Omaha Eight: Predicting which teams will make the 2025 College World Series

Friday might be Valentine’s Day, but it also marks the return of the college baseball regular season. With the season finally here, it’s time to take an early look at which eight teams could make up the College World Series field in Omaha this summer.

Last year, the Omaha field was made up of entirely ACC and SEC teams, with four from each conference. Ultimately, Tennessee and Texas A&M emerged from their respective brackets to meet in the CWS Finals, with the Volunteers coming out on top with the national championship.

After the College World Series ended, a turbulent offseason began with notable transfers and coaching movement. Of course, this year will be the first of new-look conferences across the country. Cal and Stanford join the ACC, Arizona, Arizona State and Utah join the Big 12, UCLA, USC, Oregon and Washington join the Big Ten, and Texas and Oklahoma join the SEC, in addition to many other changes throughout the country.

With that, it’s time to start the 2025 college baseball season. Here are the eight teams we’re predicting to compete for the College World Series in Omaha at the season’s end.

Arkansas

The Razorbacks have been a postseason mainstay in recent years, hosting a regional in six of the last seven seasons. After two straight regional exits on their home field, Arkansas is looking to flip the script in 2025.

Pitching has been a strength for Dave Van Horn’s squad, and that should remain true this season. The Razorbacks added transfers Zach Root (ECU) and Landon Beidelschies (Ohio State) to the rotation, joining a few key returning pieces already in the mix. The lineup has been almost entirely rebuilt, and finding the right mix offensively is the biggest question entering the season. But if the talented crop of newcomers, led by TCU transfer Logan Maxwell, can put it together, this is a scary team that is capable of going on a deep run in the postseason behind its pitching.

Clemson

Last year was a great one for Erik Bakich and Clemson, as the Tigers hosted and won a regional before falling to Florida in Super Regionals. This year could yield even better results.

Aidan Knaak leads the charge on the mound, as the returning sophomore stood out in a great way as a freshman last season. He’ll control the Friday night role, and could be followed by a number of candidates, including Ethan Darden or Seton Hall transfer Michael Gillen. Drew Titsworth also returns after a great year out of the bullpen in 2024. The lineup is of course led by Cam Cannarella, but Tristan Bissetta is another notable rturner. Clemson also added some big-time transfers, including Luke Gaffney (Purdue) and Collin Priest (Michigan), both of whom should have key roles in this lineup. There is a ton of upside here, and Clemson certainly has the ceiling of going on a deep run into Omaha.

LSU

A year after winning the College World Series, LSU spent most of last season fighting to even make the NCAA Tournament. A late season surge got them in, before losing an exciting regional in Chapel Hill to UNC. While the Tigers lost some notable pieces in the offseason, they brought in just as many, if not more.

In the lineup, Jared Jones, Michael Braswell and Steven Milam lead the returners as key pieces. They also struck big in the portal with Indiana State transfer Luis Hernandez, who figures to primarily play catcher. On the mound, Kade Anderson returns as a likely focal point of the rotation, as does intriguing junior Chase Shores, who missed last season due to injury. If Shores pitches to the level many expect him to, that 1-2 punch can stack up against anybody in the country, and could lead LSU all the way back to Omaha.

North Carolina

An impressive 2024 run that ended in Omaha might just be the start for this UNC program. Even after losing some notable pieces such as Vance Honeycutt and Casey Cook, the Tar Heels look to be in great shape entering the new season.

Luke Stevenson, a potential top 10 pick in the next MLB Draft, is back along with Gavin Gallaher and Alex Madera to lead the lineup, while Hunter Stokely also returns after missing most of last year. Last year’s transfer additions certainly worked, and this year could be the same deal. Kane Kepley (Liberty) will anchor the outfield, and there are plenty of other intriguing additions that could play pivotal roles, too. On the mound, it starts with Jason DeCaro, who emerged as an ace as a true freshman in 2024. He’s back on Friday nights, and Folger Boaz should be healthy and in the rotation too. Jake Knapp should return early as well, and he’ll join Aidan Haugh and Olin Johnson, among others, as potential weekend options. Matthew Matthijs, one of the best relievers in the country, is also back for his junior campaign.

Oregon

After winning the Santa Barbara Regional as the 3-seed last season and losing to Texas A&M in Super Regionals, Oregon has some momentum entering 2025. They were two wins short of reaching Omaha in 2024, but 2025 might have the potential to go even further.

Oregon’s strength is returning talent in its lineup, with potentially all nine members of the starting lineup returners from last season. The lineup is anchored by Jacob Walsh and Mason Neville, who both hit 16+ home runs a season ago. The question for the Ducks is on the mound. Grayson Grinsell is back as the most notable known commodity on the mound, while Saint Mary’s transfer Jason Reitz comes in as another likely weekend arm. Freshman Will Sanford could emerge into a key weekend starter as well. The pitching staff must sort itself out, but if it does, Oregon is an under-the-radar candidate to reach Omaha.

Tennessee

Last year was a remarkable run for Tony Vitello and Tennessee, as the Vols went on to win the College World Series. Despite losing a ton of talent to the MLB Draft after the season, Tennessee reloaded and looks poised for another deep run in 2025.

Dean Curley and Hunter Ensley headline the lineup returners in 2025, but the new faces might be the biggest. Gavin Kilen comes in from Louisville and will immediately become a middle infield, and likely middle of the lineup, anchor. Andrew Fischer also joins from Ole Miss, and he’ll instantly provide a surge of power in the middle of the order. The rotation is more of a question, but Ole Miss transfer Liam Doyle has a ton of potential and could blossom into a true key piece. Nate Snead also returns, and he’ll play a pivotal role on the pitching staff yet again. There are questions to answer, but the Vols are undoubtedly capable of competing for another trip to Omaha.

Texas A&M

Entering the year as the preseason No. 1 team, Texas A&M is definitely the favorite to win the College World Series in 2025. Michael Earley was able to retain almost all of the Aggies’ top talent that entered the portal after Jim Schlossnagle’s departure to rival Texas. Earley’s development as a first-time head coach at 36 will be an important storyline to follow, but all of the pieces are in place for another deep run.

Likely top 3 pick Jace LaViolette returns, as well as Gavin Grahovac, Kaeden Kent, Hayden Schott and Caden Sorrell. The Aggies also hit some potential home runs in the portal, adding Gavin Kash (Texas Tech), Wyatt Henseler (Penn), Matt Bergevin (Fairfield) and Bear Harrison (Saint Mary’s). On the mound, Ryan Prager is back as the ace of the staff, with Justin Lamkin back as a key piece as well. Myles Patton (Long Beach State) is an intriguing addition through the portal, and there’s plenty of talent behind those arms though there aren’t as many known pieces in the bullpen compared to last year.

Virginia

Another team that reached Omaha last season, preseason No. 2 Virginia looks to be in good position for another run in 2025. It starts with ace Evan Blanco on the mound, with high-upside righthander Jay Woolfolk behind him. Virginia brings in a lot of talent in its freshman class as well, and the pitching staff has a ton of potential to blossom again.

The lineup? It looks very good. Harrison Didawick, Henry Ford and Jacob Ferrence all h it 17+ home runs last year, and all return as key pieces. Henry Godbout, Eric Becker and Aidan Teel are all also back to give the lineup an impressive amount of depth from top to bottom. Even after losing Griff O’Ferrall at shortstop, Virginia has a ton to like in its lineup, and it figures to be one of college baseball’s best again in 2025.