DALLAS (NCBWA) The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association continues its tradition of NCAA Division I polls for the 22nd year with its 2019 weekly surveys and this week UCLA is the unanimous No. 1 selection and remains in the top spot for the eighth-straight week.
UCLA remains No. 1 after going 3-1 last week, including a series win at then-No. 18 ASU. Vandy remains at No. 2 after a 4-0 week with a sweep of South Carolina. Stanford rounds out the top three after going 3-1 last week.
Louisville and Arkansas each jump up one spot this week and round out the top five.
Georgia Tech is the only newcomer to the top 10 this week, moving up to No. 10 from No. 12 after a series sweep of Western Carolina.
Overall, there are four SEC schools, two Pac-12 programs, two ACC programs and one school apiece from the Big 12 and American Athletic in the top 10.
The highest riser in this week's poll is Oklahoma State, who jumped up 10 spots from No, 30 to No. 20 after a sweep of then-No. 4 Oregon State on the road. Missouri is also rising fast, jumping up seven spots to No. 23 after going 3-1 last week and 7-3 in its last 10. Illinois rounds out the highest risers, cracking the top 30 at No. 28 after also going 7-3 in its last 10 and 3-1 last week with a series win over Indiana.
The 2019 poll voters come from among 35 college baseball writers and related media persons from throughout the nation. After a preseason Top 40 listing, the remainder of the polls feature a national Top 30.
This week's current survey has representation by eight different conferences among the 299 baseball-playing schools in the 2019 NCAA Division I ranks. The rankings of 2018 had 15 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.