Weather is such a huge factor in the overall success of college baseball teams. With all the travel, lack of outdoor practice, and 3/4 of the season on the road, there is such a huge competitive inequity for cold weather teams vs. warm weather teams. Comparing them is like comparing apples to oranges.

Maybe someday there will be a Northern College World Series for cold-weather teams only. But for now, here is The Baseball Collegian’s new Northern College Baseball Poll to celebrate just those teams from northern climates.

Notes:
Win-loss percentage and strength of schedule are key factors.
Teams below .500 are not eligible for the poll.
Mild weather states (yellow on the map) are considered warm weather states.

The Baseball Collegian
Northern College National Poll 
April 8, 2026

1 Nebraska Neb. 23-6
2 Cincinnati Ohio 21-11
3 Kansas State Kan. 20-10
4 Michigan Mich. 15-14
5 Boston College Mass. 22-10
6 Kansas Kan. 21-10
7 Pittsburgh Penn. 20-8
8 Notre Dame Ind. 15-11
9 Kent State Ohio 22-7
10 Gonzaga Wash. 14-14
11 Purdue Ind. 20-9
12 Ohio State Ohio 15-13
13 Southeast Missouri State Mo. 22-9
14 Utah Utah 16-12
15 Miami, Ohio Ohio 19-10
16 Minnesota Minn. 18-11
17 Iowa Iowa 16-12
18 Creighton Neb. 14-14
19 Illinois Ill. 14-14
20 Wichita State Kan. 21-11
21 Washington Wash. 15-15
22 St. Joseph’s Penn. 18-11
23 Connecticut Conn. 16-16
24 Northern Illinois Ill. 17-9
25 Rutgers N.J. 15-14