By R.L. Bynum
After falling one win short of a second consecutive College World Series appearance, reigning ACC champion North Carolina is No. 11 in the preseason D1 Baseball poll.
UNC (46–15 last season), No. 9 in the final poll last season, enters its sixth season under Coach Scott Forbes.
The Tar Heels are one of eight ACC teams in the poll, led by Georgia Tech (41–19) at No. 5 and Louisville (42–24) at No. 8. Also in the poll are No. 16 Florida State (42–16), No. 17 N.C. State (35–21), No. 19 Clemson (45–18), No. 21 Wake Forest (39–22) and No. 22 Miami (35–27).
UCLA (48–18) is preseason No. 1, with reigning national champion LSU (53–15) at No. 2.
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UNC returns ace Jason DeCaro, the likely Friday starter, and left-hander Ryan Lynch and right-hander Walker McDuffie in a stacked pitching staff.
Junior infielder Gavin Gallaher is back, and bolstered by a strong transfer-portal class.
Carolina opens the season with a three-game home series against Indiana Feb. 13–15.
D1 Baseball Preseason Top 25
| Ranking | Team | 2025 record | Final 2025 ranking |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | UCLA | 48-18 | 5 |
| 2 | LSU | 53-15 | 1 |
| 3 | Texas | 44-14 | 17 |
| 4 | Mississippi State | 36-23 | NR |
| 5 | Georgia Tech | 41-19 | 24 |
| 6 | Coastal Carolina | 56-13 | 2 |
| 7 | Arkansas | 50-15 | 3 |
| 8 | Louisville | 42-24 | 6 |
| 9 | Auburn | 41-20 | 11 |
| 10 | TCU | 39-20 | NR |
| 11 | North Carolina | 46-15 | 9 |
| 12 | Oregon State | 48-16-1 | 4 |
| 13 | Florida | 39-22 | NR |
| 14 | Tennessee | 46-19 | 12 |
| 15 | Georgia | 43-17 | 19 |
| 16 | Florida State | 42-16 | 10 |
| 17 | N.C. State | 35-21 | NR |
| 18 | Kentucky | 31-26 | NR |
| 19 | Clemson | 45-18 | 23 |
| 20 | Southern Miss | 47-16 | 22 |
| 21 | Wake Forest | 39-22 | NR |
| 22 | Miami | 35-27 | 16 |
| 23 | Vanderbilt | 43-18 | 18 |
| 24 | Arizona | 44-21 | 7 |
| 25 | Texas A&M | 30-26 | NR |
Photo by Smith Hardy
