TUCSON, Ariz.--Defending Big 12 champion Texas A&M earned a No. 22 ranking in Collegiate Baseball newspaper’s Fabulous 40 pre-season NCAA Division I poll, the publication released Friday.

The Aggies, who finished the 2007 season ranked No. 14 by Collegiate Baseball, are boasting their highest preseason ranking since 2005.

Arizona was rated No. 1, followed by South Carolina, Arizona State, Ole Miss and North Carolina, with Rice, San Diego, Texas, Wichita State and Michigan rounding out the top 10.

Other Big 12 teams appearing in the poll are Missouri (No. 14), Baylor (No. 28), Oklahoma State (No. 31) and Nebraska (No. 38).

The Aggies return 17 letterwinners, six position starters and two starting pitchers from a 2007 squad that went 48-19 and claimed the Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City and the NCAA College Station Regional crown.

Texas A&M opens the 2008 season on February 22 at 6:30 p.m. when the Aggies host Northern Colorado. Season tickets are available now by calling 888-99-AGGIE or by logging on to www.aggieathletics.com.

COLLEGIATE BASEBALL FABULOUS 40 PRESEASON POLL

Rank School (’07 Final Record) Points

1. Arizona (42-17) 496

2. South Carolina (46-20) 493

3. Arizona St. (49-15) 491

4. Mississippi (40-25) 487

5. North Carolina (57-16) 486

6. Rice (56-14) 483

7. San Diego (43-18) 481

8. Texas (46-17) 478

9. Wichita St. (53-22) 476

10. Michigan (42-19) 473

11. Vanderbilt (54-13) 471

12. Florida St. (49-13) 468

13. Clemson (41-23) 466

14. Miami, Fla. (37-24) 464

15. Missouri (42-18) 461

16. Cal. St. Fullerton (38-25) 459

17. Long Beach St. (39-20) 455

18. UCLA (33-28) 452

19. Oregon St. (49-18) 451

20. Kentucky (34-19-1) 447

21. Fresno St. (38-29) 446

22. Texas A&M (48-19) 443

23. Louisville (47-24) 440

24. Virginia (45-16) 437

25. Georgia Tech. (32-25) 434

26. U.C. Irvine (47-17-1) 432

27. Mississippi St. (38-22) 430

28. Baylor (35-27) 428

29. Pepperdine (35-22) 426

30. Louisiana St. (29-26-1) 423

31. Oklahoma St. (42-21) 420

32. Louisiana-Lafayette (45-17) 419

33. Southern Illinois (34-22) 415

34. Southern Miss. (39-23) 413

35. U.C. Riverside (38-21) 411

36. Stetson (42-21) 408

37. Coastal Carolina (50-13) 406

38. Nebraska (32-27) 405

39. California (29-26) 403

40. Oral Roberts (40-17) 400

Other Teams Receiving Votes: Georgia, Alabama, Creighton, South Florida, Notre Dame, Winthrop, Arkansas, Old Dominion, Texas-San Antonio, New Orleans, Oklahoma, East Carolina, Tulane, Kent St., Houston, Central Michigan, Texas Christian, Central Florida, Lamar, Southeastern Louisiana, Florida Atlantic, Charlotte, Gonzaga, Santa Clara, Tennessee, Florida, Auburn, Southern California, Stanford, Washington, Washington St., College of Charleston, Rutgers, Western Carolina, Penn. St., Minnesota, Ohio St., North Carolina St., Wake Forest, Hawaii, Virginia Commonwealth, Louisiana Tech., Nevada, LeMoyne, Troy, Kennesaw St., Richmond, St. John's, Old Dominion, Austin Peay, Southern.