College baseball Week 2: Top 25 rankings, play of the week and what to watch - ESPN
ESPN
by ESPNFebruary 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
College baseball Week 2 saw significant shakeups in the top 25 rankings, with several teams making notable moves based on standout performances and unexpected losses. Kent State emerged as a major contender after defeating LSU in a high-stakes midweek matchup and securing a road series win against Tennessee, causing the Vols to drop seven spots to No. 20. Meanwhile, UCLA and other top teams maintained their strong positions following dominant showings. TCU experienced a rough week, losing to UT Arlington and being swept by UCLA, leading to an 11-spot decline in the rankings.
Among the biggest risers were Southern Miss and Oklahoma, each climbing eight spots after impressive performances. Louisville fell out of the rankings entirely, making way for Ole Miss to break into the top 25 at No. 25. The week also highlighted standout players like LSU's Jake Brown, who continued his power-hitting streak with impactful home runs, while UCLA's Roch Cholowsky lived up to pre-season hype with strong performances.
Looking ahead, key matchups and player developments are generating buzz. Jackson Flora of UCSB has been a standout pitcher, touching 100 MPH in his debut and earning consideration for the No.
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Originally published on ESPN on 2/23/2026