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It is baseball time in Omaha as the 2024 College World Series is set to get underway. It all begins on Friday when the North Carolina Tar Heels face off against an ACC rival.
There will be no repeat champion with the LSU Tigers falling victim to UNC in the Chapel Hill Regional. However, the Florida Gators could finish what they started last season as they were able to weather the storm to return to Omaha.
Unfortunately, the Pac-12’s hopes for one last championship in the major four sports ended unceremoniously in the Super Regionals. Oregon fell to Texas A&M and Oregon State was swept by Kentucky. There were no Big 12 or Big Ten teams to make the field either giving us the ACC vs SEC College World Series.
Here are the matchups and broadcast details for the opening round of games.
Game 1: North Carolina Tar Heels vs Virginia Cavaliers
- Game Time: 1 p.m. ET (Friday, Jun. 14)
- Network: ESPN
The North Carolina Tar Heels swept the West Virginia Mountaineers in the Chapel Hill Super Regional to return to Omaha for the first time since 2018. This will be UNC’s 12th appearance at the College World Series and seeking its first title. They finished as runners-up in 2006 and 2007.
UNC’s ACC rivals, the Virginia Cavaliers, are looking to add to their trophy case. Their lone national championship came in 2015 when they defeated Vanderbilt in the CWS final. This is trip No. 7 to the College World Series for the Cavaliers, all of which came since the 2009 season.
The winner will move on to game 6 on Sunday to face the winner of Tennessee-Florida State. The loser will play on Sunday in an elimination game against the loser of game 2.
Game 2: Tennessee Vols vs Florida State Seminoles
- Game Time: 6 p.m. ET (Friday, Jun. 14)
- Network: ESPN
The No. 1 overall-seeded Tennessee Vols are coming into the College World Series after beating Evansville in the Knoxville Super Regional. Tony Vitello led the Vols to a second straight trip to Omaha and his third overall trip. Much like UNC, Tennessee has yet to win it all. This might be their best shot yet. They last finished as runner-up in 1951.
The Florida State Seminoles had no trouble in the Tallahassee Super Regional, sweeping the UConn Huskies by a combined 34-12 margin. The second game did go into extra innings but the Noles were ready to punch their tickets to the CWS. FSU has been the runners-up in three different seasons but this marks their first trip to Omaha since 2019.
Game 3: Kentucky Wildcats vs NC State Wolfpacks
- Game Time: 6 p.m. ET
- Network: ESPN
When it comes to baseball the Kentucky Wildcats are not a storied program. This is their first trip to the College World Series in school history. After getting bounced in the Regional last season, UK won their regional this year and swept Oregon State in the Super Regional.
The North Carolina State Wolfpack is the fourth and final ACC team in the College World Series. They return to Omaha after a three-year hiatus. They needed to win the deciding game 3 against the Georgia Bulldogs to get back.
The winner will move on to game 8 on Monday evening to take on the winner of Texas A&M-Florida. The loser will face elimination in a matchup with the loser of Aggies-Gators on Monday afternoon in game 7.
Game 4: Texas A&M Aggies vs Florida Gators
- Game Time: 6 p.m. ET
- Network: ESPN
The final first-round game is an SEC showdown. The Texas A&M Aggies return to the CWS for the second time in three seasons. The Aggies are chasing the elusive first national title in school history. Florida took two of three from Texas A&M in Gainesville back in March.
The Florida Gators are proof that winning at the right time can give you a chance to chase a national championship. Despite their 13-17 SEC record and 34-28 record overall, the Gators are returning to the College World Series after falling to LSU in last year’s title game. Florida last won the title in 2017 and has been the runners-up three different times.
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Courtesy : https://collegesportswire.usatoday.com/2024/06/12/college-world-series-matchups-broadcast-details/