College baseball’s postseason has arrived. Over the next week, conference tournaments will be underway with teams fighting for their position in the NCAA Tournament. That spans from teams on the bubble all the way up to teams fighting to host a regional.

On Sunday, On3 released our latest Field of 64 projections. On the hosting line, eight came from the SEC. The other half of the top 16 came from the ACC (4), Big Ten (2), Sun Belt (1) and independent Oregon State.

In the top eight alone, six SEC teams got the nod. Of course, what happens during conference tournaments will changee the outlook, but we have a pretty good idea on what the top 16 will look like in the end.

The full NCAA Tournament field will be unveiled during the selection show on Monday, May 26. Keep track of every conference tournament and who wins the automatic bids here.

Current Top 8 Regional Hosts

Texas (1), Vanderbilt (2), North Carolina (3), Arkansas (4), Georgia (5), LSU (6), Oregon (7), Auburn (8)

To no surprise, the SEC is heavily represented at the top. Texas (42-11, 22-8 in SEC, No. 4 in RPI, 17-10 in Q1 games) is the frontrunner for the top overall seed, winning the SEC regular season. Vanderbilt (39-16, 19-11 in SEC, No. 3 in RPI, 15-14 in Q1 games) and Arkansas (43-12, 20-10 in SEC, No. 5 in RPI, 14-9 in Q1 games, along with Texas, feel safe as a top eight no matter what happens this week.

That leaves Georgia, LSU and Auburn from the SEC. Georgia is the top-ranked RPI team, sitting 42-14 overall and 18-12 in the SEC with an 11-10 Q1 record. At No. 1 in RPI, the Bulldogs are also safe as a top eight. LSU is 42-13, 19-11 in the SEC, No. 8 in RPI and 13-10 in Q1 games. The Tigers are undoubtedly on the right side of the top eight right now, and likely will be on Selection Monday. Still, with RPI hovering right at 8, it’s possible another team leaps them.

Finally, Auburn is 38-17 overall, 17-13 in the SEC, 15-12 in Q1 games and No. 2 in RPI. They sit behind the teams in front of them in terms of SEC standings, but they are also comfortable right now as a top eight. It would take a lot for any of those SEC teams to fall out of the top eight.

That leaves North Carolina (39-12, 18-11 in ACC, No. 7 in RPI, 8-5 in Q1 games) and Oregon (41-13, 22-8 in Big Ten, No. 12 in RPI, 9-1 in Q1 games). UNC fell just short of the regular season ACC crown, but still sit in a great spot. They have a non-conference RPI of No. 2, which will boost them at least a little bit. A quick exit in the ACC Tournament could put them on the top eight bubble. As for Oregon, they stormed back to clinch the top seed in the Big Ten Tournament and a share of the regular season title. The Ducks would be served well to have a good showing this week regarding their top 8 chances. Even if they don’t, they likely won’t fall too much lower.

Top 8 Contenders

Oregon State (9), Clemson (10), Coastal Carolina (11), Alabama (12), Georgia Tech (13), Florida State (14)

Oregon State was forced to play an independent schedule this year, but still finished No. 6 in RPI with a 41-12-1 record. They went 10-9 in Q1 games, and No. 9 might be their ceiling due to the lack of a conference tournament to boost their resume. But if they get help around them, the Beavers have a shot to move up.

The group of ACC teams fighting to host as a top eight is an interesting one. Clemson struggled at times down the stretch, but finished 41-15, 18-12 in the ACC, No. 10 in RPI and 8-9 in Q1 games. Georgia Tech is No. 20 in RPI, but finished 39-16 overall, 19-11 in the ACC, 12-10 in Q1 games and won the ACC regular season. Florida State finished 37-13, 17-10 in the ACC, No. 14 in RPI and 12-9 in Q1 games. All three feel safe as a host, although Georgia Tech’s RPI could limit them if they don’t play well in the ACC Tournament and it drops. Still, all three are in contention for a national seed.

That leaves Coastal Carolina (44-11, 26-4 in Sun Belt, No. 11 in RPI, 4-5 in Q1 games) and Alabama (40-15, 16-14 in SEC, No. 9 in RPI, 14-11 in Q1 games). The Chanticleers ran away with the Sun Belt regular season, and last year’s committee showed to value conference champions a lot. Still, they have just four Q1 wins which could limit their upside as a host, though they are likely a lock to host. As for Alabama, they are top ten in RPI and are one of six teams with 14 Q1 wins. Though the Crimson Tide are ranked below some other teams, they probably have the best chance to slide up into the top eight if teams around them fall.

Hosting Bubble

Ole Miss (15), UCLA (16), TCU, Southern Miss, Florida, Tennessee, Dallas Baptist, UTSA

Ole Miss (37-18, 16-14 in SEC, No. 18 in RPI, 16-14 in Q1 games) and UCLA (39-15, 22-8 in Big Ten, No. 15 in RPI, 3-7 in Q1 games) got the nod as our final two hosts entering conference tournaments. The Rebels are in a great spot all of a sudden, and their 16 Q1 wins are a strong selling point. UCLA is far less secure, and it’ll be interesting to see how the committee balances a share of the regular season Big Ten title with just three Q1 wins. The Bruins feel like they need a strong showing this week to hang on to their spot as a host.

The rest of the bubble, to say the least, is heated. Southern Miss (41-13, 24-6 in Sun Belt, No. 21 in RPI, 7-4 in Q1 games) has a hosting-caliber resume. If they win, or go on a deep run in the Sun Belt Tournament, they’re going to host, more than likely. The only question is who do they push out? TCU (37-17, 19-11 in Big 12, No. 17 in RPI, 7-7 in Q1 games) was another tough cut. It’s important to note that the Big 12 has zero hosts in this week’s projections. If the Horned Frogs have a good week and win some more games, they’re going to make a strong push to be at home next weekend.

The two SEC teams on the outside are on very different trajectories. Florida (37-19, 15-15 in SEC, No. 13 in RPI, 11-16 in Q1 games) started 1-11 in SEC play, but have gone 14-4 since. The Gators will need some help, but a run in Hoover will have them in the mix to host. Tennessee (41-15, 16-14 in SEC, No. 16 in RPI, 12-10 in Q1 games) started 8-1 in SEC play, but are 8-13 since. The Vols have lost five consecutive series, six of their last seven, and have just four SEC series wins. Tennessee needs a strong showing in Hoover to even have a chance.

Finally, Dallas Baptist (38-14, 21-6 in Conference USA, No. 19 in RPI, 4-4 in Q1 games) and UTSA (42-11, 23-4 in AAC, No. 22 in RPI, 5-4 in Q1 games) are in the mix, too, though they’ll need some help. Both are regular season conference champions. Dallas Baptist’s non-conference RPI of No. 13 and non-conference strength of schedule of No. 15 boost them further, while UTSA’s non-conference RPI of No. 44 and non-conference SOS of No. 150 make them a longshot.

The spring sports season is winding down but there is still plenty of content to peruse through in today’s edition. We cook up some football content and spice it with some baseball and softball content for a full course edition. Enjoy!!

Sherrod expected to bring explosiveness to 2025 Boise State offense

One of the thoughts going into this football season for Boise State has been how to replace the explosiveness Ashton Jeanty provided last season. However, as indicated by his showing during spring camp, transfer Malik Sherrod might have eased some of those concerns. Here is how SI sees it as they list Sherrod as the top transfer portal addition for the 2025 Boise State team.

After near misses in portal, Bulldogs trying to rebuild NIL pool

Fresno State has been effective in keeping their top football players from the bigger money from P4 conferences for the most part in Head Coach Matt Entz’s inaugural season. But it has come with some close calls, so the program working to infuse their NIL pool with new resources.

Without Nash, how will Spartan WR room look like in 2025?

San Jose State didn’t just lose star WR Nick Nash, but also second option Justin Lockhart from their WR corps from last season. So with those big shoes to fill, what is the outlook for this position group for the upcoming season?

ESPN lists Aztec’s DE as a top returning NCAA pass rusher

The Mother Ship lists their top returning pass rushers for the upcoming NCAA football season and a returning San Diego State player lands on their list.

MW Baseball Championship Bracket set

Nevada and Fresno State are the top two seeds for the tournament with play beginning tomorrow.

Recapping San Diego State’s softball run in the Los Angeles regional

The Aztecs softball team was one win away from getting to the championship game in the Los Angeles regional, but two losses on Saturday ended their season. Here is the recap of that day.

On the horizon:

• Coming Tuesday: Reacts Survey
• Coming Tuesday: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly: Kicker/Punter Preview
• Coming Tuesday: Reacts Survey
• Coming Tuesday: Hike’s Peak Podcast Episode 103
• Coming Wednesday: Peak Perspective: 2024 may have been the last of the good old days for Mountain West football.

When it comes to college football, recruiting, the transfer portal, and NIL, there’s a new dominating headline every week.

The recent noise has surrounded top five-star offensive tackle recruit Jackson Cantwell, whose recent commitment to the Miami Hurricanes has sparked a massive debate surrounding name, image, and likeness.

Reportedly, Cantwell received a $2 million NIL deal to join the Hurricanes over the Georgia Bulldogs. Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart later came out and criticized high schoolers receiving more than a senior.

Cantwell’s NIL deal also led to many college football personnel wondering, what’s the right NIL price per position on a roster?

How Should Rosters Be Built in the Rev-Sharing Era With NIL?

Following Cantwell’s commitment, Chris Hummer of 247Sports (subscription required) surveyed Power Four personnel and coaching staff.

He sought their opinions on spending 10% of a team’s salary cap on an offensive tackle yet to take a single college snap.

NIL has been unrestrained and unregulated, with teams spending millions on obtaining star talent in the transfer portal — Miami being a notable one with Carson Beck’s multimillion-dollar NIL deal.

That’s expected to change with the approval of the House settlement, under which schools will be held to a cap on revenue-sharing spending, which is expected to be $14 to $16 million for most Power Four schools in football.

Many in the sport view Cantwell’s valuation as untenable, not only due to the lack of proven talent in a high school tackle, but also due to how much of the salary cap his $2 million price tag amounts to.

That’s the context in which many are looking at Cantwell’s massive price tag and wondering how an unproven high school tackle could be worth it.

Schools can no longer expect to spend unlimited resources and must adopt a much more thoughtful approach to building their rosters in the revenue-sharing era.

One SEC director of scouting did highlight offensive tackle as a position to pay a premium for, alongside quarterback, edge rusher, and cornerback.

Others had a short list of wide receivers and defensive tackles but believed that all of that is scheme-dependent outside of quarterback.

Intriguingly, one Big 12 general manager posed a rebuttal to Cantwell’s price tag, preferring to instead sign three high school offensive tackles to $100,000 deals each.

That’s an interesting strategy to consider, as high school recruits just might not work out. College athletes who transfer might not translate to a new program.

But one of three might hit on a serviceable level.

That perspective was in line with several others surveyed, who argued that depth across positions is much more valuable than paying premiums for stars and leaving holes in the roster.

“I don’t find that to be the most effective way to build a roster long term,” the SEC director of scouting said. “But in reality, yes, some teams are going to spend that on a premium position or two each class because either they badly need the position in the short term or maybe they just don’t want to play against them for three-plus years.”

Now, if Cantwell hits, some may walk back that criticism.

Arguably, there’s an important strategy in spending top dollar on the position that protects a quarterback’s blind side.

Many in the sport might not have agreed with Beck’s price tag, nor Cantwell’s, but if the former is paid, then a team must address the latter role at offensive tackle with sufficient resources for that player under center to compete.

“There’s a lot of guys out there right now, and everyone’s fighting for the same job,” Ewers said. “But you’ve got to earn the job and earn the trust of those guys as well.”

When Quinn Ewers slipped on a Miami Dolphins jersey for the first time, the seventh-round rookie quarterback left the disappointment of draft weekend behind and focused on the opportunity ahead. “I didn’t expect to fall as low as I did, but it is what it is at the end of the day, and I have the same opportunity as everybody else does, and I’m beyond thankful for that,” Ewers said as the Dolphins opened rookie minicamp.