We have been working on a different approach to the rankings since the three existing ones are very good. The Coaches Poll and the ESPN Poll cover the opinion side of the rankings. Once the RPI comes out it becomes the primary ranking as it relates to the post season. We wanted to generate a ranking that looks at the teams from a more statistical perspective and take as much subjectivity out as possible. Please note, and we hope you read this part, that this is not a “Prediction of who we think will win the WCWS”, but rather a ranking based on play up till this point.
Methodology
We took in to consideration five things; RPI, Conference Strength, Team OPS, Team ERA and Team fielding percentage.
RPI: The RPI (Rating Percentage Index) is a measure of strength of schedule and how a team does against that schedule. We wanted to take into account the quality of opponents a team plays.
Conference Strength: Calculated by factoring individual team RPI within the conference. (Rankings can be found at the bottom of this page).
OPS: Measures the ability to get on base and to hit for power, two important offensive skills, are represented. Although it is not an end all or be all statistic the definitively defines offensive production, we feel it gives a fair assessment in this case of a teams offensive strength.
ERA: Earned Run Average to determine pitching strength.
Fielding Percentage to look at overall team defense.
FPN Power Rankings
| Rank | Team |
| 1 | Florida |
| 2 | Oregon |
| 3 | La.-Lafayette |
| 4 | Auburn |
| 5 | Michigan |
| 6 | Alabama |
| 7 | Oklahoma |
| 8 | Washington |
| 9 | Georgia |
| 10 | Kentucky |
| 11 | James Madison |
| 12 | Baylor |
| 13 | LSU |
| 14 | Florida St. |
| 15 | Tennessee |
| 16 | Texas A&M |
| 17 | Missouri |
| 18 | UCLA |
| 19 | South Fla. |
| 20 | Minnesota |
| 21 | South Carolina |
| 22 | UCF |
| 23 | Arizona |
| 24 | Arizona St. |
| 25 | Fresno St. |
Conference Rankings
| Rank | Conference |
| 1 | SEC |
| 2 | Pac12 |
| 3 | Big 12 |
| 4 | ACC |
| 5 | Big Ten |
| 6 | Sunbelt |
| 7 | Big West |
| 8 | Colonial |
| 9 | CUSA |
| 10 | Mountain West |
| 11 | Southern |
| 12 | Asun |
| 13 | Mo Valley |
| 14 | Southland |
| 15 | West Coast |
| 16 | MAC |
| 17 | Big South |
| 18 | Western Athletic |
| 19 | AAC |
| 20 | Big East |
| 21 | OVC |
| 22 | A10 |
| 23 | Patriot |
| 24 | Summit |
| 25 | Big Sky |
| 26 | Horizon |
| 27 | Ivy |
| 28 | America East |
| 29 | Metro Atlantic |
| 30 | Northeast |
| 31 | Mid East |
| 32 | Southwestern |
