Selection day has arrived in college baseball, the official start of the quest for the sport’s ultimate destination, the College World Series in Omaha.
First, however, the 64-team field must navigate the regionals, with the winners at the 16 four-team double-elimination sites advancing to the best-of-three superregional round a week later.
In addition to the seed order at all 16 sites, the NCAA committee also unveiled the top eight overall seeds in the field. That group will be guaranteed to be playing in friendly environs should they advance, but it doesn’t guarantee a trip to Omaha. That seems especially true this year in what appears to be a wide-open field of title contenders. Here’s everything you need to know about the draw.
Who are the top teams in the NCAA baseball tournament?
Defending champ LSU will be a long shot at best this time, needing a late push just to make the field. But the SEC is well represented at the top of the bracket as the likes of Tennessee, Texas A&M, Kentucky and Arkansas have all hovered at or near the top of the polls for much of the season. The conference also broke a record with 11 teams selected and five of the eight national seeds. ACC top finisher North Carolina and league rivals Clemson and Florida State could also make some noise, as could Oregon State and Oklahoma. The best hope among non-power conference representatives looks to be East Carolina or UC Irvine, but the Sun Belt Conference could also offer a candidate or two.
Who are the top players?
There might not be a Paul Skenes in this year’s field, but there’s certainly no lack of arm talent. Wake Forest’s Chase Burns finished the regular season with 169 strikeouts. Arkansas’s Hagen Smith wasn’t far behind with 150 while allowing just over four hits per nine innings. Duke’s Beilenson and ECU’s Trey Yesavage also sport top-five ERAs. Top sluggers in the tournament include Georgia’s Charlie Condon, the Texas A&M duo of Jace Laviolette and Braden Montgomery, Tennessee’s Christian Moore and Oregon State’s Travis Bazzana. Florida getting a nod while on the bubble means two-way star Jac Caglione will continue his career in the tournament.
Who are the top 16 seeds?
- Tennessee (50-11)
- Kentucky (40-14)
- Texas A&M (44-13)
- North Carolina (42-13)
- Arkansas (43-14)
- Clemson (41-14)
- Georgia (39-15)
- Florida State (42-15)
- Oklahoma (37-19)
- North Carolina State (33-20)
- Oklahoma State (40-17)
- Virginia (41-15)
- Arizona (36-21)
- UC Santa Barbara (42-12)
- Oregon State (42-14)
- East Carolina (43-15)
NCAA baseball tournament bracket, schedule
All times Eastern
Regionals
Knoxville Regional
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 2 Southern Mississippi (41-18) vs. No. 3 Indiana (32-24-1), 1 p.m.
Game 2: No. 1 Tennessee (50-11) vs. No. 4 Northern Kentucky (35-22), 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary
Greenville Regional
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 1 East Carolina (43-15) vs. No. 4 Evansville (35-23), 1 p.m.
Game 2: No. 2 Wake Forest (38-20) vs. No. 3 Virginia Commonwealth (37-21), 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary
Norman Regional
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 2 Duke (39-18) vs. No. 3 Connecticut (32-23), 1 p.m.
Game 2: No. 1 Oklahoma (37-19) vs. No. 4 Oral Roberts (27-30-1), 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m.
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 9 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary
Tallahassee Regional
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 1 Florida State (42-15) vs. No. 4 Stetson (40-20), noon
Game 2: No. 2 Alabama (33-22) vs. No. 3 Central Florida (35-19), 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary
Fayetteville Regional
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 1 Arkansas (43-14) vs. No. 4 Southeast Missouri State (34-25), 3 p.m.
Game 2: No. 2 Louisiana Tech (45-17) vs. #3 Kansas State (32-24), 8 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 9 p.m.
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m.
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary
Charlottesville Regional
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 1 Virginia (41-15) vs. No. 4 Penn (24-23), noon
Game 2: No. 2 Mississippi St. (38-21) vs. No. 3 St. John’s (37-16-1), 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary
Tucson Regional
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 2 Dallas Baptist (44-13) vs. No. 3 West Virginia (33-22), 3 p.m.
Game 2: No. 1 Arizona (36-21) vs. No. 4 Grand Canyon (34-23), 9 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 10 p.m.
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m.
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 9 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary
Chapel Hill Regional
Friday, May 31
No. 2 LSU (40-21) vs. No. 3 Wofford (41-18), noon
No. 1 North Carolina (42-13) vs. No. Long Island (33-23), 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary
Lexington Regional
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 1 Kentucky (40-14) vs. No. 4 Western Michigan (32-21), noon
Game 2: No. 2 Indiana State (42-13) vs. No. 3 Illinois (34-19), 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary
Corvallis Regional
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 2 UC Irvine (43-12) vs. No. 3 Nicholls State (38-20), 4 p.m.
Game 2: No. 1 Oregon State (42-14) vs. No. 4 Tulane (35-24), 9 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 10 p.m.
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m.
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 9 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary
Raleigh Regional
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 2 South Carolina (36-23) vs. No. 3 James Madison (34-23), 2 p.m.
Game 2: No. 1 North Carolina State (33-20) vs. No. 4 Bryant (36-19), 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary
Athens Regional
Game 1: No. 1 Georgia (39-15) vs. No. 4 Army (31-21), 1 p.m.
Game 2: No. 2 UNC Wilmington (39-19) vs. No. 3 Georgia Tech (31-23), 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 6 p.m.
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary
Clemson Regional
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 2 Vanderbilt (38-21) vs. No. 3 Coastal Carolina (34-23), noon
Game 2: No. 1 Clemson (41-14) vs. No. 4 High Point (34-25), 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, noon
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 5 p.m.
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, noon
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary
Stillwater Regional
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 2 Nebraska (39-20) vs. No. 3 Florida (28-27), 3 p.m.
Game 2: No. 1 Oklahoma State (40-17) vs. No. 4 Niagara (38-15), 7 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 2 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 7 p.m.
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 2 p.m.
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 7 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary
Santa Barbara Regional
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 2 San Diego (40-13) vs. No. 3 Oregon (37-18), 3 p.m.
Game 2: No. 1 UC Santa Barbara (42-12) vs. No. 4 Fresno State (33-27), 9 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 4 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 10 p.m.
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m.
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 9 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary
Bryan-College Station Regional
Friday, May 31
Game 1: No. 1 Texas A&M (44-13) vs. No. 4 Grambling (26-26), 1 p.m.
Game 2: No. 2 Louisiana-Lafayette (40-18) vs. No. 3 Texas (35-22), 6 p.m.
Saturday, June 1
Game 3: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 3 p.m.
Game 4: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner, 8 p.m.
Sunday, June 2
Game 5: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 loser, 3 p.m.
Game 6: Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 9 p.m.
Monday, June 3
Game 7: Game 6 winner vs. Game 6 loser, TBA, if necessary
Super Regionals
June 6-June 8
Knoxville Regional winner vs. Greenville Regional winner
Norman Regional winner vs. Tallahassee Regional winner
Fayetteville Regional winner vs. Charlottesville Regional winner
Tucson Regional winner vs. Chapel Hill Regional winner
Lexington Regional winner vs. Corvallis Regional winner
Raleigh Regional winner vs. Athens Regional winner
Clemson Regional winner vs. Stillwater Regional winner
Santa Barbara Regional winner vs. College Station Regional winner
College World Series bracket, schedule
At Charles Schwab Field, Omaha, Neb.
Friday, June 14
Game 1: TBD vs. TBD
Game 2: TBD vs. TBD
Saturday, June 15
Game 3: TBD vs. TBD
Game 4: TBD vs. TBD
Sunday, June 16
Game 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser
Game 6: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
Monday, June 17
Game 7: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser
Game 8: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
Tuesday, June 18
Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 loser
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser
Wednesday, June 19
Game 11: Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 winner
Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner
Thursday, June 20
Game 13: Game 11 winner vs. Game 11 loser, if necessary
Game 14: Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser, if necessary
Championship series
Saturday, June 22
Bracket 1 winner vs. Bracket 2 winner, TBA
Sunday, June 23
Bracket 1 winner vs. Bracket 2 winner, TBA
Monday, June 24
Bracket 1 winner vs. Bracket 2 winner, TBA, if necessary
