Key facts
- West Virginia's baseball program is making its first College World Series appearance.
- The program's inclusion in the College World Series is linked to a 2011 decision to retain the team after joining the Big 12.
- The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has a record five teams in this year's College World Series.
- Troy University, a first-time participant, is carrying the flag for teams outside the major conferences.
- The College World Series features a significant power imbalance between its two brackets due to NCAA seeding rules.
The College World Series field features a record five teams from the Southeastern Conference (SEC), with the conference having won the last six national championships. Among the first-time participants are West Virginia and Troy. West Virginia's inclusion is tied to a 2011 decision to keep the baseball program after joining the Big 12 conference.
Troy, despite a 38-30 record and being one of the last at-large bids, rejects the 'Cinderella' label, with player Jabe Boroff stating the team knows its talent. Coach Skylar Meade, hired five years ago, aimed for the CWS by scheduling the nation's toughest nonconference schedule, including games against SEC opponents. Meade emphasized the importance of team cohesion and player development, highlighting overlooked recruits and transfers who have thrived.
North Carolina, the only team to make the CWS twice since 2024, faces Mississippi, the 2022 national champion. Mississippi's Hunter Elliott, a key pitcher from their championship run, returns after injury. The CWS brackets present a significant power imbalance, with Bracket 2 heavily favoring SEC teams like Georgia, Texas, and Alabama, while Bracket 1 includes national seeds North Carolina and West Virginia.