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DURHAM, NC - Led by No. 1 Texas A&M, the Big 12 Conference placed four teams in the top 10 in Baseball America's preseason rankings.

The Aggies, who reached super regionals in each of the last two years, claim the preseason No. 1 spot for the first time ever thanks to one of the deepest pitching staffs in the nation. Texas A&M's highest previous preseason ranking was sixth in 1988.

The Aggies last held the top spot in May of 1999, when they sat atop the rankings for three weeks en route to the Big 12 title and their last College World Series appearance.

Big 12 rival Texas starts the year at No. 4, while Baylor and Missouri check in at No. 8 and No. 10, respectively. Oklahoma gives the conference a fifth team in the rankings, landing at No. 16.

Three teams that reached the 2008 College World Series will open 2009 ranked in the top 10: No. 2 Louisiana State, No. 3 North Carolina and No. 7 Rice. Fellow CWS participants Georgia (14), Stanford (15) and Florida State (24) also cracked the top 25. Miami, whose many losses from last year's Omaha team include three All-Americans, and defending national champion Fresno State, which lost its top four starting pitchers and its closer, begin the season unranked.

The Southeastern Conference tied the Big 12 with five teams in the top 25, while the Atlantic Coast and Pacific-10 conferences each placed four teams in the rankings.

The staff of Baseball America determines the Top 25 rankings.

1. Texas A&M

2. Louisiana State

3. North Carolina

4. Texas

5. Cal State Fullerton

6. Mississippi

7. Rice

8. Baylor

9. UC Irvine

10. Missouri

11. San Diego

12. UCLA

13. Arizona State

14. Georgia

15. Stanford

16. Oklahoma

17. Pepperdine

18. Kent State

20. Georgia Tech

21. Alabama

22. Arkansas

23. Louisville

24. Florida State

25. Oregon State

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