Every college baseball team’s top goal is to win the Men’s College World Series, no matter how the prior season played out. Whether voiced, written down on a whiteboard or texted in a team group chat, the tall task is an objective all squads have.
Here are seven programs that could make that dream come true by reaching Omaha for the first time in years:
Georgia Bulldogs
Last MCWS appearance: 2008
One may wonder how the Bulldogs will make it to Omaha if they couldn’t with Charlie Condon, the 2024 Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy winner and arguably the best player to come through the program. Not to mention, they lost second-team All-American Corey Collins too.
Well, Georgia replaced firepower with even more firepower from the transfer portal to an already loaded roster. A few of those additions include outfielders Robbie Burnett (UNC Asheville) and Devin Obee (Duke), who both hit over .300 last year, and a key contributor to Kentucky’s MCWS run in Nolan McCarthy.
The Bulldogs added experienced, high-powered arms to its starting rotation and bullpen as well. Even in a tough conference like the SEC, UGA’s roster makes Omaha look more like a “when will it happen” than an “if.”
Oregon Ducks
Last MCWS appearance: 1954
The Ducks have been knocking on the MCWS door for the past two years, making it to super regionals in back-to-back seasons, but haven’t cracked the code yet, falling short both times.
This might be the year Oregon snaps the 70-year drought, though. The Ducks’ roster flexes proof and promise, loaded with talented statesmen and a young star in sophomore infielder Maddox Molony, who was named to the 2024 all-Pac-12 first team. He was one of three freshmen to make last year’s 32-player list.
Oregon already has its Friday night starter in lefthander Grayson Grinsell, who finished with 99 strikeouts in 79.1 innings last season and held opposing hitters to a conference-best .196 batting average.
The Ducks are D1Baseball’s highest preseason-ranked team in the Big Ten at No. 12, and if everything works out, expect them to be a regional host and punch their ticket to Omaha for the first time in what feels like forever.
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Duke Blue Devils
Last MCWS appearance: 1961
The Blue Devils have made the MCWS look more like a real possibility in recent years, reaching super regionals three times in the last six seasons.
This year isn’t any different, as coach Chris Pollard’s squad is a mix of talented veterans and young studs. Duke brought in three redshirt seniors to go along with 2024 first team All-American infielder Ben Miller, who led the Blue Devils in batting average (.360) and finished second in home runs (15) and doubles (18).
The star power trickles down to the sophomores in outfielder AJ Garcia and outfielder/left-handed pitcher Kyle Johnson — both all-ACC freshman team in 2024 and 2025 Golden Spikes Preseason Watch List. Garcia hit .305 with 14 home runs and 58 RBIs, while Johnson became the program’s first two-way player to receive honors since Marcus Stroman.
Duke has the highly coveted experience and talent to put them in the conversation for Omaha once again.
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Oklahoma State Cowboys
Last MCWS appearance: 2016
Although Oklahoma State hasn’t reached the 10-year mark of missing the MCWS yet, the Cowboys are on this list for good reason.
They have hosted and lost three straight regionals and made it to 11 straight regionals, but have advanced to Omaha just once in that span. They’ve been the definition of consistently coming up short of the big stage — almost like the businessman that’s able to secure the meeting, but unable to close the deal.
However, this year’s Oklahoma State team looks the part of an MCWS squad. They are favorites to win the Big 12 and have a lineup filled with strong bats that could make most pitchers’ days longer than expected. They return four players with double digits home runs from last season, led by outfielder Nolan Schubert who hit .352 with 40 home runs, 142 RBIs and a 1.223 OPS over his two seasons in Stillwater.
Omaha is in closer striking distance than ever for the Cowboys.
Dallas Baptist Patriots
Last MCWS appearance: Never
Dallas Baptist has never been to the MCWS, but 2025 could be the year it makes history.
The Patriots field an experienced bunch at the plate and on the mound. DBU’s projected starting lineup includes four seniors with eight of nine starters being upperclassmen. Four players hit .300 or better last season, while catcher Grant Jay and infielder Chayton Krauss mashed a combined 37 home runs.
Dallas Baptist returned just one of its weekend rotation starters from 2024, but have right-handed arms like James Ellwanger and Luke Pettitte stepping up and they added experienced pitchers from the portal. Neither Ellwanger (17.2) or Pettitte (36.2) threw over 40 innings, but D1Baseball named Ellwanger its preseason conference Pitcher of the Year — hinting at the starter’s upside.
DBU is unquestionably the favorite to win Conference USA, but the question lies in how far this team can go once they make it to the postseason.
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UConn Huskies
Last MCWS appearance: 1979
The Big East hasn’t had a member of the conference reach the MCWS in the 21st century, but if there’s any team that could do it currently, it would be UConn.
The Huskies have won four straight regular season conference championships, secured five consecutive NCAA tournament berths and it doesn’t look like they are slowing down in the near future. Five of the team’s all-conference selections are back for another year.
Yes, that means Big East Pitcher of the Year right-hander Ian Cooke will be back on the hump, looking to build upon an award-winning 2024 campaign. He went 5-2 with 4.54 ERA and ranked third in the conference in strikeouts (85). Cooke and left-hander Gabe Van Emon will man the ship for the Huskies’ starting rotation.
All three of UConn’s position players that earned second-team all-conference honors returned too: first baseman Maddix Dalena, catcher Matt Garbowski and infielder Bryan Padilla. Amongst returners, Garbowski (.285) and Padilla (.278) lead the team in batting average, and Dalena hit the most home runs (13).
West Virginia Mountaineers
Last MCWS appearance: Never
The Mountaineers’ heartbreaking loss in last year’s super regional against North Carolina ended an incredible 2024 season, and left both questions and promises for the 2025 season.
The postseason loss marked the conclusion of 12-year coach Randy Mazey’s reign and the end of college careers for 2024 MLB Draft seventh overall pick JJ Wetherholt and second team all-Big 12 selection Reed Chumley. Additionally, they lost their starting rotation.
Woah.
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But wait, here are the positives. Outside of Wetherholt and Chumley, WVU’s seven other starters in the lineup are back in the blue-and-gold for another year. Preseason all-Big 12 catcher Logan Suave leads the charge after batting .308 last year, while double-digit home run hitters Kyle West (14), Grant Hussey (12) and Sam White (10) will be names to keep an eye out for.
The team’s biggest question mark revolves around a pitching staff that either didn’t get many reps in their expected roles for 2025 or are transfers. Two of the biggest names include right-hander Carson Estridge, who will likely move to the starting rotation after working out a relief role last year, and a fine-tuned righty Chase Meyer.
Last season was West Virginia’s best year in program history, reaching its first-ever super regional. If the Mountaineers can build on that momentum and find success with the pitching staff in 2025, what’s stopping them from making it back to the NCAA tournament and beyond?
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