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Top 40 College Programs

P PGStaff10,000+ posts
So often when talking about college baseball there is a reference made to “a top 40 program”

Yet each year there are new teams ranked in the top 40.

Does the “top 40” change from year to year based on that year’s results? Does a top 40 program lose that designation if they have an off year? Does one good year make a team a top 40 program?

No one ever seems to say who the “top 40” programs are, yet that label is thrown around all the time.

Anyway, it got me to thinking. I know that is dangerous, but thought I’d come up with a non official top 40 list. Surely there will be some debate, but here is what I came up with. This is not based on 2008 alone.

What changes should be made to this list if we had to stick to only 40 programs?

Listed alphabetically…

ALABAMA
ARIZONA
ARIZONA STATE
ARKANSAS
AUBURN
BAYLOR
CAL IRVINE
CAL STATE FULLERTON
CALIFORNIA
CLEMSON
COASTAL CAROLINA
FLORIDA
FLORIDA STATE
GEORGIA
GEORGIA TECH
KENTUCKY
LONG BEACH STATE
LOUISIANA STATE
MIAMI
MICHIGAN
MISSISSIPPI
MISSISSIPPI STATE
MISSOURI
NEBRASKA
NORTH CAROLINA
NORTH CAROLINA STATE
NOTRE DAME
OKLAHOMA
OKLAHOMA STATE
OREGON STATE
RICE
SOUTH CAROLINA
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
STANFORD
TENNESSEE
TEXAS
TEXAS A&M
TULANE
UCLA
VANDERBILT
VIRGINIA
WAKE FOREST
WICHITA STATE
Last edited {1}
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infielddadinfielddad10,000+ posts
PGstaff, while I would propose some changes, I believe you have captured the programs that most would consider Top 40.
From my seat, I don't think California belongs. I would replace them with Pepperdine. I think Pepperdine does belong based on a very long history of being a solid, nationally ranked team year in and year out.Cal has very top talent but year in and year out has underachieved with the talent they have.
USD is power house of more recent origin.
Looking at them comparatively, both Kentucky and USD are later arrivals on the national scene. IMO, USD has done far more at a higher level so I would include USD and remove Kentucky.
TPMTPMHSBaseballweb Member since 2003
I think PG did a good job recognizing top programs that do make it on the scene consistantly, key word here (with some maybe having down years) which I beleive was his criteria for his top40. Not too familiar with the California teams. I think if he expanded to 50 we might see some teams considered "bubble teams" who are also in the hunt every year, TCU and maybe Fresno State?

JMO.
Dad04Dad045,000+ posts
quote:
Averages for the past ten years have no bearing on what a team will do this year


I agree 100%. Boyds list provides some reference to performance over a period of time, preceeding the current date, and perhaps some validity to a "top 40" list of teams. I think, but I certainly could be wrong, PG was looking for opinions of what makes a "top 40 team". Performance over a few seasons might be one measurement. Being a numbers person, I sort of like Boyds list of who is a top 40 team.
Last edited by Dad04
M Michael'sDad100+ posts
quote:
Originally posted by CPLZ:
Is Michigan in there as a token big 10 team? I realize they knocked of Vanderbilt last year in the regionals, but I'm not sure about them as a top 40 program over time.


I overlooked Michigan being in there and also question their being a top 40 team at this point as well as Notre Dame. Notre Dame has had some good years (with one excellent one) over the past 4-5 seasons but have also had some average ones against a moderately strong schedule. They certainly aren't one of the teams I think of when the CWS rolls around.
S scbaseball10+ posts
The issue I have with your rankings is the same issue I have with most college baseball publications. It's always about the major conferences and the teams in those conferences.

With the new rules that take affect next season, you will see a dash towards the middle. The safety of the easy pick by the so called experts will be much more difficult.

I believe this will make college baseball better game because everyone wants to feel like they are included and right now only a select few -(relative term) seem to be part of the overall conversation.
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