrival revolutionized the program and provided the energy it needed. By 1991, the Tigers were ready to make a statement to the sports world. This year’s squad defeated Wichita State University to win the school’s first national championship.

Bertman’s team had some excellent baserunners, but his coaching put the roster over the top. Fans may remember the 1982 College World Series when his Miami Hurricanes pulled off an illusionary trick play. LSU lost the 1991 SEC Tournament but got its revenge in the postseason. In the final round, the Tigers beat the Gators twice by a 27-9 margin. 

6. 1997 LSU Tigers

Before the 1997 season started, LSU had become a juggernaut. The Tigers had won the national title three times and wanted a fourth trophy to add to their collection. Thanks to the talent, the team achieved its dreams and more. LSU won 57 games in 1997 and became a repeat SEC champion. A lone blemish in the postseason didn’t derail the title efforts. 

The 1997 LSU squad was special because of its hitting. Home runs can make a player one of the best in any sport, but the Tigers took it to a new level. Bertman’s team hit a ball over the wall in all 70 games, setting a record some think is unbreakable. LSU finished the year with 188 home runs, easily defeating BYU’s 161 mark. 

5. 1999 Miami Hurricanes

The 1999 Miami Hurricanes are the only squad to break the No. 1 curse. You don’t often see independent teams win it all, but the Coral Gables crew was among the decade’s top baseball colleges. That season, Miami took down highly ranked competitors like Texas, Florida and Florida State. 

Once they reached the postseason, the Hurricanes didn’t miss a beat. Miami won all nine games and sent great teams like Rice and Alabama packing. The championship game was a close rematch against their archrival Seminoles, but they finished the job. None of the Hurricanes had stellar pro careers but were kings of the hill in 1999. 

4. 2019 Vanderbilt Commodores 

If you looked at baseball scores from the early 2019 season, you might’ve worried about Vanderbilt. However, the Commodores turned on the heat once May and June arrived, and they showed out in the championship series. While Michigan took game one, Vanderbilt exacted revenge with excellent defensive performances to win the title. 

The 2019 Vanderbilt offense was special because of JJ Bleday’s home runs and Austin Martin’s superb batting average. Ethan Paul, Philip Clarke and Stephen Scott ensured the Commodores had the offensive firepower to take over games. Vandy didn’t earn a top seed, but it told the country why it was the best college baseball team that season. 

3. 1989 Wichita State Shockers  

Wichita State came onto the scene in the 1980s due to head coach Gene Stephenson. By the decade’s end, they climbed to the baseball mountaintop in 1989. The Shockers won an incredible 68 games that season and only lost 16 matches. A few slip-ups in the Regional and World Series rounds didn’t stop them from winning the whole thing. 

The team’s highly touted players included Eric Wedge, the Mountain Valley Conference’s Player of the Year in 1989. He played for four years in the pros before becoming a manager for some terrific Cleveland and Seattle squads. Other award-winning Shockers included Jim Audley, Greg Brummett and Jim Newlin. 

2. 1995 Cal State Fullerton Titans

Some smaller schools have one sport they’re really good at. For Cal State Fullerton, there’s no doubt it’s baseball. The 1995 team was beyond exceptional, as it dominated the NCAA Tournament without a single loss. Once the Titans made the College World Series, they won their last three games by a 33-6 margin. 

USC never stood a chance in the championship, did they? 1995 was Fullerton’s third NCAA championship and certainly not the last. This squad stands out because of the nine players selected in that year’s MLB Draft. While not all panned out with terrific careers, it’s a testament to the squad’s elite baseball prospects. 

1. 2023 LSU Tigers

Remember when LSU had football studs like Justin Jefferson, Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow on the same team? Imagine that level of talent on the baseball diamond. The 2023 Tigers topped the AP college rankings all season, and for good reason. To say this roster was stacked would be an understatement. 

He, Dylan Crews and Tommy White were consistent all season and earned First Team All-SEC honors. Skenes and Crews made history in the 2023 MLB Draft by being the first college teammates to be back-to-back picks. However, it wasn’t just the talent. This LSU squad had exciting moments, like a blowout win over Florida in the College World Series. 

The NCAA Baseball Teams Deserving an Honorable Mention

The best college baseball teams would be fascinating in a round-robin tournament. So, which squads from the past could give them a run for their money? Here are a few honorable mentions from NCAA history:

• 1972 Arizona State Sun Devils: History has looked kindly upon the 1972 Sun Devils. This team compiled a 64-6 record and featured a slew of aces like Craig Swan. However, its final two losses came against the USC Trojans in the championship series. 
• 1983 Texas Longhorns: Roger Clemens highlighted the champs, though Jeff Hearron played like Ivan Rodriguez and made the All-Tournament Team. The 1983 Texas Longhorns had just one loss in the postseason and posted a perfect College World Series outing. 
• 1986 Arizona Wildcats: The rivaling Sun Devils get plenty of attention, but the 1986 Arizona Wildcats shone in the postseason. This crew dominated the NCAA Central Regional before polishing off their title run with a 10-2 win over Florida State. 
• 2014 Vanderbilt Commodores: Vanderbilt had an incredible 2013 season before flaming out in the Super Regional. However, the Commodores made up for it in 2014 with a championship series win over top-ranked Virginia. 
• 2022 Tennessee Volunteers: Tennessee had nearly everything going for them in the 2022 season. A 49-7 regular season put them atop all the college baseball rankings. However, the orange and white jerseys sputtered in the Knoxville regional and fell to Notre Dame. 

The Best Baseball Colleges for Producing Pro Prospects

Winning an NCAA championship in any sport is difficult because of the postseason unknowns. Some teams like Florida State and Texas A&M consistently make the NCAA Tournament, but they’ve yet to win it all. The fans likely don’t need a reminder of the heartbreak, but it’s true. However, you may have to ignore their college baseball ranking and focus on the talent they produce. 

Here are the top baseball colleges for producing MLB players:

• Stanford: The Cardinal have won a pair of championships, yet they’re famous for their MLB talent. Stanford University has sent over 100 players to the big leagues, including Mike Mussina and Bob Boone. 
• Michigan: Michigan hasn’t won a title since 1962, but its professional talent speaks for itself. The Maize and Blue has three legendary players in the Professional Baseball Hall of Fame. Barry Larkin, George Sisler and Charles Gehringer make the Wolverine faithful proud. 
• Arizona State: The Sun Devils may have the best mix of postseason accolades and professional talent. Names like Barry Bonds, Dustin Pedroia and Bob Horner could make Arizona State the best all-time college baseball team, especially by home runs. 
• LSU: Louisiana State didn’t contribute to the early days of pro baseball, but you can’t ignore its more recent contributions. The Tigers have sent household names like Skenes, Alex Bregman and DJ LeMahieu. 
• Vanderbilt: Pro athletes from Vanderbilt don’t happen often in football, but baseball is a different story. The Commodores have a knack for townball talent, producing stars like Walker Buehler and Dansby Swanson. 

Remembering the Best College Baseball Teams of All Time

College sports are a time-honored tradition dating back to the 19th century. Playing at a university isn’t required before heading to the MLB, yet guys like Buster Posey and Robin Ventura spent time on the collegiate circuit. If you’re lucky, your NCAA baseball team goes on a fantastic run and makes history like the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers did.