CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Defending champion Blinn College (Texas) will open the 2025 NJCAA baseball season as the No. 1 team in the nation, according to the preseason rankings released Tuesday, Jan. 21.

The Buccaneers, who defeated Florida Southwestern State 12-5 last year to claim their first national title, received all 10 first-place votes and 200 points in the poll, with another Texas team, McLennan Community College, ranked No. 2 with 192 points.

The preseason top 25 is a who's who of teams that annually compete for one of the 10 spots in the Alpine Bank Junior College World Series in Grand Junction.

Three-time national champion Iowa Western is ranked No. 3, followed by Florida Southwestern State, last year's national runner-up, and Johnson County Community College (Kan.).

Rounding out the top 10 are Georgia Highlands, Salt Lake Community College, Florence-Darlington Tech, Louisiana State Eunice and Crowder College (Mo.).

Teams open play this weekend, with Blinn opening its title defense in a home doubleheader against Temple.

This year's JUCO World Series is May 24-31 at Suplizio Field.