More baseball history waiting to be made as College World Series begins this week

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The crack of the bat echoes through Charles Schwab Field as Omaha, Neb., transforms once again into the epicenter of college baseball. The 2025 College World Series opens Friday, bringing together eight elite teams for two weeks of championship baseball that will culminate June 23.

This year’s tournament represents more than just another chapter in college baseball’s premier event — it showcases the sport’s remarkable diversity and unpredictability, headlined by one of the most inspiring Cinderella stories in recent memory.

The magnificent eight

Seven different conferences are represented among the eight teams competing in Omaha, a testament to the depth and competitive balance across college baseball. The field includes powerhouse programs like Arkansas and LSU from the SEC, alongside surprise entries that have captured the nation’s attention.

The complete roster features Coastal Carolina (Sun Belt), Arizona (Big 12), Oregon State (Pac-12/Independent), Louisville (ACC), UCLA (Big Ten), Murray State (Missouri Valley), Arkansas (SEC) and LSU (SEC). These teams will compete in a double-elimination format across two brackets, with the survivors meeting in a best-of-three championship series beginning June 21.

An underdog story

Among the narratives heading into Omaha, Murray State is this year’s Cinderella story.

The Racers entered their regional tournament as a No. 4 seed — the lowest possible position in their bracket. Since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1999, only three other No. 4 regional seeds had ever advanced to the College World Series. Murray State hadn’t even appeared in the NCAA Tournament since 2003, making its first-ever trip to Omaha all the more remarkable.

After capturing the Missouri Valley Conference tournament to secure their NCAA bid, the Racers exploded for 36 runs across three games in the Oxford Regional, stunning host Ole Miss and Georgia Tech. The magic continued in the super regional against Duke, where they dropped the opener 7-4 before responding with a dominant 19-9 victory and a heart-stopping 5-4 clincher.

Key performances fueled their historic run. Jonathan Hogart tied the program’s single-season home run record with his 22nd blast, while Dom Decker provided clutch RBIs throughout the tournament surge. Dan Tauken delivered a crucial late-game triple for insurance in the clinching victory against Duke, and Graham Kelham earned his ninth save by shutting down the Blue Devils in the final frame.

The story becomes even more inspiring when considering the program’s modest resources. Head coach Dan Skirka handles groundskeeping duties at the home stadium, which only recently received upgrades. Yet the team’s chemistry, belief and resilience have carried it to college baseball’s grandest stage.

History of the CWS

The College World Series boasts a rich heritage dating back to 1947, when it began in Kalamazoo, Mich. After a brief stint in Wichita, Kan., the tournament found its permanent home in Omaha in 1950. Originally held at the beloved Rosenblatt Stadium, the event now takes place at the state-of-the-art Charles Schwab Field Omaha.

USC leads all programs with 12 championships, followed by LSU’s seven titles and Texas with six. The Pac-12 conference has claimed 18 championships overall, while the SEC has captured 16 titles, reflecting the longstanding strength of these conferences in college baseball.

The tournament has served as a launching pad for countless Major League Baseball careers. The Most Outstanding Player award has been claimed by future stars including Dave Winfield, Barry Larkin and, more recently, Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews.

Growing commercial appeal

The College World Series has experienced unprecedented growth in recent years, both in viewership and commercial interest. Last year’s championship final drew a record 2.86 million viewers, representing a 75% increase from the previous year. The 2023 matchup between LSU and Florida attracted 3.59 million viewers, making it ESPN’s most-watched College World Series game ever.

This surge in popularity has attracted major brands eager to engage with college baseball’s passionate fan base. Top college players are now securing significant sponsorship deals, while the tournament itself has become a premium advertising platform.

The new revenue-sharing model following the House v. NCAA settlement allows schools to directly compensate athletes up to $20.5 million annually, with the cap increasing each year. This development ties financial benefits directly to postseason success, raising the stakes even higher for participating programs.

Economic powerhouse

Beyond the entertainment value, the College World Series serves as a major economic engine for Omaha and participating universities. The 2024 tournament generated over $115 million in economic activity, a significant increase from the $88.3 million recorded in 2019.

The event supports more than 22,000 jobs and fills over 72,000 hotel room nights annually. Tax revenue exceeds $3 million locally, while attendance regularly approaches or surpasses 400,000 visitors. For participating universities, the benefits extend far beyond the immediate financial rewards, including surges in alumni donations, enhanced recruiting power, increased applications and elevated school spirit.

Notable CWS upsets

The College World Series has a long tradition of dramatic upsets, with underdog teams toppling national powerhouses and rewriting the tournament’s history.

• Fresno State’s 2008 championship run: Fresno State’s 2008 title is widely regarded as the biggest upset in College World Series history. Entering the NCAA Tournament as a No. 4 regional seed with a modest 33-27 record, the Bulldogs barely made the field after winning their conference tournament. In Omaha, Fresno State defeated national powers, including No. 6 Rice, No. 2 North Carolina (winning two of three games), and finally No. 8 Georgia in the championship, clinching the title with a 6-1 win.
• Coastal Carolina’s 2016 championship run: Making its CWS debut, Coastal Carolina stunned the field by defeating No. 1 Florida and No. 5 Texas Tech, then winning the national championship. Its victory as a first-time participant and underdog captured national attention.
• Kent State over No. 1 Florida (2012): Kent State, a No. 3 regional seed, shocked the college baseball world by defeating top-seeded Florida 5-4 in an elimination game. The Golden Flashes’ run to Omaha included upsets over several ranked teams.
• Oregon State’s 2007 title: Oregon State entered the tournament with a 10-14 conference record and was one of the last teams selected for the field. The Beavers swept a powerful North Carolina team in the finals, capturing their second consecutive title and defying all odds.
• Ohio State vs. Washington State (1965): Ohio State’s Steve Arlin pitched a 15-inning shutout against a heavily favored Washington State team, striking out 20 batters in a 1-0 elimination game win. This performance remains one of the most incredible individual and team upsets in CWS history.

The Omaha experience

What sets the College World Series apart from other sporting events is the unique atmosphere that Omaha creates. The city embraces its role as host with remarkable enthusiasm, transforming downtown into a baseball festival that celebrates both the sport’s history and its future stars.

The combination of tradition, competitive drama, diverse representation and community support creates an experience unmatched in college athletics. For student-athletes, it represents the culmination of years of dedication and the opportunity to compete on the sport’s biggest stage.

As the 2025 tournament prepares to unfold, all eyes will be on whether Murray State can continue its fairy-tale run or if another unexpected hero will emerge. The only certainty is that by June 23, college baseball will have crowned a new champion and added fresh chapters to the tapestry of College World Series lore.