College baseball is back, and given how the SEC finished the past several seasons, it’s safe to say expectations remain sky high. And they should. The rich have only gotten richer.

SEC teams have won the past 3 College World Series and 8 of the past 13. In 4 of those years that they didn’t win, the SEC produced the runner-up.

So, yes, odds are very good we’ll see more SEC teams reach the College World Series in 2023.

The SEC will be as talented as ever — 6 teams open play Friday ranked among the top 10 in Baseball America’s preseason Top 25.

While it’s way too early to pick the champ (who had Ole Miss — sub .500 in SEC play — winning in Omaha last season?), we can start establishing the pecking order.

Here, then, is our season opening SEC power rankings and team preview of the 2023 college baseball season.

14. Missouri

Last year: 28-23, missed the NCAA Tournament

Best returning position player: Luke Mann (.270 and 17 HRs last year)

Best returning pitcher: Carter Rustad (3-2, 4.73 ERA, 42 Ks in 51 1/3 IP)

Top newcomer: Transfer pitcher Chandler Murphy, who had injury issues last year at Arizona, but was 10-2 with 96 strikeouts in 108 innings total as a Wildcat.

Outlook for 2023: A season ago, Missouri showed significant strides, posting a 28-23 mark after being clearly the pits of the SEC in 2021. That said, the Tigers went 10-20 in conference play and had significant problems on the mound, posting a 5.58 team ERA. They can hit, but can they string together enough pitching to compete in the SEC East?

Luke Mann is the power bat, and Trevor Austin, who hit .297 last year, should be good for a big season as well. But while Missouri added some strong transfers, they’re still going to be playing with a very slim margin of error in the SEC.

13. Mississippi State

Last year: 26-30, missed the NCAA Tournament

Best returning position player: Hunter Hines (.300, 16 HRs last year)

Best returning pitcher: Cade Smith (4-4, 3.86 ERA, 66 Ks in 72 1/3 IP)

Top newcomer: Transfer outfielder Colton Ledbetter, who hit .318 with 16 homers last year at Samford.

Outlook for 2023: A year after winning the College World Series, State stumbled to a league-worst 9-21 in conference play last season. If it wasn’t hard enough to watch their in-state rival take home the title trophy, things aren’t looking much better for MSU in 2023. Hines is a big-time bat, and Luke Hancock might surprise some with his bat and is underrated behind the plate. But pitching depth is a big issue.

Cade Smith is the real deal, but after that, State will be leaning heavily on transfer arms. One potential highlight is frosh Jurrangelo Cijntje, who is, yes you are reading this correctly, a switch-pitcher.

The long-term news is good, as State had a great recruiting year, but it’ll take some patience and duct tape to work this group through the SEC in 2023.

12. Kentucky

Last year: 33-26, missed the NCAA Tournament

Best returning position player: Catcher Devin Burkes (.378 with 3 HRs in just 37 at-bats)

Best returning pitcher: Darren Williams (3-0, 0.93 ERA, 31 Ks in 29 IP)

Top newcomer: Charleston Southern transfer Ryan Waldschmidt, who hit .310 and stole 18 bases last season.

Outlook for 2023: It’s all about the transfers. Kentucky basically lost its entire lineup of position players and will replace them with transfers and youngsters like Burkes. The Wildcats put a good run together late last season, but it was not quite enough to reach the NCAA Tournament. Which makes the early season probably extra important for coach Nick Mingione.

On the hill, Kentucky has plenty of potential — see righty Ryan Hagenow, who can be an ace when he find home plate. Lefty Magidel Cotto may also be a key to this team, but Kentucky’s pitching depth will again be dependent on new faces.

11. Alabama

Last year: 31-27, missed the NCAA Tournament

Best returning position player: Outfielder Andrew Pinckney (.303 with 7 HRs and 7 stolen bases)

Best returning pitcher: Garrett McMillian (4-5, 4.29 ERA, 83 Ks in 86 IP)

Top newcomer: Brock Blatter (6-6 freshman pitching ace)

Outlook for 2023: Bama is capable of playing its way into the NCAA Tournament, as it very nearly did last season. The Tide have a nice balance of returning players and incoming standouts. At the plate, Bama should be fine, despite losing prime power threat Zane Denton. The Tide have to do a better job manufacturing runs, and they should do it. Pinckney could be a multi-way star.

On the hill, the Tide return their top couple of arms, and if lefty Grayson Hitt lives up to his potential, Alabama could be the surprise team of the SEC West. Still, in a packed division, the Tide are likely to end up on the bubble again.

10. South Carolina

Last year: 27-28, missed the NCAA Tournament

Best returning position player: Braylen Wimmer (.312 with 7 HRs, 13 steals)

Best returning pitcher: Will Sanders (7-3, 3.42 ERA, 91 Ks in 89 1/3 IP)

Top newcomer: Vandy transfer Gavin Casas, who hovered around .300 last year with the ‘Dores

Outlook for 2023: Can they score runs? A year ago, offense was a struggle — and this team lost several bats from last season’s team. Wimmer and Michael Braswell are solid, but after that, it comes down to transfers like Casas, who might find a good landing spot in Columbia.

On the bump, things are better. Sanders is an ace, and guys like Noah Hall and Cade Austin have shown signs of dominance. Carolina better pitch well, because given how deep the East is, they’re facing an uphill climb even to the middle of the pack.

9. Georgia

Last year: 36-23, lost to North Carolina in Regional.

Best returning position player: Connor Tate (.345 with 14 HRs)

Best returning pitcher: Jaden Woods (1-1, 4.64 ERA, 80 Ks in 54 1/3 IP)

Top newcomer: infielder Will David (hit over .300 each of past 2 seasons with Samford)

Outlook for 2023: Georgia will struggle to try to hold pace in an SEC East where the top 3 teams could all be potential national top-5 teams. UGA returns some real weapons at the plate, where Tate combines forces with Ben Anderson, Corey Collins, and Parks Harber to give UGA experienced power.

On the mound, things are a little dicier. Liam Sullivan figures to start, but UGA will rely on some transfer arms and a lack of pitching depth could result in bullpen issues. Georgia has potential, but that only goes so far in a loaded SEC East.

8. Auburn

Last year: 43-22, reached College World Series.

Best returning position player: Bobby Peirce (.284 with 10 HRs)

Best returning pitcher: Joseph Gonzalez (7-4, 3.22 ERA, 54 Ks in 78 IP)

Top newcomer: C/DH Ike Irish, who not only has a great name, but can absolutely rake at the plate

Outlook for 2023: Auburn surprised a year ago, but with Sonny DiChiara now playing minor league baseball, it’ll be hard to surprise a second time. Auburn returns some experience on offense, but not a ton of star power. That could be where freshman Ike Irish shines.

On the hill, the Tigers have significant returning depth. Gonzalez is more a finesse pitcher than a strikeout artist, but he was excellent last season. If Auburn’s other returning pitchers are ready, the Tigers just might leap their way up the West standings yet again.

7. Ole Miss

Last year: 42-23, nabbed last NCAA Tournament bid, won College World Series

Best returning position player: Jacob Gonzalez (.273 with 18 HRs)

Best returning pitcher: Hunter Elliott (5-3, 2.70 ERA, 102 Ks in 80 IP)

Top newcomer: Grayson Saunier, likely top freshman pitcher in the SEC.

Outlook for 2023: It seems safe to say that writing off Ole Miss didn’t go very well last year. The Rebels slumbered through a 14-16 SEC slate, barely made the NCAA field, and then won the College World Series. Yes, guys like Tim Elko and Dylan DeLucia are gone. But the cupboard isn’t empty.

Gonzalez may be the top MLB Draft prospect in college baseball, and double-play partner Peyton Chatagnier is now experienced and tough as nails. Outfielder TJ McCants should similarly benefit from last year’s run. The Rebels’ excellent recruiting class with contribute quickly on the mound, with Xavier Rivas not far behind Saunier in being ready for day-one competition.

On paper, Ole Miss isn’t especially imposing. But they don’t play baseball games on paper.

6. Texas A&M

Last year: 44-20, reached the College World Series

Best returning position player: Jack Moss (.380 with 6 HRs)

Best returning pitcher: Nathan Dettmer (6-3, 4.99 ERA, 82 Ks in 92 IP)

Top newcomer: Freshman OF Jace LaViolette (hit a 506-foot homer in a fall scrimmage)

Outlook for 2023: A&M made big strides last year under Jim Schlossnagle, but have they hit a ceiling? A&M will return more experience at the plate than much of the SEC. The Aggies did lose a little more on the mound, but the makings of a top SEC squad are here, if they can be supplemented by newcomers.

Don’t sleep on LaViolette, who has that day one star power at the plate that might help ease the loss of Dylan Rock. Ryan Targac and Austin Bost figure to be rock-solid along with Moss, and A&M should have a nice balance of speed and power in its lineup.

A&M was a major surprise a year ago, but they can’t sneak up on foes this time around. If they continue grinding, though, they may not need to sneak up on anybody.

5. Arkansas

Last year: 46-21, reached the College World Series

Best returning position player: Peyton Stovall (.295 with 6 HRs)

Best returning pitcher: Hagen Smith (7-2, 4.66 ERA, 90 Ks in 77 1/3 IP)

Top newcomer: Transfer outfielder Jared Wegner, who hit .348 with 11 HRs and 11 SBs last year at Creighton

Outlook for 2023: They might slide under the radar, but Arkansas will be dangerous. The Razorbacks have just enough returning offensive talent, experienced pitching and new additions to make waves. On the mound, Hagen Smith is a solid returnee, but so is reliever Brady Tygart, and Jaxon Wiggins might have the best stuff of the group.

At the plate, Stovall and slugger Brady Slavens will be joined by an interesting cast of transfers. Arkansas might start 5 transfers. Arkansas figures to be solid in all phases of the game, but not necessarily dominant in any. Is that going to be enough to compete in a stacked SEC? Time will tell.

4. Vanderbilt

Last year: 39-23, lost in Regionals to Oregon State

Best returning position player: Enrique Bradfield, Jr. (.317 with 46 stolen bases in 46 attempts)

Best returning pitcher: Carter Holton (8-4, 3.14 ERA, 97 Ks in 80 1/3 IP)

Top newcomer: Frosh pitcher Andrew Dutkanych, who could emerge as an ace.

Outlook for 2023: Pitching, pitching, and more pitching. Stop us if you’ve heard that before from Vandy, but it’ll be the case in 2023. Holton and Devin Futrell are both tough, and Thomas Schultz could be the ace out of the bullpen for the Commodores, who also add the SEC’s top freshman prospect on the mound in Dutkanych. Vandy can definitely slow down opposing offenses.

But how will the Vandy Boys fare at the plate? Bradfield has that Rickey Henderson thing going, but after Dominic Keegan and Carter Young, returning production offensively is not great. The Dores probably have the league’s second-best pitching staff, but they can’t afford to have a middle-of-the-pack offense. They’ll go as far as the bats allow them to go.

3. Florida

Last year: 42-24, lost in Regionals to Oklahoma

Best returning position player: OF Wyatt Langford (.355 with 26 HRs)

Best returning pitcher: Brandon Sproat (9-4, 3.41 ERA, 82 Ks in 90 IP)

Top newcomer: OF Michael Robertson (not REALLY a newcomer, but he missed last year due to injury and will be a speedy run manufacturer for the Gators as a redshirt freshman)

Outlook for 2023: Is this the year the Gators stop underachieving? There’s literally no reason the talented squad in Gainesville should not go to Omaha. But recent history hasn’t been on their side. Florida has a ton of returning bats, with Langford the most obvious, but catcher BT Riopelle is also a big deal. UF has had some strikeout issues, but if they can make better contact, there’s potential for plenty of offense.

Sproat’s return was good news and so is nabbing Southern Miss transfer Hurston Waldrep. Florida’s bullpen really bit them a few times last year, but with as many arms as the Gators will feature, that should be left in the past.

Florida feels like a team with the potential to sneak up on people and make a deep run in Omaha. But then, we’ve said that at recent preseasons before and been very wrong.

2. LSU

Last year: 40-22, lost to Southern Miss in Regionals

Best returning position player: Dylan Crews (.349 with 22 HRs)

Best returning pitcher: Ty Floyd (5-4, 3.77 ERA, 70 Ks in 60 IP)

Top newcomer: Tommy White (NC State transfer who hit .362 with 27 homers a year ago as ACC Freshman of the Year)

Outlook for 2023: LSU is most people’s preseason No. 1, and given the amount of dangerous bats in their lineup, it’s little wonder. The question will be on the mound, where LSU struggled a year ago, and despite the addition of Wes Johnson as pitching coach, questions remain.

Floyd is an excellent piece and transfer Paul Skenes is a tank of a man with a rocket pitching arm (who can also blast homers as a DH). But is the depth there? The loss of Grant Taylor to a season-ending injury doesn’t help. And can LSU not be a team that just rolls out 9 hitters and forgets about defense? Major fielding issues surfaced last year, and could be a stealthy foe this season.

LSU is as talented as any team in the nation. But until we’ve seen them at the top of the SEC, it’s hard to justify starting them there.

1. Tennessee

Last year: 57-9, lost to Notre Dame in Super Regionals

Best returning position player: Blake Burke (.326 with 14 HRs — in 95 at-bats)

Best returning pitcher: Chase Dollander (10-0, 2.39 ERA, 108 Ks in 79 IP)

Top newcomer: Kansas transfer Maui Ahuna (hit .396 with 8 HR and 13 SB last year)

Outlook for 2023: It’s time to win the CWS title. There’s really nothing left on the dance card. Yes, Tennessee loses a ton of offensive firepower. But look at Burke’s numbers again. Or consider Jared Dickey, who hit. 380 coming off the bench last season. There’s a lot to like.

On the mound, there are no questions. Dollander is likely the best pitcher in college baseball. Chase Burns and Cam Sewell were both preseason All-SEC coaches picks, and for good reason. UT’s pitching staff is as dominant as the bats were powerful a year ago.

The lack of Omaha success is the last stumbling block. That said, the odds are pretty good that the Vols break through. The offense might need a little seasoning, but by conference play, UT will be ready, and might top last year’s 25-5 mark in league play. They can only stop themselves.