Georgia is predicted to be among the top five national seeds in the 2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament.
After years of building depth, developing talent, and enduring the grind of the SEC, the Georgia Bulldogs baseball program appears poised for a breakout on the national stage. As postseason projections begin to solidify, Georgia is not just considered a regional host — they’re forecasted to land one of the top five national seeds in the 2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament.
For a program historically rich but recently overshadowed in the ultra-competitive SEC, this projection signals a significant step forward under head coach Scott Stricklin’s leadership. The Bulldogs are riding a wave of dominant pitching, timely hitting, and elite fielding that has pushed them into elite company. With the regular season winding down, Georgia fans are buzzing with anticipation over what could be a special postseason run.
Georgia’s projected placement among the top five national seeds is not based on hype — it’s rooted in substance. Entering the final stretch of the regular season, the Bulldogs boast a 38-12 overall record and a 17-7 mark in SEC play, a testament to their consistency in arguably the toughest conference in college baseball.
Statistically, Georgia ranks in the top 15 nationally in several key categories:
- Team ERA: 3.35, 12th in NCAA
- Home runs: 97, 8th in NCAA
- Fielding percentage: .983, 5th in NCAA
- RPI: 4th nationally
The Bulldogs’ resume includes series wins over LSU, Arkansas, and Tennessee — all ranked opponents. They’ve also avoided bad losses, maintaining a near-flawless non-conference slate that included sweeps of mid-major powers Coastal Carolina and Liberty.
College baseball insiders say Georgia’s balanced profile — a combination of elite pitching depth, power hitting, and defensive efficiency — is what sets them apart from many other teams.
When Scott Stricklin took over in 2014, Georgia was coming off a stretch of mediocrity. But the former Kent State head coach slowly instilled a culture of discipline and development, betting on player retention, high-upside freshmen, and calculated transfer portal additions.
The 2025 version of Georgia baseball is the fullest expression of his vision.
“This team has depth we haven’t had before,” Stricklin said after a key series win over Florida. “Our bullpen has six guys who can close. Our lineup can beat you with the long ball or the bunt. And our defense doesn’t give away outs.”
At the center of it all is junior right-hander Cooper Landry, who’s emerged as a Golden Spikes candidate. Landry, a former top-100 recruit, has dominated SEC play with a 2.45 ERA and a 10.7 K/9 rate. He’s the Friday night ace that postseason contenders are built around.
Behind him, sophomore Jaxon Carmichael and freshman phenom Liam Brooks have given Georgia a lethal 1-2-3 punch. Brooks, in particular, has been a revelation. The Georgia native holds a 1.91 ERA and has drawn national comparisons to former Vandy star Kumar Rocker.
While Georgia’s pitching has been elite, the offense hasn’t taken a back seat. The Bulldogs are averaging 7.2 runs per game and have slugged nearly 100 home runs this season. Sophomore slugger Dylan Mercer, batting .341 with 19 home runs and 58 RBIs, has become the face of the offense.
“He’s got that blend of bat speed and strike zone discipline that makes him really hard to pitch to,” said an opposing SEC assistant coach anonymously. “He’s a pro.”
Mercer is flanked by veterans Ben Jarrett and Tyson McCloud, who bring power and poise to the lineup. Jarrett, a fifth-year senior, is hitting .308 with 11 homers and has drawn 42 walks — a team high. McCloud, the emotional leader of the team, has delivered clutch hits all year, including two game-winning bombs in extra innings.
The lineup also features freshman sensation Eli Grantham, whose speed and contact ability have made him the perfect table-setter. He’s swiped 22 bases and leads the team with a .421 on-base percentage.
Often overshadowed in an era of gaudy offensive numbers, defense has quietly been one of Georgia’s greatest strengths. The Bulldogs are committing less than one error every two games and have turned a conference-best 48 double plays.
Senior shortstop Cade Simmons has been the rock in the middle infield, making dazzling plays with consistency and anchoring a unit that rarely beats itself.
“We take pride in making the routine plays,” Simmons said. “The way we look at it, every out we give away is one less our pitchers get to earn.”
Their fielding efficiency has allowed Georgia’s staff to trust the defense behind them — a synergy that’s translated to elite run prevention.
The NCAA Selection Committee takes multiple factors into account when awarding the top eight national seeds, including:
- RPI (Ratings Percentage Index)
- Strength of schedule
- Conference record
- Series wins vs ranked opponents
- Non-conference performance
As of mid-May, Georgia checks all the boxes:
- Top 4 RPI
- 17 SEC wins (with potential for 20+)
- Series wins over top-10 teams
- No bad losses
Other teams competing for top-five seeds include Texas A&M, Arkansas, North Carolina, and Wake Forest. But Georgia’s edge in both RPI and head-to-head matchups puts them in a strong position.
If the Bulldogs finish the season 3-3 or better in their final six SEC games and make a decent run in the SEC Tournament, they are almost a lock for a top-five seed.
Being a top-eight national seed has tangible benefits:
- Home-field advantage through the Super Regionals
- Avoiding other top-eight teams until the College World Series
- Enhanced recruiting visibility and program prestige
For Georgia, hosting through the Supers could be pivotal. Foley Field has been a fortress this season — the Bulldogs are 26-4 at home and routinely play in front of sold-out crowds.
“That’s the dream,” said sophomore catcher Luke Anders, who’s caught nearly every game this season. “We want to make Omaha, and we want to do it at home. That’s been the goal since fall camp.”
Georgia’s last trip to the College World Series came in 2008, and the drought has lingered as one of the major talking points around the program. Despite several strong regular seasons, postseason inconsistency and untimely injuries have held them back in recent years.
But 2025 feels different.
“This team has the ‘it’ factor,” said D1Baseball analyst Kendall Rogers. “They have top-end arms, a mature lineup, and they play clean baseball. That’s a formula that travels in June.”
The SEC’s rugged regular season often acts as a litmus test for Omaha potential. Georgia has passed every test, and while nothing is guaranteed in postseason baseball, they have the look of a legitimate contender.
While Georgia has essentially locked up a regional hosting spot, the SEC Tournament will provide a chance to solidify their national seed and build momentum heading into the NCAA Tournament.
Stricklin has hinted at managing his staff carefully to avoid overuse but recognizes the tournament as a platform.
“You want to be playing your best baseball in late May and early June,” he said. “We’ll be smart, but we also want to keep the edge we’ve had all year.”
A deep run in Hoover could further cement Georgia’s standing, perhaps even earning them the No. 2 overall seed if the chips fall right.
As the Bulldogs prepare for the spotlight, a few names will be critical to their success:
- Cooper Landry (SP): The ace who will get the ball in Game 1 of any postseason series. He’s been lights out in big moments.
- Dylan Mercer (OF): The power bat who can carry the offense during slumps.
- Liam Brooks (SP): The freshman who could be a secret weapon against unfamiliar teams.
- Cade Simmons (SS): His glove and leadership are irreplaceable.
- Luke Anders (C): A workhorse behind the plate who handles the staff with veteran poise.
With elite talent, veteran leadership, and the numbers to back up the hype, the Georgia Bulldogs are no longer a “dark horse.” They are a legitimate national title contender.
In a year where SEC teams like LSU and Arkansas were expected to dominate headlines, Georgia has quietly taken control of its own destiny. Whether they can finish the job remains to be seen, but few teams are as well-positioned heading into the 2025 NCAA Baseball Tournament.
The fans in Athens can feel it — this may be the year the Dawgs finally return to Omaha and chase down the program’s first national championship since 1990.
