As baseball fans across the country count down the minutes until the start of the Men’s College World Series, the big question remains: Who will emerge as national champions?
After dramatic exits from two top-three seeds early in the regionals, the tournament has no obvious hierarchy.
Following a regular season largely ruled by the SEC and ACC, this year’s tournament brings a mix of competition, featuring teams from six conferences and one independent. Among them is underdog Murray State, whose unexpected journey to Omaha, Nebraska, has fans on the edge of their seats.
Our experts break down this year’s MCWS, the storylines and players they’re watching and their bold predictions of what to expect in Omaha over the next week and a half.
Jump to:
Storylines | Players | Most to prove
Bold predictions | Who’s winning it all?
1. What storylines are you most excited to see play out?
Ryan McGee: I think it’s beyond poetic that Murray State has crashed this party. This is the 75th anniversary of the MCWS in Omaha, and nearly every year there is at least one unexpected team — from Hawai’i and The Citadel to Stony Brook and, most famously, Fresno State in 2008. So, in honor of that anniversary celebration, it would be even more fitting if the Racers went on a little bit of a run. If they do, the grandstand will follow. The people of Omaha have always fallen in love with the underdogs.
Mike Rooney: The SEC brings a light roster to Omaha this year (by its standards), but LSU and Arkansas are two of the premier fan bases in college baseball. Their Saturday night matchup on opening weekend will be rocking. The left side of the bracket guarantees a non-SEC program will be in the MCWS finals, but the question remains: Can that team stop this juggernaut’s title streak at five in a row?
Chris Burke: We have eight teams from six different conferences (and one independent), and this tournament has been all about parity. Does that mean we will have a surprise winner? The SEC has won five straight titles, and LSU and Arkansas are the favorites in this year’s field, but based on the way things have played out so far … don’t bank on it!
David Dellucci: The 2025 Murray State baseball team was picked in the preseason to finish fifth in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Racers have since defied the odds by setting a school record in wins (44) and are the fourth regional 4-seed to make it to the MCWS. The Racers won winner-take-all games vs. host teams in the Oxford Regional and Durham Super Regional. They’ve demonstrated team chemistry, determination, humility and an unflappable poise, most notably revealed in the bottom of the ninth inning of Game 3 vs. Duke. After a call reversal prematurely ended their celebratory dogpile, play resumed with the Racers ahead by one run and a runner on first. After returning to their positions, pitcher Graham Kelham retired the next batter, prompting a second dogpile. It’s safe to say the Racers’ fan base has increased this season far beyond their undergraduate enrollment of 8,111 students.
top three in pro talent in college baseball. I’ll lean to the Tigers.
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