ORLANDO – The UCF baseball team has been ranked No. 24 by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association, which announced its preseason Top 35 poll this week.
The University of Texas was the preseason favorite to win the 2003 College World Series, according to the voting. Rice, Georgia Tech, Southern California and Stanford round out the top five in the poll.
Three Atlantic Sun conference schools earned spots in the Top 35, as Stetson was slated No. 21 while Florida Atlantic was voted 29th.
UCF opens the season at home February 8 vs. Florida International. The Golden Knights will play 11 of their first 13 games at the friendly confines of Jay Bergman Field.
The Golden Knights were ranked 26th in the preseason by Collegiate Baseball News and 39th by Baseball America. The last preseason poll to be announced is the USA Today Sports Weekly/ESPN Coaches Poll.
NCBWA Preseason Poll
1. Texas
2. Rice
3. Georgia Tech
4. Southern California
5. Stanford
6. Florida State
7. Houston
8. Cal State Fullerton
9. LSU
10. Arizona State
11. Wake Forest
12. Richmond
13. Notre Dame
14. Baylor
15. South Carolina
16. Long Beach State
17. Miami (Fla.)
18. Nebraska
19. South Alabama
20. Mississippi State
21. Stetson
22. Clemson
23. North Carolina
24. UCF
25. Ohio State
26. James Madison
27. SMS
28. Virginia Tech
29. Florida Atlantic
30. East Carolina
31. Auburn
32. Virginia Commonwealth
33. Wichita State
34. Southern
35. Kent State