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Rivals Top 25: UCLA rises to the top

Kendall Rogers

CHAT TRANSCRIPT: Read Kendall Rogers' weekly chat transcript

UCLA sure has come a long way since two seasons ago.

The Bruins were ranked No. 3 to begin the 2008 season, but they consistently stumbled on the way to a 33-27 overall record and just an NCAA regional finish. But this week, the Bruins are showing their progress in the best way possible by earning the top spot in the Rivals.com Top 25 for the first time in school history.

The Bruins started last week with a tough midweek loss to Cal State Fullerton. However, they bounced back in impressive fashion over the weekend with a road series win over a good Oregon State club.

Though the Bruins have the top spot this week, there are several teams hot on their heels, including Virginia, Arizona State, Texas and Arkansas.

The Cavaliers almost returned to the No. 1 spot this week, but instead come in at No. 2 after winning a home series over Georgia Tech. Arizona State dropped two spots after losing a road series to Washington State, while Texas had another fantastic weekend that included a home series sweep over Kansas. Arkansas, meanwhile, went on the road last weekend and swept Mississippi State.

Florida, Georgia Tech, LSU, South Carolina and Florida State round out the top 10.

Also worth noting, Louisville dropped from No. 6 to No. 11 after its first bad week, Oklahoma climbed from No. 21 to No. 16 after beating TCU in the midweek and taking care of Missouri at home over the weekend, and Miami dropped from No. 14 to No. 17 after losing a road series to surprising Virginia Tech.

Four teams entered the rankings this week: No. 20 Cal State Fullerton, No. 21 California, No. 24 Virginia Tech and No. 25 Kansas State.

Here are the conference breakdowns: ACC (6), SEC (5), Pac-10 (5), Big 12 (3), Big West (2), Big East (1), Big South (1), Mountain West (1), Sun Belt (1).

Records in the rankings do not include ties.

RIVALS.COM BASEBALL TOP 25

1. UCLA (25-3) – Last week: 2-2, Previous rank: 2
The Bruins dropped a midweek game to Cal State Fullerton, but they more than made up for that setback with a road series win over a very good Oregon State club.

2. Virginia (27-7) – Last week: 4-1, Previous rank: 3
The Cavaliers got back to business last week with a great crop of showings, including a fantastic home series win over Georgia Tech.

3. Arizona State (28-3) – Last week: 3-2, Previous rank: 1
The Sun Devils swept a two-game midweek series over San Diego before hitting the road and losing two of three to Washington State.

4. Texas (26-7) – Last week: 5-0, Previous rank: 5
The Longhorns already have a strong hold on the Big 12's top spot after earning their second straight series sweep, this time against Kansas.

5. Arkansas (26-6) – Last week, 4-0, Previous rank: 9
The Razorbacks have played fantastic baseball the past few weeks. They racked up more wins last week with a midweek win over Saint Louis and a road series sweep of Mississippi State.

6. Florida (23-8) – Last week: 3-1, Previous rank: 8
The Gators had another solid week that included a midweek triumph over Jacksonville and a road series win over Tennessee.

7. Georgia Tech (27-5) – Last week: 2-2, Previous rank: 4
The Yellow Jackets took care of Kennesaw State to start the week before hitting the road and dropping two of three to Virginia in a huge ACC series.

8. LSU (26-6) – Last week: 3-2, Previous rank: 7
The Tigers started the week with a thrilling extra-inning midweek win over Southern Miss, but took a slight step back over the weekend with a road series loss to Auburn.

9. South Carolina (25-7) – Last week: 3-1, Previous rank: 12
The Gamecocks absolutely are on a roll. In addition to Ray Tanner earning his 1,000th victory over the weekend, the Gamecocks took a road series from Vanderbilt.

10. Florida State (25-7) – Last week: 4-1, Previous rank: 10
The Seminoles split a midweek series with North Florida before hitting the road and sweeping a three-game series from Wake Forest.

11. Louisville (25-6) – Last week: 1-3, Previous rank: 6
The Cardinals had their first bad week of the season with a midweek loss to rival Kentucky and weekend road series loss to much improved Pittsburgh.

12. TCU (23-7) – Last week: 3-1, Previous rank: 13
The Horned Frogs have gotten back to business the past couple of weeks. They dropped a midweek affair to Oklahoma last week, but swept a road series over Houston.

13. Coastal Carolina (27-5) – Last week: 4-0, Previous rank: 15
The Chanticleers are red-hot and coming off another fabulous week that included a midweek win over UNC Wilmington and a home series win over High Point.

14. Clemson (23-10) – Last week: 3-2, Previous rank: 11
The Tigers took a small step back over the weekend. They swept midweek games from Georgia before dropping two of three to Duke.

15. Mississippi (23-10) – Last week: 2-2, Previous rank: 17
The Rebels had a so-so week on the diamond. They lost a midweek game to Arkansas-Little Rock, but responded with a road series win over Georgia.

16. Oklahoma (25-7) – Last week: 3-1, Previous rank: 21
The Sooners responded from the Texas series in style with a midweek win over TCU and a home series win over Missouri.

17. Miami (Fla.) (23-9) – Last week: 3-2, Previous rank: 14
The Hurricanes swept a two-game midweek set from Florida Atlantic, but they took a step back over the weekend with a road series loss to Virginia Tech.

18. Oregon State (20-8) – Last week: 2-2, Previous rank: 16
The Beavers started the week with a nice midweek win over Portland before returning home and dropping two of three to UCLA in a hard-fought series.

19. Arizona (22-9) – Last week: 2-1, Previous rank: 22
The Wildcats responded from the dismal showing at California two weekends ago with a road series win over Washington.

20. Cal State Fullerton (18-12) – Last week: 3-1, Previous rank: NR
It's not much of a surprise to see the red-hot Titans back in the rankings. They beat UCLA to start last week before taking care of UC Irvine on the road.

21. California (20-10) – Last week: 4-0, Previous rank: NR
The Golden Bears have been one of the nation's most pleasant surprises this season. They went 4-0 last week with a win over Stanford and a series sweep over USC.

22. Western Kentucky (26-8) – Last week: 4-1, Previous rank: 25
The Hilltoppers had another solid week that included a pair of midweek wins and a weekend series win over previously red-hot South Alabama.

23. UC Irvine (18-11) – Last week: 1-3, Previous rank: 18
The Anteaters dropped a midweek game to San Diego State before losing two of three at home to rival Cal State Fullerton over the weekend.

24. Virginia Tech (23-11) – Last week: 3-1, Previous rank: NR
The Hokies have been a huge surprise the past couple of weekends with series wins over Sunshine State powers Florida State and Miami.

25. Kansas State (23-6) – Last week: 2-1, Previous rank: NR
The Wildcats have been one of the better surprises in the Big 12 this season. They are second in the conference after a series win over Nebraska this past weekend.

DROPPED OUT

No. 19 Alabama, No. 20 Stanford, No. 23 Texas A&M, No. 24 Vanderbilt