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College World Series field officially set: SEC, ACC to each send 4 teams to Omaha
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The 8-team field for the 2024 College World Series has officially been set.
NC State clinched the final remaining spot in the field with a win in the Athens Regional on Monday night. The Wolfpack defeated UGA 8-5 in the decisive Game 3 to earn their place in Omaha.
That result means the SEC and ACC will each send 4 teams to the College World Series. Both conferences tie the previous record of sending 4 teams to the CWS — a mark that has been matched multiple times before. However, this is the first time in the modern era that only 2 conferences will be represented at the College World Series.
Tennessee, Kentucky, Texas A&M, North Carolina, Florida State, NC State, Virginia and Florida will make up the 8-team field. Here’s a look at the schedule and a breakdown of the top contenders in the field:
2024 College World Series schedule | Round 1
Here’s the first-round schedule for the College World Series, which will begin on Friday in Omaha:
- Game 1: 4 North Carolina vs. 12 Virginia | Friday, June 14 | 2 p.m. ET | ESPN
- Game 2: 1 Tennessee vs. 8 Florida State | Friday, June 14 | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN
- Game 3: 2 Kentucky vs. 10 NC State | Saturday, June 15 | 2 p.m. ET | ESPN
- Game 4: 3 Texas A&M vs. Florida | Saturday, June 15 | 7 p.m. ET | ESPN
Of the 8 teams to reach the College World Series, only Florida didn’t earn the right to host a regional. The Gators made it out of the Stillwater Regional and then upset Clemson in the Super Regional round in order to clinch their spot in Omaha.
When all was said and done, 5 national seeds made it to Omaha with the only exceptions being Florida, Virginia and NC State.
College World Series favorites
Betting odds for the College World Series have not been released as of publication, but the top betting favorites for this year’s tournament are likely to be the top 3 overall seeds: Tennessee, Kentucky and Texas A&M.
Tennessee needed 3 games to get past Evansville in the Knoxville Super Regional, but has otherwise cruised through the postseason. The Vols won a share of the SEC regular season title, the SEC Tournament, the Knoxville Regional and the Knoxville Super Regional to get to this point. They’re arguably the most well-balanced team in the country as they rank in the top-5 nationally in both slugging percentage and ERA.
Kentucky edged out Oregon State in the Lexington Super Regional to clinch its first-ever trip to the College World Series. The Wildcats have a frontline starter in Trey Pooser, but their starting pitching beyond him well be a major question mark in Omaha this week.
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Texas A&M made quick work of Oregon in the Bryan-College Station Super Regional, but it came at a significant cost: star outfielder Braden Montgomery suffered a devastating ankle injury and will miss the rest of the season. The Aggies are still amongst the favorites to win the national title, but Montgomery’s absence will leave a noticeable hole in the middle of that lineup.
The College World Series will begin on Friday in Omaha.
Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.
