| | | Record | Pct | CWS Recap | Head Coach | Preseason Rank | Rank before CWS |
|---|
| 1 | Miami-FL | 50-13 | .794 | 4-0 | Jim Morris (18 yrs: 803-332-1) | 3 | 2 |
| 2 | Florida St. | 57-14 | .803 | 4-2 (Miami) | Mike Martin (20 yrs: 1079-364-3) | 4 | 3 |
| 3 | Stanford | 50-15 | .769 | 2-2 (Fla. St.) | Mark Marquess (23 yrs: 945-482-5) | 7 | 1 |
| 4 | Alabama | 53-16 | .768 | 2-2 (Miami) | Jim Wells (10 yrs: 439-179) | 13 | 7 |
| 5 | Rice | 59-15 | .797 | 1-2 (Alabama) | Wayne Graham (8 yrs: 336-155) | 6 | 4 |
| 6 | CS-Fullerton | 50-14 | .781 | 1-2 (Fla. St.) | George Horton (3 yrs: 136-55-1) | 14 | 6 |
| 7 | Texas A&M | 52-18 | .743 | 0-2 (CS-Full.) | Mark Johnson (15 yrs: 668-279-2) | 11 | 5 |
| 8 | Baylor | 50-15 | .769 | DNP | Steve Smith (5 yrs: 180-112-1) | NR | 8 |
| 9 | Oklahoma St. | 46-21 | .687 | 0-2 (Rice) | Tom Holliday (3 yrs: 132-61) | 21 | 9 |
| 10 | USC | 36-26 | .581 | DNP | Mike Gillespie (13 yrs: 519-293-2) | 1 | 10 |
| 11 | Wake Forest | 47-16 | .746 | DNP | George Greer (18 yrs: 536-396-6) | 17 | 11 |
| 12 | Ohio St. | 50-14 | .781 | DNP | Bob Todd (16 yrs: 613-319-1) | NR | 12 |
| 13 | Auburn | 46-19 | .708 | DNP | Hal Baird (20 yrs: 738-374) | 18 | 13 |
| 14 | Wichita St. | 59-14 | .808 | DNP | Gene Stephenson (22 yrs: 1224-360-3) | 5 | 14 |
| 15 | Tulane | 48-17 | .738 | DNP | Rick Jones (6 yrs: 252-123) | NR | 15 |
| 16 | Louisiana St. | 41-24 | .631 | DNP | Skip Bertman (16 yrs: 774-288-2) | 8 | 16 |
| 17 | Clemson | 42-27 | .609 | DNP | Jack Leggett (20 yrs: 665-402) | 15 | 17 |
| 18 | Pepperdine | 46-16 | .742 | DNP | Frank Sanchez (3 yrs: 112-63) | NR | 18 |
| 19 | East Carolina | 46-16 | .742 | DNP | Keith LeClair (8 yrs: 305-180-1) | NR | 19 |
| 20 | Southwestern La. | 42-24 | .636 | DNP | Tony Robichaux (12 yrs: 413-269) | NR | 20 |
| 21 | Florida Atlantic | 54-9 | .857 | DNP | Kevin Cooney (12 yrs: 394-282-4) | NR | 21 |
| 22 | Providence | 49-16 | .754 | DNP | Charlie Hickey (3 yrs: 106-61-1) | NR | 22 |
| 23 | Arkansas | 42-23 | .646 | DNP | Norm DeBriyn (30 yrs: 1075-565-6) | 22 | 23 |
| 24 | Houston | 40-24 | .625 | DNP | Rayner Noble (5 yrs: 169-129) | 24 | 24 |
| 25 | Nebraska | 42-18 | .700 | DNP | Dave Van Horn (5 yrs: 172-103) | NR | 25 |