Two Historically Black College and University (HBCU) baseball programs received votes in the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) 2024 Preseason NCAA Division I Poll released on February 1, 2024.
Alabama State’s 2023 campaign ended with an overall record of 41-18, including a 26-4 mark in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC). The Hornets weren’t so lucky finishing third in the SWAC tournament. The 41 wins were most in the baseball program’s history. Jack Hay and Randy Flores look to be the offensive leaders for the Hornets in 2024. On the mound, the Hornets will be led by RHP Kyler McIntosh and LHP Ricardo Rivera.
Bethune-Cookman recorded a 33-27 overall record last season and were 20-9 in the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) concluding the 2023 season as runners up in the SWAC tournament losing in the championship game to Florida A&M. The Bethune-Cookman baseball team returns several starters at key positions. The pitching staff returns key pieces and brought in more pitching depth from the junior college ranks. BCU ranked as one of the Top 10 in recruiting from the JUCOs in the nation.
Both teams are ranked 1 and 2 in Black College Nines HBCU Baseball “Large School” Top 10 preseason poll.
The NCBWA 2024 Preseason list:
“There were 59 schools and 16 conferences rated or receiving votes among the first Top-30 survey in ‘24, and the poll will continue with Top 25 teams on Monday, Feb. 19. The final NCBWA poll will be released after the completion of the NCAA World Series in Omaha, Neb., June 14-23.”
| 2024 NCBWA DIVISION I PRESEASON POLL (FEB. 1) | ||||
| Rk. | School | Conference | Record | Pvs. |
| 1. | Wake Forest | ACC | 54-12 | 3 |
| 2. | LSU | SEC | 54-17 | 1 |
| 3. | Florida | SEC | 54-17 | 2 |
| 4. | Arkansas | SEC | 43-18 | 17 |
| 5. | Tennessee | SEC | 44-22 | 5 |
| 6. | TCU | Big 12 | 44-24 | 4 |
| 7. | Vanderbilt | SEC | 42-20 | 19 |
| 8. | Oregon State | Pac-12 | 41-20 | 26 |
| 9. | Texas | Big 12 | 42-22 | 11 |
| 10. | Texas A&M | SEC | 38-27 | 25 |
| 11. | Virginia | ACC | 50-15 | 7 |
| 12. | Clemson | ACC | 44-19 | 18 |
| 13. | East Carolina | American Athletic | 47-19 | 22 |
| 14. | Duke | ACC | 39-24 | 15 |
| 15. | South Carolina | SEC | 42-21 | 13 |
| 16. | North Carolina | ACC | 36-24 | NR |
| 17. | Stanford | Pac-12 | 44-20 | 8 |
| 18. | NC State | ACC | 36-21 | NR |
| 19. | Coastal Carolina | Sun Belt | 42-21 | 24 |
| 20. | Texas Tech | Big 12 | 41-23 | 28 |
| 21. | Iowa | Big Ten | 40-16 | NR |
| 22. | UCLA | Pac-12 | 28-24-1 | NR |
| 23. | Alabama | SEC | 43-21 | 16 |
| 24. | UC Santa Barbara | Big West | 35-20 | NR |
| 25. | Auburn | SEC | 34-23-1 | NR |
| 26. | Oral Roberts | Summit League | 52-14 | 6 |
| 27. | Kansas State | Big 12 | 35-24 | NR |
| 28. | Northeastern | CAA | 44-16 | NR |
| 29. | Oklahoma State | Big 12 | 41-20 | 27 |
| 30. | Southern Miss | Sun Belt | 46-20 | 10 |
| Others receiving votes (listed alphabetically): Alabama State (41-18), Arizona (33-26), Arizona State (32-23), Bethune-Cookman (33-27), Campbell (46-15), Connecticut (44-17), DBU (47-16), Florida State (23-31), Gonzaga (18-34), Grand Canyon (37-21), Indiana (43-20), Indiana State (45-17), Kansas (25-32), Kentucky (40-21), Louisiana (41-24), Maryland (42-21), Miami, Fla. (42-21), Mississippi State (27-26), Oklahoma (32-28), Ole Miss (25-29), Oregon (41-22), Texas State (36-23), Troy (40-22), UC Irvine (38-17), UNCW (34-23). USC (34-23-1), West Virginia (40-20), Washington (35-20), Xavier (39-25). | ||||
| By conference: SEC 9, ACC 6, Big 12 5, Pac-12 3, Sun Belt 2, AAC 1, Big Ten 1, Big West 1, CAA 1, Summit 1. | ||||
| Records are from the 2023 season | ||||