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Among the many costs of COVID-19 was what was shaping up to be a stellar season for Florida’s baseball program. The Gators started the year 16-0, and they suffered their lone setback in 2020 to FSU in the final game before the season was canceled due to the virus.
UF benefitted tremendously from the shortened MLB Draft, as star pitchers Tommy Mace and Jack Leftwich went unselected. With both returning, expectations are high for the Gators in 2021.
In Collegiate Baseball’s initial preseason poll, Florida ranks No. 1 in the nation. UF is above fellow SEC squad Vanderbilt, who ranks No. 2.
The Gators lost two signees to the draft, but no players from its current roster. Understandably, Florida is a big favorite to bring home the national title heading into 2021.
Here are Collegiate Baseball’s full preseason rankings.
| Rank | Team (2020 Final Record) | Points |
| 1. | Florida (16-1) | 498 |
| 2. | Vanderbilt (13-5) | 493 |
| 3. | UCLA (13-2) | 491 |
| 4. | Texas Tech. (16-3) | 488 |
| 5. | Mississippi (16-1) | 484 |
| 6. | Miami, Fla. (12-4) | 482 |
| 7. | Louisiana St. (12-5) | 480 |
| 8. | U.C. Santa Barbara (13-2) | 477 |
| 9. | Mississippi St. (12-4) | 474 |
| 10. | Arizona (10-5) | 473 |
| 11. | Louisville (13-4) | 470 |
| 12. | Georgia (14-4) | 469 |
| 13. | N.C. State (14-3) | 465 |
| 14. | Virginia (14-4) | 462 |
| 15. | Arizona St. (13-4) | 461 |
| 16. | East Carolina (13-4) | 457 |
| 17. | Oklahoma St. (13-5) | 454 |
| 18. | Michigan (8-7) | 453 |
| 19. | Texas Christian (11-4) | 451 |
| 20. | Texas (14-3) | 449 |
| 21. | South Carolina (12-4) | 447 |
| 22. | Arkansas (11-5) | 445 |
| 23. | Coastal Carolina (11-5) | 442 |
| 24. | Dallas Baptist (12-4) | 438 |
| 25. | Clemson (14-3) | 436 |
| 26. | Texas A&M (15-3) | 435 |
| 27. | Alabama (16-1) | 431 |
| 28. | Florida St. (12-5) | 430 |
| 29. | Southern Mississippi (12-4) | 427 |
| 30. | Texas St. (14-4) | 426 |
| 31. | Stetson (11-4) | 423 |
| 32. | Central Florida (15-3) | 421 |
| 33. | Pepperdine (12-3) | 418 |
| 34. | Georgia Tech. (11-5) | 416 |
| 35. | Tennessee (15-2) | 413 |
| 36. | Duke (12-4) | 409 |
| 37. | Auburn (13-5) | 405 |
| 38. | Central Michigan (11-6) | 402 |
| 39. | Indiana (9-6) | 399 |
| 40. | Winthrop (11-4) | 396 |
| 41. | Oklahoma (14-4) | 394 |
| 42. | U.C. Irvine (8-7) | 392 |
| 43. | Tulane (15-2) | 389 |
| 44. | Long Beach St. (10-5) | 385 |
| 45. | Wichita St. (13-2) | 382 |
| 46. | Minnesota (8-10) | 377 |
| 47. | Notre Dame (11-2) | 373 |
| 48. | Houston (6-9) | 370 |
| 49. | Oregon St. (5-9) | 368 |
| 50. | Stanford (5-11) | 365 |
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