The 2026 NCAA Division I baseball championship will open on May 25, bringing together 64 collegiate programs in a single‑elimination format that culminates in the College World Series.
Conference tournaments decide the road to Omaha
Across the spring, each of the nation's 12 Division I conferences stages its own tournament to award an automatic bid. Winners join the 28 teams that earn at‑large selections, shaping the full field that will compete later this month.
SEC and ACC tournaments set the stage
The Southeastern Conference’s tournament in Hoover, Alabama, showcases eight of the country's top 17 teams according to the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, making it one of the most competitive early‑season showcases. Meanwhile, the Atlantic Coast Conference’s event in Charlotte, North Carolina, features three of the poll's top eight squads, underscoring the league's depth.
In the Big Ten, No. 1 overall seed UCLA is chasing its conference championship, a victory that would cement its status as the tournament's favorite heading into the national field.
The Ivy League concluded its tournament with Yale capturing the title, adding a historic program to the list of automatic qualifiers as conferences finish their schedules in alphabetical order.