After starting with 64 teams in regional play, the field has been whittled down to just eight as we head to the College World Series in Omaha.
Big 12 baseball is down to one final representative: the Arizona Wildcats.
Here are three storylines to follow this weekend.
Go Cats, Go
You don’t have to be a Big 12 flag-waver to understand the importance of conference success in Omaha. With just one team left standing from the league, it’s time to get behind Arizona. The Wildcats have been on a heater this postseason, taking down regional hosts in Eugene and Chapel Hill to punch their ticket to the CWS.
Arizona is peaking at the right time, playing some of its most complete baseball of the year. They’re one of the most balanced squads left in the field, and their path to Omaha proves they can win in hostile environments. The Big 12 hasn’t claimed a national title since 2005, and the Cats have a good chance to end that drought with how they’re playing right now.
Will the SEC’s Reign Finally End?
The SEC’s dominance in college baseball is well documented—and frankly, exhausting. The conference has taken home every national championship since 2019 (excluding the canceled 2020 season), with five different programs winning in that span.
Despite the usual hype and bloated tournament representation (13 bids, eight hosts), only two SEC teams made it to Omaha this year: Arkansas and LSU. Both are dangerous, no doubt. But with a more balanced field and the absence of other bluebloods, this might finally be the year the SEC’s stranglehold on the sport loosens.
Year of the Underdog
The 2025 CWS features a pair of true Cinderella stories in Coastal Carolina and Murray State. The Chanticleers are back in Omaha for the first time since their magical 2016 national title run. They’ve got a new skipper this time around, but don’t let that fool you—this team has the goods to compete with anyone.
Then there’s Murray State, the biggest surprise of the postseason. The Racers are making their first-ever College World Series appearance and are just the fourth No. 4 seed in history to reach Omaha. While they’re still longshots to win it all, their opening-round matchup against UCLA sets up well for another potential upset.
For more on Big 12 baseball and postseason coverage, keep it locked on Heartland College Sports.
