While it might have been understandable to leave West Virginia baseball out of the national rankings early in the season – when they were racking up wins against teams like Jacksonville, Ohio, and Lipscomb – the narrative has changed. The Mountaineers’ perfect 13–0 run in March had fans already wondering why they weren’t getting more national attention. READ MORE: Still Unranked, Still Winning: WVU Baseball Keeps Making Its Case
Now, WVU is in the heart of its Big 12 schedule, riding a four-game winning streak and fresh off a series sweep of Utah. At 27–4 overall and 7–3 in conference play, the Mountaineers have built one of the best resumes in the country. And yet, they’re still unranked.
There’s no excuse for it. This is a team that reached the Super Regionals just last season. To be on the outside looking in at this point – with a solid coaching staff and a winning record in one of the toughest leagues in college baseball – is baffling.
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Unfortunately, this snub feels all too familiar. WVU fans saw the same treatment with the men’s basketball team last season, when the Mountaineers couldn’t crack the Top 25 even after winning three Quad 1 games in the Bahamas.
The more cynical portion of the fanbase calls it a national conspiracy against all things WVU. At this point, it’s hard to blame them.
Still, fans and students might want to reflect on something head coach Steve Sabins said back in February on a Zoom call with the media:
“You have to be careful what you ingest,” Sabins said. “If you fall in love with yourself, you get your ass kicked. If you look ahead, you get your ass kicked. If you get too worked up about what other people think, you end up getting your ass kicked.”
Colorful language, sure – but we’re all mostly adults here. And Sabins is right. This isn’t the time to dwell on rankings. WVU has a baseball team that can compete with anyone in the country. That’s worth celebrating.
After longtime head coach Randy Mazey stepped down last year, things could’ve gone the other direction. But Sabins and this staff rebuilt the pitching rotation through the transfer portal and re-established a competitive identity.
It’s Just a Matter of Time
The national pollsters have WVU on their radar. They know this isn’t last year’s team that featured JJ Wetherholt, a top-10 MLB Draft pick. But there’s still a “wait and see” attitude around how long this new-look roster can keep it up.
WVU is on the cusp of breaking into the Top 25, and another strong showing this weekend at Houston could finally push them over the edge. But this isn’t college football. National rankings don’t control postseason opportunities. What does matter is the NCAA’s selection criteria: RPI (Rating Percentage Index), strength of schedule, conference record, and quality wins.
The Mountaineers are quietly building an impressive case. Wins over top-tier Big 12 teams – and a strong finish in the conference – could put them in position to host a regional, or at the very least, secure a favorable seed. Matchups next month against Texas Tech and Kansas will serve as key litmus tests before the Big 12 Tournament, where every game will carry weight in the eyes of the selection committee.
Then it’s on to the NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament, where rankings are just a number and performance is everything. WVU fans won’t have to wonder much longer as this team is about to find out exactly where it stands in the national picture.
