After two thrilling rounds, eight teams get started on Friday in pursuit of a National Championship and as always, storylines are plentiful. Our guide to the 2024 College World Series includes a selection of interesting stats and research surrounding the eight teams that made it to Omaha.
READ MORE
Here’s how the College World Series teams were built, from the transfer portal to player development.
Power, Power, and More Power
It’s no secret that Tennessee can hit. The Volunteers enter the College World Series with the seventh-best offense in scoring (9.2 runs per game) while ranking second in slugging (.613) and leading the nation in home runs. What’s perhaps most impressive is how consistently Tennessee has had above-average power throughout its lineup.
In the last four years, the Volunteers appear three separate times — including the two highest marks — in terms of home runs hit. This year’s team is averaging over two and a a half home runs per game. What’s also noteworthy is that three other teams in the field — Texas A&M, Florida, and Florida State — all rank in the top 20 in home runs over the last four seasons.
O’Maha
It’s remarkable what Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan has managed to do since taking over the Gators in 2008. Over that span, O’Sullivan has guided a team to Omaha on nine separate occasions, reached the College World Series Championship Series three times, and won one title.
In his 16-year tenure, Florida is more likely to end its season in Omaha than not. Seven of the eight other years have been marked by exits in Regionals but that three-tournament stretch from 2019-22 seems a distant memory at this point.
Often the Bridesmaids
Other than Kentucky (who is making its first appearance) and NC State (its fourth), the rest of the College World Series field has made plenty of appearances in Omaha. The other six teams have combined for 66 appearances — and just two titles.
Virginia has one titles in six tries while Florida has one in 13, but the rest of the teams are 0-for-47. Florida State has made a remarkable 23 appearances without a title, finishing second a trio of times, while North Carolina (11, 2nd twice), Texas A&M (seven, 3rd once), and Tennessee (6, 2nd once) are all looking to break through.
Year of the Power Two Conferences
For the first time in the history of the expanded College World Series field, only two conferences are represented: The SEC and the ACC. It may not be that of a surprise, seeing as they accounted for 19 of 64 bids and finished first and second in conference ELO rankings (and in non-conference record). Still, it’s a bit wild that the final eight comes down to a pair of conferences that represent just under 10 percent of the D1 teams out there (28 of 305).
The SEC is no stranger to having an outsized representation in Omaha — just consider this chart of the most teams from a single conference.
Quick Look at Scoring (and Run Prevention)
We mentioned above that Tennessee has a prolific lineup. They’ve also got the best pitching staff, by ERA and runs allowed per game, in Omaha. The Volunteers are averaging over nine runs per game while allowing just over four.
Texas A&M has an elite pitching staff (4.2 runs per game allowed) while North Carolina and Florida State are similarly ranked offensively — but the Tar Heels have fared better on the mound. Florida’s spot on the chart below is about where you’d expect a team that’s six games above .500 to be. Virginia’s got an offense on par with Tennessee’s by these metrics, but a pitching staff that is far off that pace.
MLB Draft Talent Aplenty
Twenty four of the Top 200 Draft prospects (via MLB Pipeline) will be in action this weekend. Six of those fall in the Top 25 of national rankings:
3) Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida
8) Braden Montgomery, OF, Texas A&M (injured)
14) Cam Smith, 3B, Florida State
16) James Tibbs, OF, Florida State
20) Vance Honeycutt, OF, North Carolina
25) Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee
Tennessee has the highest number on the list, checking in at six — with the next five all within the Top 100. That group includes Billy Amick (No. 26), Drew Beam (No. 63), Blake Burke (No. 64), Kavares Tears (No. 65), and Dylan Dreiling (No. 72).
Featured Image via CWS Groundskeepers (X)