USC baseball is heating up at just the right time. After a dominant home sweep of Rutgers over the weekend at Dedeaux Field, the Trojans have climbed to No. 16 in the latest USA Today Coaches Poll—moving up one spot from the previous week.

The sweep pushed USC's record to an impressive 37-12 overall and 19-8 in Big Ten play, keeping them firmly in the hunt for postseason positioning. It's been a season of steady growth for the Trojans, who are now one of four Big Ten teams ranked in the top 25.

Leading the pack is crosstown rival UCLA, which remains No. 1 and has already clinched the Big Ten regular season title with a perfect 17-0 conference record. Oregon checks in at No. 14, while Nebraska rounds out the group at No. 24—though the Huskers took a significant fall after being swept by Ohio State.

In the conference standings, the Bruins stand alone at the top, while Nebraska and Oregon are tied for second at 17-7. USC sits just behind them on percentage points, though it's worth noting the Trojans have played three more conference games than both schools. That makes every remaining game crucial for their positioning.

USC faced tough tests earlier this month, getting swept by both UCLA and Nebraska. But they'll have a chance to bounce back in a big way when they travel to Eugene to face No. 14 Oregon to close out the regular season next week.

First, though, the Trojans will look to make the most of their final home stand. They host Cal State Fullerton on Tuesday night before welcoming Nevada for a three-game series from Thursday through Saturday. It's the last chance for fans to catch the team at Dedeaux Field before the postseason push begins.

With momentum on their side and a top-16 ranking to protect, USC is poised to make some noise down the stretch.