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. Polls will be circulated from Feb. 19-June 29 (weekly through June 5) following the 72nd annual NCAA World Series in Omaha, Nebraska, at TD Ameritrade Park.
Oregon State is No. 1 in the final poll of 2018 for the fourth-straight poll after winning the College World Series, coming back from 0-1 in the title series against Arkansas to claim its third-ever College World Series title. The Beavers won six-straight elimination games in Omaha to clinch the title.
Teams ranked No. 1 this year have been Florida (preseason-March 5, April 2-16, May 14), Oregon State (March 12-26, May 21-present) and Stanford (April 23-May 7).
Arkansas finished second in the final poll of the season after an outstanding season, coming up just short in the College World Series final to Oregon State.
The biggest riser in the final poll was Mississippi State, who jumped up 12 spots from No. 16 to No. 4 with their CWS run.
Washington also made a big leap as they advanced to the CWS for the first time in program history. The Huskies improved nine spots, sitting at No. 8 in the final poll.
Texas A&M and Indiana jumped into the rankings after receiving votes in the previous poll. The Aggies and Hoosiers sit at No. 28 and No. 29, respectively.
The 2018 poll voters come from among 35 college baseball writers and related media persons from throughout the nation.
The current survey has representation by 15 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. The NCBWA record is 22 different conferences represented in 2012.
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.