Things to overreact to in the first 40 games of the season
Dodgers start 2026 season strong but face issues after 40 games.
UCLA remains the top team in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll for the 11th week, securing all 30 first-place votes despite a loss to No. 15 Oregon. The Bruins have a season record of 46-5 as they prepare for the upcoming College World Series.
With the start of the 2026 College World Series only a month away, college baseball teams across the country are positioning themselves for a potential run to Omaha.
In that race, one team continues to stand out above the others.
For the 11th consecutive week, UCLA is atop the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, earning all 30 potential first-place votes. The Bruins dropped a game against No. 15 Oregon in a weekend series, but still won two of the three matchups against the Ducks, pushing their record this season to 46-5.
REQUIRED READING: NCAA softball bracket: Matchups, top seeds, regional sites for 2026 NCAA Tournament
The gap between them and the rest of the sport is pretty large, too. No other team in the top 25 of this week’s poll has more than 42 wins or fewer than eight losses.
North Carolina, Georgia Tech, Georgia and Texas round out the top five of the poll, in order.
Here's a look at the updated USA TODAY Sports, D1Baseball and Baseball America polls:
First place votes in parentheses
UCLA is ranked first in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, followed by other top teams in the rankings.
UCLA won two out of three games against No. 15 Oregon, despite losing one match in the series.
The 2026 College World Series is set to begin in a month, as teams are gearing up for the tournament.
Dodgers start 2026 season strong but face issues after 40 games.
Braves' Eli White goes on 7-day concussion list after a wall collision catch vs. Dodgers.
Analyzing the 49ers' offseason moves: Mike Evans vs. Osa Odighizuwa for 2026 impact.
Nitin Menon remains the sole Indian in the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires for 2026-27.
Get ready for the 2026 Atlanta Dream season with key player insights!
Who will the Cowboys face on Thanksgiving Day? Predictions and possibilities.
See every story in Sports — including breaking news and analysis.
Others receiving votes: Oklahoma 45; Cincinnati 41; Wake Forest 16; Tennessee 10; UC Santa Barbara 9; Virginia 8; Mercer 7; California Baptist 6; Miami 5; Missouri State 4; Kent State 3; UTSA 1
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College baseball rankings: Updated Coaches Poll, D1Baseball, Baseball America polls