The College World Series field of eight is officially set after the conclusion of the Super Regional round. Eight teams are split into two four-team brackets, where another double-elimination tournament takes place. The winners from each bracket will face off in the National Championship, which is a best of three series to claim the title.
Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska will serve as the host site of the College World Series for the 14th consecutive season (since 2011).
For the first time since the CWS went to an eight-team format in 1950, only two conferences will be represented; the ACC and SEC. Florida State, NC State, Virginia, and North Carolina will represent the ACC while Florida, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Texas A&M represent the SEC.
Florida’s bracket
The Gators will compete in bracket two with No.2 Kentucky, No.3 Texas A&M, and No.10 NC State. Florida has a combined record of 3-3 against teams these three schools, having gone 2-1 against the Aggies and 1-2 against the Wildcats in the regular season. The Gators have not played NC State in 2024.
Florida will take on Texas A&M on Saturday at 6:00 PM Central for their first game in Omaha. If Florida takes down the Aggies, they’ll play the winner of Kentucky vs NC State on Monday at 6:00 PM Central. If the Gators lose, they’ll take on the loser of that game on Monday at 1:00 PM Central.
If the Gators start out 2-0 they would advance to the semifinals, where they would await the winner of the losers bracket, who will need to beat Florida twice to advance to the National Championship series.
Kentucky (45-14, 22-8 SEC)
The Wildcats dominated in the regular season, claiming just the programs second SEC Championship and first under head coach Nick Mingione. Kentucky also cruised through the postseason, winning their own regional in three games before taking down No.15 Oregon State in two games inside Proud Park. Kentucky clinched the College World Series for the first time in program history.
Kentucky is not the scariest team in the field from a talent standpoint, but their record is no hoax. Their ability to find ways to win against the best competition in the country will make them a difficult out in Omaha.
This Wildcats team doesn’t a ton of postseason experience away from their home ballpark, but they have been comfortable on the road this season, posting a 16-5 record in away games in 2024.
Kentucky will take on NC State at on Saturday at 1:00 PM Central.
NC State (38-21, 18-11 ACC)
The Wolfpack punched their ticket to the College World Series for the 4th time in program history after knocking off Georgia in game three of the Athens Super Regional on Monday night. NC State has not played particularly well away from Doak Field at Dail Park, holding an 8-12 record in road games and 1-2 in neutral site games this season.
NC State cruised through their own regional, taking down Bryant, South Carolina, and James Madison.
Head Coach Elliot Advent is in his 20th season as head coach and is responsible for three of NC State’s four College World Series trips.
The Wolfpack will take on Kentucky on Saturday.
Texas A&M (49-13, 19-11 SEC)
The Aggies spent the majority of the 2024 season inside the top five of every college baseball poll but will enter the College World Series without one of the best players in the country in Braden Montgomery, who suffered a broken ankle in game one of the Super Regionals. Even without a consensus top 10 pick in the MLB Draft, the Aggies scored 25 runs in two games vs Oregon.
Texas A&M was almost impossible to beat at home, holding a 37-3 record inside Blue Bell Park. The Aggies held a 9-8 record in road games this season, which including a series loss to Florida on March 15-17.
The Aggies are led by one of the best freshmen in the country in Gavin Grahovac and sophomore Jace Laviolette, who has 28 home runs on the season.