By: Sean Cartell
SEC Digital Network
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – In an impressive feat, six Southeastern Conference teams who have either concluded their 2011-12 seasons or are currently in season are ranked No. 1 in the latest poll in their respective sports, including football and men’s basketball.
The teams from the SEC currently ranked No. 1 in their respective national polls include:
• Football – Alabama, No. 1 (BCS National Champion)
• Men’s Basketball – Kentucky, No. 1
• Baseball – Florida, No. 1 (preseason)
• Men’s Indoor Track and Field – Arkansas, No. 1
• Gymnastics – Arkansas, No. 1
• Women’s Tennis – Florida, No. 1
Arkansas and Florida are the league institutions that each feature two top-ranked teams as the Razorbacks headline the national polls in gymnastics and men’s indoor track and field, while the Gators are tops in baseball and women’s tennis. Florida’s women’s tennis squad is the defending NCAA Champions.
In the sport of track and field, interestingly enough, Florida is the two-time defending NCAA Champion and had been the nation’s top-ranked team in the preseason poll until being overtaken by Arkansas in this week’s poll. The top three teams in the nation – Arkansas (No. 1), Florida (No. 2) and LSU (No. 3) – in men’s indoor track and field all hail from the SEC.
In the sport of gymnastics, four of the nation’s top-10 teams hail from the SEC, including No. 6 Alabama, No. 7 Georgia and No. 8 Florida.
In baseball, the SEC has won three consecutive national championships including back-to-back titles by South Carolina, which checks in at No. 2 in the polls. Arkansas is also ranked among the top-10 in the major baseball polls.