EXPOSED: RPI Manipulation Runs Wild—Are the Ragin' Cajuns at RISK of Missing Out?

This episode of Locked On Sun Belt dives deep into the growing controversy surrounding RPI manipulation in college baseball, particularly within the Sun Belt Conference. Host Ross Jackson highlights how teams like North Carolina State, South Alabama, and the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns are strategically canceling games against low-RPI opponents—such as North Carolina A&T, Alabama State, and UNO—to protect their postseason seeding. The discussion centers on the ethical and strategic implications of these cancellations, especially as the NCAA committee has stated that late-season cancellations to avoid RPI damage could negatively impact a team's subjective evaluation, though no team has yet been penalized for it. Jackson argues that while the threat of consequences is real, it hasn't been enforced, allowing the practice to persist. The episode also covers the significant injury to Cajuns' star second baseman Rigoberto Hernandez, a devastating blow to their season, and previews the pivotal upcoming series between the Cajuns and App State, which could determine both conference standings and NCAA tournament viability. Jackson emphasizes the high stakes for both teams, especially given the RPI-driven pressure to avoid losses to weak opponents.