Baylor equestrian will kick off its 2016-17 season ranked at No. 5 in the National Collegiate Equestrian Association’s preseason national team rankings, announced Tuesday afternoon by the NCEA Selection Committee.
Coming off a 2015-16 season with a 13-5 ranking, including a 7-5 mark in conference and 7-0 at home, the Bears will hope to best last year’s national quarterfinals and Big 12 runner-up finish.
BU will host both the Big 12 Championship and the NCEA Championship in Waco this year for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
Since the 2012-13 season, the first in which national team rankings were produced, Baylor is one of only four teams in the country to appear in every poll since, joined by Georgia, Auburn, and TCU.
Additionally, Baylor is one of only three schools to appear in the top five of the preseason polls each of the last three seasons, joining Georgia and Auburn.
Baylor kicks off its season on Friday, Sep. 23 at South Carolina before returning home to host the Willis Invitational in Waco on Sep. 30-Oct. 1.
2016-17 NCEA Preseason Rankings
1. Auburn
2. Georgia
3. TCU
4. Texas A&M
5. Baylor
6. Oklahoma State
7. SMU
8. South Carolina
9. Fresno State
10. Delaware State
