With just one week remaining in the regular season, Tennessee baseball is heating up at the perfect time. The Volunteers (34-18, 13-14 SEC) are coming off an impressive 2-1 series victory over Texas at Lindsey Nelson Stadium, adding to their momentum with a midweek 8-1 win against Presbyterian on May 5.

However, when the latest USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll dropped on Monday, both Tennessee and their upcoming opponent found themselves on the outside looking in. The Vols are currently unranked but receiving 10 votes, while their next opponent—Oklahoma—picked up 45 votes but also missed the top 25 cut.

This sets the stage for an intriguing three-game series starting Thursday through Saturday at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City. Both programs will be hungry to prove they belong in the national conversation, making this final regular-season matchup a must-watch for SEC baseball fans.

Other notable vote-getters include Cincinnati (41), Wake Forest (16), UC Santa Barbara (9), Virginia (8), and Mercer (7), rounding out a competitive field just outside the rankings. The Coaches Poll is voted on by 30 Division I head coaches who are members of the American Baseball Coaches Association, representing programs from across the country.

As the regular season winds down, every at-bat and every pitch matters. Whether you're cheering for the Vols or the Sooners, this series promises to deliver high-stakes action as both teams look to build postseason momentum.