Grow Omaha Sports

The Men’s College World Series final is set and features North Carolina and Oklahoma, two teams that took very different paths to the championship series. North Carolina placed second in both the ACC regular season and tournament to earn the No. 5 national seed. Oklahoma went 14-16 in conference play and lost its first game of the SEC tournament, but has won eight straight games since reaching the NCAA Tournament to reach the MCWS finals. Each program is attempting to make history, as the Tar Heels are attempting to win their first national championship ever, while the Sooners are eyeing their first since 1994. The best-of-three championship series will begin Saturday, June 20, at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN.

Union Omaha dropped the second match of its three-match road stretch on Saturday, falling to Sarasota Paradise, 2-0. Omaha remains in first place in USL League One standings at 9-4-1 heading into Saturday’s match with USL League One newcomer Athletic Club Boise. Omaha defeated AC Boise, 3-2, in March for its first win of the season. Saturday’s match kicks off at 8:30 p.m. and can be streamed live on ESPN+.

Tickets for the third annual State Farm Women’s College Volleyball Showcase are now available. The five-match event, taking place August 28-30 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls, S.D., features Creighton, Minnesota, Arizona State, USC and Purdue. Creighton will open the marquee neutral site showcase against Purdue on Friday, August 28, at 6 p.m. Tickets will be sold as individual day passes and can be purchased from Ticketmaster.

The Omaha Storm Chasers are facing the St. Paul Saints on the road this week, where they are currently 0-1. Omaha dropped the series opener Tuesday night, 21-2, digging a hole that they could not get out of in the first inning when it allowed eight runs. Wednesday’s game was postponed due to inclement weather, so the teams will play a doubleheader on Thursday beginning at 5:07 p.m.

Upcoming Events

• Omaha Storm Chasers at St. Paul | June 16 – 21 | 5:07 p.m. Thursday
• MCWS Championship Game 1 | Oklahoma vs. North Carolina | Saturday, June 20 | 7 p.m.
• Union Omaha at AC Boise | Saturday, June 20 | 8:30 p.m.
• MCWS Championship Game 2 | Oklahoma vs. North Carolina | Sunday, June 21 | 1:30 p.m.

The 2026 College World Series field is set, and for the second straight season, no teams that reached Omaha last year have returned. In fact, two teams are making their first appearance in Omaha, and two more join them in seeking their first national championship in program history. A full preview of the eight teams is on the Grow Omaha website.

Union Omaha split its last two matches, taking down Fort Wayne FC at Morrison Stadium on Saturday, 4-2, before beginning a three-match road stretch against Charlotte Independence on Wednesday night. Charlotte defeated Omaha, 2-0, handing the Owls their first loss since May 17. Despite the loss, Omaha currently sits atop USL League One at 9-3-1, good for 23 points in the standings. Omaha will face Sarasota Paradise on Saturday at 6:30 p.m.

Head coach Vincenzo Candela was voted the USL League One Coach of the Month for May, announced on Wednesday. This is his first Coach of the Month honor since becoming Omaha’s head coach halfway through the 2025 season, after leading the Owls to an undefeated month in league play to take over the top spot in USL League One standings.

Last week, Union Omaha announced that it will host FIFA World Cup watch parties with several local partners this summer. Each watch party will feature club activations, including appearances by Hoot the Owl, inflatable games, giveaways and merchandise. The series begins with Mexico vs. South Africa on June 11 and runs through the World Cup final on July 19. Information on all confirmed watch parties and sites is available on the Grow Omaha website.

The Omaha Storm Chasers are hosting the Las Vegas Aviators for a series at Werner Park this week, currently tied 1-1. Thursday night, first pitch is at 7:05 p.m. and the team is hosting $3 Thursday, where fans can enjoy select tickets, concessions and Busch Light for $3 each.

Storm Chasers outfielder Kameron Misner was named the International League Player of the Week for his performance from June 1 to 7 when Minor League Baseball announced its honors on Tuesday. Misner went 10-for-24 (.417) during Omaha’s road series against Columbus, driving three doubles and five home runs for a Minor League-leading 28 total bases.

Former Storm Chasers pitcher Beck Way made his Major League debut for the Kansas City Royals last Friday in their game against the Minnesota Twins. Way is the fourth Storm Chaser to debut in the MLB this season and the second to do so with the Royals. He entered his first MLB game Friday, pitching a scoreless eighth inning where he allowed just one hit and recorded two strikeouts. With Way’s entry into Friday’s game, he became the 350th player in franchise history to make their MLB debut after playing for the Storm Chasers.

Upcoming Events

• Omaha Storm Chasers vs. Las Vegas | June 9 – 14 | 7:05 p.m. Thursday
• College World Series | West Virginia vs. Troy | Friday, June 12 | 1 p.m.
• College World Series | North Carolina vs. Ole Miss | Friday, June 12 | 6 p.m.
• College World Series | Alabama vs. Oklahoma | Saturday, June 13 | 2 p.m.
• Union Omaha at Sarasota | Saturday, June 13 | 6:30 p.m.
• College World Series | Georgia vs. Texas | Saturday, June 13 | 7 p.m.

The 2026 College World Series field is set, and for the second straight season, no teams that reached Omaha last year have returned. In fact, two teams are making their first appearance in Omaha, and two more join them in seeking their first national championship in program history. Over 11 days, fans can tune into The Greatest Show on Dirt to watch all the drama of the College World Series, and perhaps see a new champion crowned.

BRACKET 1

#16 West Virginia – Big 12 Conference (45-15, 21-9)

West Virginia advanced to the College World Series for the first time in program history, defeating Cal Poly in dominant fashion in the Morgantown Super Regional. In his second season as head coach, Steve Sabins has the Mountaineers humming, setting back-to-back program records in wins in 2025 (44) and 2026 (45). And if any fan base can rival LSU for the Rocco’s Jell-O shot title, it might be the Mountaineers faithful.

Player to watch: Catcher/Second Baseman Gavin Kelly, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year in 2025, leads the Mountaineers in batting average (.384), hits (89), home runs (17), and RBI (57) this season.

CWS titles: None 

Troy – Sun Belt Conference (38-30, 17-13)

Troy is Cinderella among the loaded field of power conference programs and college baseball blue bloods. The Trojans dropped the first game of their NCAA Tournament Regional and then rattled off 50 runs across four elimination games and defeated host and No. 8 national seed Florida to advance to the Super Regional for the first time in program history. Five days later, Troy added another milestone, defeating Little Rock in two games to advance to the College World Series for the first time in program history just five days later. 

Player to watch: Shortstop Aaron Piasecki leads the team in batting average (.346) and posted a .407 average throughout the Sun Belt and NCAA tournaments. 

CWS titles: None

#5 North Carolina – Atlantic Coast Conference (50-12-1, 22-8-0)

Despite 13 trips to Omaha, and nine since the turn of the century, North Carolina is in search of its first College World Series title. Teams with deep bullpens tend to thrive in the CWS, and North Carolina could be set up to do just that. The Tar Heels boast two top 200 MLB prospects in starting pitchers Ryan Lynch and Jason DeCaro. Behind them are underclassmen Walker McDuffie and Caden Glauber, who have combined for an 18-3 record and 10 saves this season. North Carolina will lean on its bullpen depth in its attempt for its first baseball national title.

Player to watch: Outfielder Owen Hull leads the Tar Heels’ offense in batting average (.390), hits (92) and RBI (81).

CWS titles: None

Ole Miss – Southeastern Conference (41-21, 15-15)

Ole Miss returns to Omaha for the first time since it defeated Oklahoma for its first CWS title in 2022. The Rebels dropped their opening game in the SEC Tournament to Missouri, but have since bounced back to win five straight, including a sweep of No. 5 national seed Auburn in the Super Regional, to advance to Omaha for the seventh time in program history.

Player to watch: Pitcher Cade Townsend is a top 30 prospect in this year’s MLB Draft for good reason. Since moving to a full-time starter this season, Townsend leads all qualified Ole Miss pitchers in hits allowed (55) and earned runs (28). Mississippi didn’t need him to pitch in the Super Regional, so he should be ready to go in Omaha.

CWS titles: 1 – 2022

BRACKET 2

#7 Alabama – Southeastern Conference (42-19, 18-12)

Alabama, a top four seed in the SEC Tournament, was trounced by Florida in its first game in the quarterfinals. Much like Ole Miss, the Crimson Tide rattled off five straight to return to Omaha for the first time since 1999. The Tide face three fellow SEC programs in its half of the bracket and have a winning record this season against Oklahoma and Georgia. Texas took the season series, 2-1. Alabama will face familiar competition in its search for its first CWS title.

Player to watch: Shortstop Justin Lebron has the biggest bat on the team, leading the Crimson Tide offense with 16 home runs. The No. 9 prospect in this year’s MLB Draft also ranks sixth in the nation with 41 stolen bases this season.

CWS titles: None 

Oklahoma – Southeastern Conference (38-22, 14-16)

Oklahoma is looking to avenge its 2022 CWS title loss to Ole Miss and will need to rely on aggressive offense to do so. The Sooners don’t have the loaded pitching staff that other teams in the field might, but they are top 30 in the nation and lead the field in Omaha with 124 stolen bases. To win in Omaha, they will have to continue to hunt extra bases and keep their bats hot. 

Player to watch: Third baseman Camden Johnson can fly. He leads the Sooners in stolen bases (28) and runs (57) this season. Look for him to anchor Oklahoma’s offense.

CWS titles: 2 – 1951, 1994

#3 Georgia – Southeastern Conference (51-12, 23-7)

Georgia is one of the hottest teams in the country, winning 17 of its last 20 and eight in a row en route to Omaha. In that stretch, Georgia defeated Arkansas in the SEC championship game, 11-1, by run rule in seven innings. The strength of this team is its offense – Georgia leads the country in home runs this season by a wide margin at 174. 

Player to watch: Catcher Daniel Jackson became the first catcher in SEC history to complete a 25/25 season – 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases in one year – and his stats are eye-popping. He leads the team in batting average (.396), hits (97), runs (86), home runs (31), RBI (86) and stolen bases (26). This team will go as he goes.

CWS titles: 1 – 1990

#6 Texas – Southeastern Conference (45-13, 19-10)

After dropping their first game of the SEC Tournament in the quarterfinals, the Longhorns advanced easily through the Regional and Super Regional to set up their first action of the season against SEC companion Georgia. Texas leads the country with 39 CWS appearances and is back in Omaha for the first time since 2022. The Longhorns, who have the third most CWS titles (6), have not won in Omaha since 2005 and last appeared in the championship series in 2009. Texas is as blue blood as it comes in college baseball, and has the offense to hold up with Georgia to advance to the winners’ bracket.

Player to watch: Outfielder Aiden Robbins bats .342 and leads Texas in hits (77), home runs (24) and RBI (64). In the Regional, he went 6-for-14 with four home runs. 

CWS titles: 6 – 1949, 1950, 1975, 1983, 2002, 2005

Summary

This year’s field features a well-balanced field of familiar, storied programs and exciting underdogs making their CWS debut. For another year, hometown fans have a full field of new faces in the fold which in turn brings thousands of new visitors to the experience that is the College World Series in Omaha. Multiple teams are making their first visit to Omaha – West Virginia, Troy – and multiple others join them in their search for their first CWS title – North Carolina, Alabama. Again, a blue blood of the sport makes its return to The Greatest Show on Dirt. College baseball’s rise in popularity has a reason, and it’s the parity and opportunity that is still thriving that other sports, at any level, have lacked. Fittingly, the two teams with their first opportunity at a win in the College World Series, West Virginia and Troy, will face off in Game 1 on Friday, June 12, at 1 p.m.