Updated SEC baseball RPI rankings entering May 22 games
Updated SEC baseball RPI rankings entering May 22 games
The second round of the 2025 SEC baseball tournament will conclude Thursday at Hoover Metropolitan Stadium in Hoover, Alabama. Quarterfinal play will also begin Thursday.
No. 6 seed Auburn will face No. seed 14 seed Texas A&M for the tournament's final second-round contest. First pitch between the Tigers and Aggies is scheduled for noon EDT and SEC Network will televise the matchup.
Two other games will be contested on Thursday in Hoover. No. 8 seed Tennessee (42-15) will open quarterfinal play against No. 1 seed Texas (42-11) at 4 p.m. EDT (SEC Network).
No. 4 seed Vanderbilt (39-16) will face No. 12 seed Oklahoma (35-19) for Thursday's other quarterfinal matchup. First pitch between the Commodores and Sooners is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EDT (SEC Network).
Tennessee enters its game against the Longhorns ranked No. 12 nationally for RPI. Texas is No. 4. Below are RPI rankings for SEC baseball teams entering Thursday's contests.
2025 SEC baseball RPI rankings (May 22)
Team RPI Auburn (38-17) 1 Vanderbilt (39-16) 2 Georgia (42-15) 3 Texas (42-11) 4 Arkansas (43-12) 5 LSU (42-13) 8 Alabama (41-16) 11 Tennessee (42-15) 12 Florida (38-20) 16 Ole Miss (38-18) 17 Oklahoma (35-19) 25 Mississippi State (34-21) 33 Kentucky (29-24) 37 Texas A&M (29-25) 52 South Carolina (28-29) 75 Missouri (16-39) 147
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Hocevar has repeatedly claimed in interviews that he doesn't study data and drives off instinct, using his creativity to find lines others do not. And while the latter part of that statement may be true, Dickerson says the first part is total bunk and is tired of getting asked about it. 'He's lying to you!' Dickerson says. 'He is always studying! I live it every day. He's constantly sending me things he's looking at. He's just at an age where it's cool to say, 'See? I don't study! I just feel the air! I'm the next reincarnation of Dale Sr., don't you guys get it?' No, jacka—. It's not instinct. He's not God's gift to race car driving. He works at this as much as anybody.' Advertisement To prove his point, Dickerson calls Hocevar over from a conversation with more fans. 'You keep telling people you don't study s— or look at s—!' Dickerson says. 'What? 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When drivers from Spire and Niece Motorsports (which gave Hocevar his break in the Truck Series) run afoul of his expectations, Hocevar unlocks the phone and furiously types feedback texts to friends on both teams in hopes of reaching the drivers. 'Message delivered,' one responds. Other times, Hocevar simply leaps from his seat and makes exaggerated gestures at the drivers like any number of other fans in the stands — sometimes exasperated when they don't listen to him, sometimes celebratory when they make a good move. And he has reason to celebrate at the end of the night because Spire teammate Rajah Caruth ends up in victory lane — as does Hocevar, being interviewed on TV in his red Dale Jr. shirt after congratulating Caruth. Two nights later, other fans have taken his place in Row 29 of Section 131 and get to witness the full Hocevar experience: Being lightning quick en route to a second-place finish, but making more on-track enemies in the process. Controversy aside, it's a good night. For a kid who was once thrilled just to watch NASCAR Cup Series races, actually winning one no longer feels like such a distant dream. (Illustration: Eamonn Dalton / The Athletic; Sean Gardner,)
