Tennessee baseball is No. 2 in the preseason USA TODAY coaches poll, its highest preseason ranking in program history.

The Vols, who are coming off a program-best 57-win season, received six first-place votes. They ranked behind LSU, the preseason No. 1. LSU received 23 first-plate votes.

The SEC has seven of the top 10 teams, including four of the top 5. Texas A&M and Florida checked in at No. 4 and No. 5, joining LSU and Tennessee in the top five. Arkansas is No. 6 and reigning national champion Ole Miss is No. 7. Vanderbilt is No. 9.

UPGRADES: Tony Vitello details next wave of upgrades to Tennessee baseball's Lindsey Nelson Stadium

INCOMERS: Tennessee baseball transfer class ranked No. 3 in the nation by Baseball America

Tennessee hosts Texas A&M, Florida, and Vanderbilt. It plays at LSU and Arkansas in two of the marquee SEC of the series of the season.

The Vols also are the preseason No. 2 team according to Perfect Game, Baseball America, and D1 Baseball.

Tennessee won the SEC regular-season title and tournament title last season. It held the No. 1 ranking through much of the season before falling in to Notre Dame in the Knoxville Super Regional. The Vols finished ranked No. 9 last season.

The Vols reached the College World Series in 2021 for the first time since 2005.

Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee ranked No. 2 in preseason USA TODAY coaches poll