SEC baseball power rankings: How conference race shapes up in final week (2024)

With just one week to go in the SEC baseball season, things have begun to come into focus for the conference title race.

Kentucky leads the standings by a game with 20 wins, and Tennessee and Arkansas are each a game behind at 19. Should there end up being a tie, all of the involved teams would share the conference title but tiebreakers would determine the top overall seed in the SEC tournament, which begins May 21.

Here's how the SEC shapes out entering final week:

All rankings, records and stats as of games May 12

1. Kentucky

Although both Kentucky and Tennessee won their series this weekend, the Wildcats get the nod in the top spot by virtue of leading the SEC by one game. They are in the drivers' seat for the outright title with both Tennessee and Arkansas a game behind.

Record: 37-11 (20-7 SEC)

Last week: 3

2. Tennessee

Tennessee was shut out for the first time this season in the series finale against Vanderbilt. The Vols will need to win one more game against South Carolina than Kentucky wins over the Commodores to clinch the conference title.

Record: 42-10 (19-8)

Last week: 1

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3. Arkansas

Like Tennessee, Arkansas is undefeated in home series this season. The Razorbacks can still win the SEC, but likely will need to get a series victory over Texas A&M on the road.

Record: 42-10 (19-8)

4. Texas A&M

Texas A&M has largely fallen out of the SEC race after losing back-to-back series. The Aggies still have a fearsome offense and one of the league's best bullpens, but there are some questions about Texas A&M's starting rotation.

Record: 42-10 (17-10)

Last week: 2

5. Mississippi State

Despite a blown lead in the rubber match against Arkansas, Mississippi State retains its spot. The Bulldogs have excellent pitching, but their offense is very top-heavy.

Record: 33-18 (15-12)

Last week: 5

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6. Georgia

Georgia is one of the biggest late-season surgers in the SEC with back-to-back series sweeps, including a road sweep over South Carolina. The Bulldogs are one of only two teams to sweep a road SEC series this season. Kentucky is the other.

Record: 38-12 (16-11)

Last week: 7

7. South Carolina

South Carolina torched its hosting chances by getting swept at home by Georgia. The Gameco*cks have the necessary star power but have been far too inconsistent.

Record: 33-18 (13-14)

Last week: 6

8. Alabama

Alabama has two of the best high-end series wins in the league (Tennessee and Arkansas) but the Crimson Tide are still not guaranteed a postseason spot. Alabama has not swept a series this season and has struggled to win road games, but one victory at Auburn should lock up a regional.

Record: 32-19 (12-15)

Last week: 9

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9. Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt finally stopped its seven-game SEC losing streak with a victory in the series finale over Tennessee, but the skid dropped the Commodores from the hosting bubble to the NCAA tournament bubble. Vanderbilt, which is 2-10 on the road in conference, needs at least one win at Kentucky.

Record: 34-18 (12-15)

Last week: 8

10. Ole Miss

Ole Miss has surged late, winning back-to-back series over Auburn and Texas A&M. A third series win over LSU could land the Rebels in the postseason, but they'll have to do it at Alex Box Stadium.

Record: 27-24 (11-16)

Last week: 12

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11. Florida

Florida faces a road series at Georgia this weekend. Win that, and the Gators could well make the NCAA tournament. Lose, and Florida may not even be eligible for an at-large bid due to being under .500.

Record: 26-25 (11-16)

Last week: 10

12. LSU

LSU's NCAA tournament hopes are hanging on by a thread. The Tigers will likely need to sweep Ole Miss in what is almost certainly a postseason elimination series.

Record: 33-20 (10-17)

Last week: 11

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13. Missouri

In a baseball oddity, Missouri has eight SEC wins and seven of those were by one run. The Tigers are on the brink of elimination from the SEC tournament; they would need to sweep Mississippi State and have LSU get swept.

Record: 22-30 (8-19)

Last week: 13

14. Auburn

Auburn avoided history with its series win over Missouri: No SEC team has ever lost 10 SEC series, nor has any team ever lost 25 SEC games. The Tigers won't make the postseason, but they're now clear of both thresholds.

Record: 25-25 (6-21)

Last week: 14

Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her atagerson@gannett.comor on Twitter@aria_gerson.