15. 2006 Oregon State (50-16). The Beavers won the Pac-10 Conference going 16-7 as Pat Casey was leading his team back to Omaha after a two and out performance in 2005. This team was led by terrific pitching and a variety of MLB Talent. Cole Gillespie, Michael Stutes, Darwin Barney, Tyler Graham, Eddie Kunz, and Joe Paterson all made the big leagues from this club. Being selected as the 14 seed they swept through both the regionals and supers with ease, poised and ready for Omaha. This team would be known for World Series resiliency as they would lose the first game and win four straight elimination games before losing the first game against a great North Carolina club. They then won the last two games in the championship series capping off six straight elimination game wins. This being Pat Casey’s first national championship and the amount of MLB talent on the roster sets this club in the middle. Not dominant but resilient.
14. 2005 Texas (56-16). This Longhorns team did not win the regular season Big 12 title (16-10) or the postseason title but rolled into the tournament as the 12 seed. They battled through both the regionals and supers with one loss in each bracket. Coach Augie Garrido was none too pleased and knew his team was much more capable. They were ranked the number one team in many polls for a large portion of the season and kicked late to win the title in Omaha defeating Florida in back-to-back games. Huston Street, Taylor Teagarden, and Drew Stubbs made up the MLB talent on this roster. While this Texas team was good late and won its second title in four years, the struggles near the end of their regular season land them here in the middle of our list.
13. 2021 Miss State (50-18). This team did not win the regular season or postseason SEC title going 20-10 in conference play. It was a tough year in the SEC with a ton of talented teams as Chris Lemonis sought to lead the Bulldogs to their first national title. Heading to the bracket as the 7 seed and hosting in Starkville, Mississippi State would cruise through to the supers with ease. There they would take 2 of 3 against a very good Notre Dame team, punching their ticket back to Omaha. Going 3-1 and defeating Texas twice set themselves up with a powerhouse showdown versus Vanderbilt in the championship series. Losing the first game in the best of 3 awakened an offensive juggernaut as they scored 13 runs in game two, followed by 9 runs in the final game giving the Bulldogs their first championship. MLB talent hasn’t come to fruition yet but Will Bednar, Tanner Allen, and Landon Sims have a chance to make an impact. This talented team fought hard and staved off elimination multiple times, landing them at 13 on our list.
12.1998 Southern California (49-17). The trojans had a strange season after being a perennial powerhouse, as this would be their last title (currently). Going 21-9 in Pac-10 play, they didn’t win the regular season title but still entered the tournament as the overall 4 seed. Playing well near the end of the season really pushed this team to a title performance. After losing a game in the regionals, they would actually lose their first game in Omaha to LSU who was looking for a 3-peat. Then the Trojans would defeat Florida and Mississippi State before beating the LSU Tigers in two straight sending them to a championship match up with Pac-10 Conference rival Arizona State. In a wild 21-14 victory, the Trojans and coach Mike Gillespie would take the title. MLB talent consisted of RHP Seth Etherton, LHP Jason Saenz, and 3B Morgan Ensberg. A good team playing hot but not the most talented team on our list. They land at 12.
11. 2000 LSU (52-17). This team won Skip Bertman’s 5th and final Championship for LSU baseball. It was a good year finishing second in SEC play with a 19-10 record but winning the conference tournament. South Carolina was the overall 1 seed and won the regular season title but that did not stop the 2 seed LSU Tigers from putting on a show. LSU would crush every team it faced in the regional and supers on its path to Omaha. In Omaha the train didn’t stop as they would defeat baseball blue bloods Texas, USC, Florida State, and eventually Stanford in the final without losing a single game, capping off a 13 game postseason winning streak. MLB Draft talent was LHP Brian Tallet, Catcher Brad Cresse, and Brad Hawpe. A big time team but not as much MLB talent is what holds this team down in our rankings.
10. 2017 Florida (52-19). The gators went
21-9 in SEC play while tying LSU for the regular season title. They would not win the SEC Postseason title and would enter Omaha as the 3 seed behind 1 seed Oregon State and 2 seed North Carolina. Losing a game in both the Regional and Supers, this team grinded its way back to Omaha. Once there, the pitching depth and overall talent on this club really came to life. On their side of the bracket they would defeat Louisville and struggle with a very good TCU team before beating them in a winner take all game to set up a best of 3 against LSU. They completed the sweep of LSU getting a terrific performance from Brady Singer and eventually hoisting the trophy. MLB Talent on this team consisted of Brady Singer, Alex Faedo, and Jackson Kowar. Overall an impressive regular season matched with timely pitching drove the Gators to this title but a lack of dominance on the offensive side has them here at number 10 on our list.
9. 2009 LSU (56-17). During a terrific regular season, the Tigers would go 20-10 in SEC play sharing a regular season title with Ole Miss and would go on to win the SEC tournament solidifying their spot as a National 3 Seed. Cruising through the regional and out slugging Rice in the Supers, this team seemed destined for a championship appearance in Omaha. The Tigers would defeat Virginia and then Arkansas twice before setting up a national championship with number 1 seed Texas. Taking two of three from a very talented Longhorn ballclub, Paul Mainieri and the Tigers would win the National Championship. MLB Talent consisted of a high draft class with OF Jared Mitchell, OF Slade Heathcott, IF DJ LeMahieu, and Austin Nola. A great regular season and terrific postseason play lands this very good Tigers team here at 9.
8. 1999 Miami (50-13). Miami went 50-13 while on their way to being the last overall number 1 seed to win the title. Miami was not in a conference, meaning every game on their schedule mattered; however, with a lack of conference play comes a lack of challenges along the way. Cruising into postseason play, this Hurricane team was hungry to prove a point. They would go undefeated in the Regionals and Supers proving they earned the 1 seed in Omaha. Once there, they did not disappoint going undefeated and beating Rice, Alabama twice, and eventually rival Florida State. MLB talent consisted of SS Bobby Hill, C Russ Jacobson, and RHP Alex Santos. While the lack of talent and no league to play in hurts their rankings on our list, being the last overall 1 seed to win a title has garnered them a spot a little higher than probably deserved.
7. 2011 South Carolina (55-14). Coming fresh off a title in the 2010 season, these Gamecocks and coach Ray Tanner had all the makings of a title team. They went 55-14 in the regular season and won the SEC regular season title splitting it with Vanderbilt and Florida. Going 1-2 in the SEC tournament did seem to hurt their seeding as they would be named the National 4 seed heading into the postseason. After feeling slighted by the committee, the Gamecocks decided to rattle off 10 consecutive wins on their way to back-to-back titles. They defeated both Virginia and Florida twice, being crowned Division 1’s baseball champions again. MLB Talent Christian Walker, Jackie Bradley jr, and Scott Wingo lead a very good team. It's hard not to mention possibly the best big game pitcher of my era in Michael Roth who was the difference for this South Carolina team. A very good team and back-to-back titles, it's tough to find weakness in this club, but SEC tournament play and splitting the regular season title has them squarely here at 7.
6. 2003 Rice (58-12). Coach Wayne Graham led Rice to a season that is a testament to what we love about college baseball. Rice posted a record of 25-5 in the WAC while winning the postseason title, however, due to playing in a weak conference, they were granted the National 5 seed heading into the tournament. While sweeping the regional and battling Houston in the Supers ultimately taking 2 of 3, this team seemed to run on pitching, defense, and grit heading to Omaha. They beat a very good Texas team twice before matching up with Stanford in the championship series taking 2 of 3 from the Cardinal to win the Title. MLB talent on this team was all pitching, namely David Aardsma, Jeff Neimann, and Phillip Humber. While Rice isn't a top 5 champion, they are a reminder that championships can be won, no matter which conference you hail from.
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