The 75th edition of the Men’s College World Series is set, with eight teams competing for a National Championship from June 13 to June 23. The field is split into two double-elimination brackets with the winners of each to meet in the best-of-three MCWS Finals beginning Saturday, June 21.
It’s only fitting that for the event’s diamond jubilee, there are plenty of intriguing storylines to unfold, perennial fan favorites making their return, underdogs to support and Nebraska natives to watch. Below is a preview of each team that has earned its place at Charles Schwab Field this season.
Bracket 1
#13 Coastal Carolina – Sun Belt Conference (53-11, 26-4)
Coastal Carolina is arguably the hottest team in the country, currently on a 23-game win streak that featured a sweep of No. 4 national seed Auburn in the super regionals to advance to Omaha. The Chanticleers won both the regular season and conference tournament titles in the Sun Belt this season. This is Coastal Carolina’s first trip back to the College World Series since 2016, when they won the national title in their first-ever appearance. The Chanticleers are one of two teams in this year’s field that feature at least one native Nebraskan. Redshirt sophomore pitcher Tadan Bell is from Columbus, Neb., and has pitched 7.2 innings this season for the Chanticleers.
Player to watch: Catcher Caden Bodine is a switch-hitter who leads the team in batting average and hits. Bodine has caught 45 runners stealing in his career, one shy of tying the program record of 46.
CWS titles: 1 – 2016
Arizona – Big 12 Conference (44-19, 18-12)
Arizona defeated TCU in the Big 12 tournament championship on its way into the NCAA tournament. Avoiding No.12 national seed Oregon in the regionals, the Wildcats defeated Cal Poly to move onto the Chapel Hill super regional. In game one, they were throttled by No. 5 national seed North Carolina 18-2. Arizona then mounted two straight late-inning comebacks against UNC to advance to Omaha for the 19th time in program history. If any team in this series is equipped to handle adversity, it’s Arizona.
Player to watch: Outfielder Brendan Summerhill is the No. 19 prospect in this upcoming MLB Draft and boasts a .358 batting average.
CWS titles: 4 – 1976, 1980, 1986, 2012
#8 Oregon State – Independent (47-14-1)
In its first season as an independent, Oregon State excelled to leave no doubt about its belonging in the NCAA tournament. The Beavers racked up 47 wins behind a well-balanced attack to earn this year’s No. 8 national seed. Oregon State beat No. 9 Florida State in the super regionals to advance to its eighth College World Series in program history. Expect the ever-elusive Charles Schwab Field long ball from the Beavers – OSU has hit 103 home runs this season, the second-most in program history behind last season’s 118.
Player to watch: Shortstop Aiva Arquette is regarded as one of the best hitters in college baseball and is top two for OSU this season in batting average, slugging percentage, runs scored, runs batted in, hits and home runs.
CWS titles: 3 – 2006, 2007, 2018
Louisville – Atlantic Coast Conference (40-22, 15-15)
Louisville may have the most suspect record in the field at first glance, but when you dig deeper into its resume, the picture becomes clearer. In the first game of the 2025 season, Louisville beat eventual No. 2 national seed Texas. Two days later, they defeated fellow CWS participant Arizona 13-1. The Cardinals defeated No. 1 national seed Vanderbilt once each in the regular season and NCAA tournament regionals. Pair that with the regular season schedule in one of the nation’s premier college baseball conferences, and it is evident that this team is battle tested. Louisville defeated conference foe Miami in super regional play to make it to Omaha for the sixth time in program history. The Cardinals are still in search of their first CWS title.
Player to watch: Pitcher Patrick Forbes started his career as a third baseman known for his power-hitting and was mainly used as a DH/outfielder before eventually transitioning to pitcher. Forbes began pitching full time in 2025 and carries a fastball that reaches 100 mph. Leading the team this season with 66.0 innings pitched, expect Louisville to go to Forbes early and often.
CWS titles: None
Bracket 2
#15 UCLA – Big Ten Conference (47-16, 22-8)
UCLA won a share of the Big Ten regular season title and earned the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament after losing a tiebreaker to Oregon. UCLA has championship experience at Charles Schwab Field already this season, falling to Nebraska in the Big Ten tournament championship game. The Bruins defeated UTSA in the super regionals to advance to the program’s sixth-ever College World Series and fourth under head coach John Savage. This is the first time back in Omaha for UCLA since 2013, when the Bruins won their first-ever College World Series.
Player to watch: Outfielder A.J. Salgado is top five in nearly every offensive statistic for the Bruins this season and is the only member of the team to reach double figures in home runs (12) and steals (14).
CWS titles: 1 – 2013
Murray State – Missouri Valley Conference (44-15, 17-8)
Murray State will likely be the hometown fan favorite in this year’s College World Series, coming in as one of the hottest underdogs in CWS history. After upsetting No. 10 national seed Ole Miss in the regionals, Murray State defeated Duke in the super regionals to make its first CWS appearance in program history. The Racers are now 6-10 all time in the NCAA tournament, with five of those wins coming this season. Murray State is just the fourth regional No. 4 seed to advance to Omaha, joining Fresno State (2008), Stony Brook (2012) and Oral Roberts (2023).
Player to watch: Outfielder Jonathan Hogart will likely power Murray State’s offense, leading the team in runs scored, total bases and home runs this season.
CWS titles: None
#3 Arkansas – Southeastern Conference (48-13, 20-10)
While failing to win either the SEC regular season or conference tournament titles, Arkansas did enough throughout the regular season to earn the nation’s No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Razorbacks are undefeated this postseason, beating Creighton and No. 14 national seed Tennessee in the regional and super regional rounds. Arkansas is littered with MLB talent and is the favorite to win its first-ever CWS title in the program’s 12th appearance. If you have a hard time rooting for favorites, Arkansas does have the most direct ties to Nebraska in this College World Series. They are led by former Nebraska head coach Dave Van Horn and have two Nebraska natives on their roster in second baseman Cam Kozeal and reserve catcher Elliot Peterson.
Player to watch: Shortstop Wehiwa Aloy was named the SEC player of the year and is the No. 22 prospect in this year’s MLB Draft. Arkansas also boasts two top 50 prospects in pitchers Zach Root and Gage Wood.
CWS titles: None
#6 Louisiana State – Southeastern Conference (48-15, 19-11)
LSU is no stranger to Omaha and is aiming to claim the school’s eighth national title after winning number seven in 2023. The Tigers defeated Big 12 regular-season champion West Virginia in the super regionals to reach Omaha for the 20th time in program history. LSU’s seven titles are the second most in NCAA history, behind only USC with 12. With six players in the top 200 prospects of this year’s MLB Draft, LSU is more than capable of taking game one from Arkansas, and is a serious threat to win the national title.
Player to watch: Pitcher Kade Anderson is regarded as the best pitcher in this year’s MLB Draft and could be the next LSU pitcher drafted No. 1 overall, following in the footsteps of Paul Skenes in 2023.
CWS titles: 7 – 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2009, 2023
The 2025 Men’s College World Series begins Friday, June 13 at 1 p.m. A championship field balanced with top tier talent, gritty underdogs and Cinderella stories; college baseball continues to prove that parity is still very much alive in college athletics. This year’s Omaha Eight represent everything that most fans and pundits have claimed is no more in college sports. Blue bloods, new bloods, no names and the forgotten have each earned a chance to compete for a national championship. Each team has its own unique reason to earn the support of the home crowd and should shape a phenomenal field for the 75th anniversary of “The Greatest Show on Dirt.”
