Extra Innings: Arkansas rises, Florida falls, and POTY race heats up
04/07/2025
By Chris Marler
How good is the SEC?
How about Tennessee currently being the fourth ranked team in the conference? What about LSU sweeping three of four series in SEC play and are currently third in the standings?
The conference is absolutely loaded top to bottom, but especially at the top.
New Number 1…again
After Tennessee had a Saturday to forget against Texas A&M in Knoxville, there’s a new number one. The Arkansas Razorbacks continue to bludgeon teams this season. The Razorbacks are 11-1 in the SEC, 30-3 on the season, and are tied for the fewest losses in the SEC. They also lead the conference in hitting with a .335 cumulative batting average and are top five in pitching with a 3.53 ERA.
Not a bad way to start the week, eh @RazorbackBSB? pic.twitter.com/uBhPPSH4dn
— Arkansas Razorbacks 🐗 (@ArkRazorbacks) April 7, 2025
Florida is really that bad
In recent years, it feels like Florida has been given the same benefit of the doubt we usually reserve for John Calipari’s basketball teams. As of this week, the Gators do not deserve that. They’re 1-11 in the SEC, which is a program worst. Aside from Lewis and Clark, no one is more excited to see Missouri coming to town this weekend than the Gators.
Signs of life
Shoutout to Mississippi State and Texas A&M for waking up from their collective coma this weekend. However, there’s still a lot of season left for both teams and neither is showing promise of making any postseason runs. But for these two proud programs to show some fight and each take two of three this weekend was a big deal.
Series win! #HailState🐶 pic.twitter.com/Z24uDiKqDW
— Mississippi State Baseball (@HailStateBB) April 6, 2025
Player of the Year
The past few years have seen some exceptionally talented players take home SEC Player of the Year honors. The star power with guys like Dylan Crews, Paul Skenes, and Jac Caglianone has been second to (caglia)none.
Did you see what I did there?
This year might not have the same star power across the league, but choosing a Player of the Year based on stats is shaping up to be more difficult than ever. Just past the halfway mark, the numbers are off the charts: four players are hitting over .400, six have a slugging percentage north of .750, eight boast an on-base percentage above .500, and ten have already hit double-digit home runs. Sheesh.