College World Series: Teams, format, schedule, and how the tournament works
College World Series: Teams, format, schedule, and how the tournament works
The 2025 College World Series begins on Friday at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. This year marks the 75th anniversary of Omaha hosting the event. After starting the NCAA Tournament with 64 teams, eight teams punched their ticket to Omaha to compete for college baseball's national title.
The College World Series features eight teams split into two double-elimination brackets. The winners of each bracket will meet in the CWS final -- a best-of-three championship series to crown the national champion.
The 2025 College World Series field includes a diverse set of teams from around the country. West Coast powers Arizona, UCLA, and Oregon State. From the Deep South, LSU seeking its eighth national title while Arkansas aims for its first title after several close calls. From the Atlantic Coast, we have Coastal Carolina. The Chanticleers have made one previous trip to Omaha, winning it all in 2016. Louisville and Murray State represent the state of Kentucky.
Here's a refresher on the format.
How many teams are in the College World Series?
Eight teams compete in the College World Series. Before reaching Omaha, teams must win a four-team double-elimination regional and a best-of-three super regional.
Is the College World Series single elimination?
No. The College World Series has two double-elimination brackets, much like the setup used in the regional round. A single loss is not the end of the world.
How is the College World Series champion crowned?
The winners of each four-team bracket meet in the College World Series final, which is a best-of-three series. A team could lose twice and still win it all. A loss in the opening bracket doesn't carry over to the final.
2025 College World Series teams
Here are the eight teams set to compete in Omaha:
Arkansas
LSU
UCLA
Murray State
Coastal Carolina
Arizona
Oregon State
Louisville
2025 College World Series bracket
Bracket 1
Bracket 1 features Coastal Carolina, Arizona, Oregon State, and Louisville. CCU vs. Arizona and Oregon State vs. Louisville are the first-round games.
Bracket 2
Bracket 2 features UCLA, Murray State, Arkansas, and LSU. The first round games are UCLA vs. Murray State and LSU vs. Arkansas.
2025 College World Series Schedule
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