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USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Who has the hardest path to NCAA baseball super regional?
Who has the hardest path to NCAA baseball super regional? Show Caption Hide Caption College baseball player forms sweet bond with coach's daughters While playing for Coach Frank Avilla Jr., Brady Crabtree formed a special, sibling-like bond with his daughters - a connection that continued well after graduation. The 2025 NCAA baseball tournament is set to kick off Friday with regional action across 16 host sites. As is the case in any tournament, some teams will have an easier path to reach the super regional – and eventually the Men's College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska. Vanderbilt earned the No. 1 overall seed, but the Commodores don't necessarily have the easiest path to reach the CWS. REQUIRED READING: College baseball tournament bracket winners and losers start with SEC Meanwhile, Southern Miss wrestled away the No. 16 seed and the final regional hosting privilege, but the Golden Eagles are rewarded with the toughest path to even reach the super regional round. Here's a power ranking of the toughest regionals in the 2025 NCAA baseball tournament based on the mean RPI of the four teams in the bracket: 1. Hattiesburg Regional No. 16 Southern Miss: 19 19 Alabama: 13 13 Miami: 40 40 Columbia: 60 60 Median RPI: 33 The Golden Eagles barely earned the final top-16 seed to host the regional but will face the stiffest competition to reach the super regionals, which would be rewarded with potentially facing No. 1 Vanderbilt. The Crimson Tide will come in with a chip on their shoulder after being denied a hosting bid despite finishing ranked No. 13 in RPI. The Hurricanes and Lions present the toughest draws as No. 3 and No. 4 seeds, respectively. 2. Knoxville Regional No. 14 Tennessee: 10 10 Wake Forest: 30 30 Cincinnati: 34 34 Miami (Ohio): 80 80 Median RPI: 38.5 The defending national champion Vols don't have an easy path by any means, as Wake Forest and Cincinnati have proven to be strong teams with top-34 RPIs during the regular season. Tennessee has the second-toughest regional opener, having to square off against Miami (Ohio). If the Vols can come out of their regional, they'll be as battle-tested as any team in the super regional round. 3. Corvallis Regional No. 8 Oregon State: 7 7 TCU: 17 17 USC: 44 44 St. Mary's : 89 : 89 Median RPI: 39.25 The Beavers earned the right to host not only a regional, but also a super regional if they can withstand the Corvallis Regional. Oregon State will have to get past a tough Horned Frogs team that narrowly missed making the tournament last season. USC is in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2015, while Saint Mary's won the West Coast Conference tournament championship. 4. Austin Regional No. 2 Texas : 4 : 4 UTSA: 25 25 Kansas State: 37 37 Houston Christian: 94 94 Median RPI: 40 Not only did the Longhorns draw the short end of the stick by not getting the No. 1 overall seed, but they also have one of the hardest paths in the regional round. UTSA and Kansas State can give Texas a run for its money in the Austin Regional. First-year coach Jim Schlossnagle has his work cut out with this regional draw. 5. Clemson Regional No. 11 Clemson: 9 9 West Virginia: 28 28 Kentucky: 38 38 USC Upstate: 86 86 Median RPI: 40.25 Clemson will be one of a few seeded programs on upset alert, having to face a dangerous Mountaineers team. The Tigers don't want to experience deja vu from last season when Florida walked into the Clemson Regional and knocked them off. Playing in the SEC, Kentucky also played a gauntlet of a schedule and could prove to be a major challenge in the regional. 6. Oxford Regional No. 10 Ole Miss: 12 12 Georgia Tech: 20 20 Western Kentucky: 42 42 Murray State: 90 90 Median RPI: 41 Ole Miss is back in the regionals for the first time since 2022 and hosting for the first time since 2021. However, the road to a super regional for the Rebels will be anything but easy. The Yellow Jackets could very well have been hosting a regional if a game or two had gone their way in the regular season or the ACC tournament. Georgia Tech was projected to be one of the hosts leading up to the conference tournaments. 7. Conway Regional No. 13 Coastal Carolina: 8 8 Florida: 18 18 East Carolina: 66 66 Fairfield: 74 74 Median RPI: 41.5 Coastal Carolina could argue it was underseeded after finishing with the No. 8 RPI in the country through conference championships. Yet, the Chanticleers are the No. 13 overall seed and face a squad that ended up winning a regional as a guest last season in Florida. The Gators began the season 1-11 in SEC play but finished with 18 wins in their final 24 conference games. Florida is a dangerous visiting team, seeking its third consecutive College World Series trip. East Carolina and Fairfield are also ranked well within the top 75 in RPI. 8. Nashville Regional No. 1 Vanderbilt: 1 1 Louisville: 32 32 ETSU: 36 36 Wright State: 102 102 Median RPI: 42.75 The Commodores earned the No. 1 seed after defeating Ole Miss 3-2 in the SEC tournament championship game and earning the No. 1 overall spot in the RPI heading into the selection show. Vanderbilt, despite a lofty baseball history, will be the top seed in the tournament for the second time in program history. Vanderbilt will have to get past a pair of top 36 RPI-ranked teams, but it will open with a matchup against a Wright State team that went 2-10 against Quad-1 opponents. 9. Los Angeles Regional No. 15 UCLA: 15 15 UC Irvine: 23 23 Arizona State: 49 49 Fresno State: 100 100 Median RPI: 46.75 The Bruins will have a tough test against UC Irvine and face a former Pac-12 opponent in Arizona State. However, opening against Fresno State gives UCLA a chance to open the tournament with positive momentum. UCLA is playing in its first regional since 2022. T-10. Chapel Hill Regional No. 5 UNC: 6 6 Oklahoma: 26 26 Nebraska: 50 50 Holy Cross: 144 144 Median RPI: 56.50 UNC draws a favorable road in the regional round after beating Florida State in the ACC tournament semifinals. While Oklahoma was tested in the SEC, the Sooners played the No. 213-ranked out-of-conference schedule and finished with a 9-9 road record. North Carolina went 25-6 at home this season. T-10. Fayetteville Regional No. 3 Arkansas : 5 : 5 Kansas: 24 24 Creighton: 45 45 North Dakota State: 152 152 Median RPI: 56.50 Arkansas' path to the super regionals will start with North Dakota State, the No. 152-ranked team in RPI, but it will get tougher with matchups against potentially Creighton and Kansas from there. The Razorbacks posted a dominant 32-4 record at Baum-Walker Stadium in Fayetteville, Arkansas, this season. Despite finishing the season 20-32, the Bison clinched an automatic berth in the tournament after winning the Summit League tournament. T-12 Eugene Regional No. 12 Oregon: 16 Oregon: 16 Arizona: 27 27 Cal Poly: 29 29 Utah Valley: 170 170 Median RPI: 60.50 The Eugene Regional is anything but a cakewalk, despite being this low on the list. Arizona and Cal Poly each had strong 2025 regular seasons and have more than enough talent to steal the regional and pull off an upset. Utah Valley, which finished the season ranked No. 171 in RPI, is making its second-ever NCAA tournament appearance. T-12. Athens Regional No. 7 Georgia: 2 2 Duke: 31 31 Oklahoma State: 46 46 Binghamton: 163 163 Median RPI: 60.50 Despite having the same media RPI as the Eugene Regional, it's clear the Bulldogs have a slightly easier path than Oregon. Duke is just outside the top 30 in RPI, while Oklahoma State finished the season 28-23 and 5-12 in Quad-1 games. Binghamton is making its sixth NCAA tournament appearance and owns a 1-10 record, with its lone win coming in the Greenville Regional in 2009. 14. Tallahassee Regional No. 9 Florida State: 14 14 Northeastern: 22 22 Mississippi State: 35 35 Bethune-Cookman: 200 200 Median RPI: 67.5 Link Jarrett and Florida State missed out on a hosting seed by one ranking. The Seminoles likely would have played host if they had defeated North Carolina in the ACC tournament semifinals. While RPI doesn't suggest it, the Seminoles have to play a Northeastern team that has won 27 consecutive games and is arguably the hottest team in the nation. Mississippi State is an SEC squad that could also give FSU a run for its money. On the other hand, the Wildcats enter the tournament after beating FAMU in the Southwestern Athletic Conference tournament championship game in dramatic fashion on a three-run walk-off home run by Andrey Martinez. 15. Auburn Regional No. 3 Auburn: 3 3 NC State : 33 : 33 Stetson: 62 62 Central Connecticut: 183 183 Median RPI: 70.25 The Tigers earning the No. 3 overall seed probably shocked a lot of college baseball fans, as their 38-18 record likely did not jump off the page. However, Auburn was the No. 3-ranked team when it comes to RPI. NC State, however, is a team capable of knocking off the Tigers and the Hatters always play a tough out-of-conference schedule. Auburn opens the regional against Central Connecticut, which, despite a 31-15 record, went 0-2 in Quad-1 and 2 games. 16. Baton Rouge Regional No. 6 LSU: 11 11 Dallas Baptist: 21 21 Rhode Island: 68 68 Little Rock: 238 238 Median RPI: 84.5 While LSU has the lowest median RPI of any regional, that does not mean its path to hosting a super regional is easy. Dallas Baptist is making its fifth consecutive regional appearance, including having pulled off an upset in the Columbia Regional in 2021. Little Rock enters the tournament as the lowest-ranked team in RPI after finishing the season eight games below .500. The Trojans won five games in four days to win the Ohio Valley conference tournament and steal an automatic bid.
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
'Operation Sindoor Is Still Going On': Mukesh Khanna Lashes Out At Pakistan
Last Updated: Operation Sindoor, initiated on May 7, showcased a calibrated, tri-services response that embodied precision, professionalism, and purpose. Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna showed his support for Operation Sindoor and said that it has 'not stopped yet, and it is still going on.." He took part in the Bharat Zindabad Yatra, organised by RPI Ramdas Athawale, following the success of Operation Sindoor. The party held a rally following India's successful campaign against terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. While participating in 'Bharat Zindabad Yatra,' Mukesh Khanna told ANI, 'All Hindus across the country should do what Ramdas Athwale has done. 'Pakistan Murdabad' should be echoed everywhere. Operation Sindoor is the answer to what Pakistan has done in Pahalgam." Operation Sindoor has not stopped yet, and it is still going on… There is a lot to do. If you achieve one thing, that is, the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, everyone will praise you," he added. On questions raised by opposition leaders, he said, 'I'd say they are not patriots… They have to speak against whatever the BJP does… Vo log murkh hai jo keh rahe Operation Sindoor nahi hona chahiye tha (Those are idiots who are saying that the Operation Sindoor should not be done).." Operation Sindoor, initiated on May 7, showcased a calibrated, tri-services response that embodied precision, professionalism, and purpose. Operation Sindoor was conceived as a punitive and targeted campaign to dismantle the terror infrastructure across the Line of Control and deeper inside Pakistan, as per the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting press release. Multi-agency intelligence confirmed nine major camps that were eventually targeted in the operation. India's retaliatory action was based on meticulous planning and an intelligence-led approach, which ensured that the operations were conducted with minimal collateral damage. Operational ethics were central to the mission, and restraint was exercised to avoid civilian harm, as per the press release. In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan initiated a series of retaliatory drone and UCAV attacks targeting key Indian airbases and logistics infrastructure. These attempts, however, were effectively neutralised by India's comprehensive and multi-layered air defence architecture. Central to this success was the Integrated Command and Control Strategy (ICCS), which facilitated real-time threat identification, assessment, and interception across multiple domains.
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Operation Sindoor is the answer to what Pakistan has done..," says Mukesh Khanna
Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 29 (ANI): Veteran actor Mukesh Khanna showed his support for Operation Sindoor and said that it has 'not stopped yet, and it is still going on..' He took part in the Bharat Zindabad Yatra, organised by RPI Ramdas Athawale, following the success of Operation Sindoor. The party held a rally following India's successful campaign against terror sites in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir. While participating in 'Bharat Zindabad Yatra,' Mukesh Khanna told ANI, 'All Hindus across the country should do what Ramdas Athwale has done. 'Pakistan Murdabad' should be echoed everywhere. Operation Sindoor is the answer to what Pakistan has done in Pahalgam.' 'Operation Sindoor has not stopped yet, and it is still going on... There is a lot to do. If you achieve one thing, that is, the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, everyone will praise you,' he added. On questions raised by opposition leaders, he said, 'I'd say they are not patriots... They have to speak against whatever the BJP does... Vo log murkh hai jo keh rahe Operation Sindoor nahi hona chahiye tha (Those are idiots who are saying that the Operation Sindoor should not be done)..' Operation Sindoor, initiated on May 7, showcased a calibrated, tri-services response that embodied precision, professionalism, and purpose. Operation Sindoor was conceived as a punitive and targeted campaign to dismantle the terror infrastructure across the Line of Control and deeper inside Pakistan, as per the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting press release. Multi-agency intelligence provided confirmation of nine major camps that were eventually targeted in the operation. India's retaliatory action was based on meticulous planning and an intelligence-led approach, which ensured that the operations were conducted with minimal collateral damage. Operational ethics were central to the mission, and restraint was exercised to avoid civilian harm, as per the press release. In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, Pakistan initiated a series of retaliatory drone and UCAV attacks targeting key Indian airbases and logistics infrastructure. These attempts, however, were effectively neutralised by India's comprehensive and multi-layered air defence architecture. Central to this success was the Integrated Command and Control Strategy (ICCS), which facilitated real-time threat identification, assessment, and interception across multiple domains. (ANI)
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Clemson baseball coach Erik Bakich announces Game 1 starter for Tigers' NCAA regional
Clemson baseball coach Erik Bakich announces Game 1 starter for Tigers' NCAA regional Clemson baseball coach Erik Bakich announced on Thursday his Game 1 starter for the Tigers' NCAA Tournament regional against USC Upstate. The Tigers (44-16 overall) will start sophomore right-hander Drew Titsworth in its NCAA Tournament opener at Doug Kingsmore Stadium Friday. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on ACC Network. Bakich called the decision to start Titsworth a "no-brainer." "Drew Titsworth has got the ball (Friday)," Bakich told reporters Thursday, adding, "We knew we were going to do it the whole time. Kind of a no-brainer for us. So yeah, excited to see him get out there for us. I feel really confident when he's on the mound." Titsworth began the year in the bullpen but transitioned to the rotation as Clemson's Saturday starter when left-hander Ethan Darden was sidelined by an injury in April. In 19 appearances including six starts, Titsworth is 5-1 with a 4.26 ERA. He's struck out 48 batters and issued 14 walks through 50 2/3 innings. Friday will mark Titsworth's seventh consecutive appearance as a starter. "We spent a lot of time recruiting Drew and his family,' Bakich said. 'Obviously from Frakenmuth, Michigan, so he was committed to Michigan. We got a long look at him early in his high school career. Just watched him really over the last six years, and he's always been a starter. He didn't become a reliever until he got here last year and the early part of this year. "He's a big, strong, physical, durable kid. He's just got that physical makeup that his body can handle the starting role. So it was more just the timing and the opportunity had to present itself for him to get into the rotation. With us switching out Sunday starters and Ethan Darden getting hurt, it really just presented the opportunity." Clemson is the No. 11 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament and is hosting a regional for the third consecutive season. The Tigers are ranked No. 12 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll and No. 11 by the NCBWA. They're No. 9 in the RPI. USC Upstate (36-23) defeated Charleston Southern in the Big South tournament championship game on Sunday to clinch its first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. "They've had a monster year and just have a lot of power hitters and 5-6 guys with double-digit homers and are coming off a dogpile," Bakich said of the Spartans. "We know they're feeling really good and confident and hot. "We have a lot of respect for them, their program. Their program's always been good, but they certainly have been playing with some extra juice this year." Contact us @Clemson_Wire on X, and like our page on Facebook for ongoing coverage of Clemson Tigers news and notes, plus opinions.
USA Today
5 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 Women's College World Series softball power rankings
2025 Women's College World Series softball power rankings The 2025 Women's College World Series will be contested May 29-June 6 at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The double elimination College World Series will feature No. 2 seed Oklahoma, No. 3 seed Florida, No. 6 seed Texas, No. 7 seed Tennessee, No. 9 seed UCLA, No. 12 seed Texas Tech, No. 16 seed Oregon and Ole Miss. Tennessee (45-15) will face Oklahoma (50-7) Thursday on opening day of softball competition in the College World Series. First pitch between the Lady Vols and Sooners is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. EDT and will be televised by ESPN. Beth Mowins (play-by-play), Michele Smith (analyst), Jessica Mendoza (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sideline) will be on the call. Ahead of Thursday's opening day games, Vols Wire ranks the eight teams in the College World Series field. Rankings are based on RPI. 2025 Women's College World Series softball power rankings Team RPI Oklahoma (50-7) 2 Florida (48-15) 3 Tennessee (45-15) 5 Texas (51-11) 6 UCLA (54-11) 8 Texas Tech (50-12) 13 Ole Miss (42-19) 14 Oregon (53-8) 15 2025 Women's College World Series softball schedule, game times for May 29 Game 1: No. 3 Florida versus No. 6 Texas (noon EDT, ESPN) Game 2: No. 7 Tennessee versus No. 2 Oklahoma (2:30 p.m., ESPN) Game 3: No. 12 Texas Tech versus Ole Miss (7 p.m. EDT, ESPN2) Game 4: No. 16 Oregon versus No. 9 UCLA (9:30 p.m. EDT, ESPN2) Follow Vols Wire on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter).
