College World Series 2024: Bracket Dates, TV Schedule and Format
The best in college baseball will compete in Omaha, Nebraska in the 2024 Men's College World Series for the right to be called champions.
North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina State, Texas A&M, and Florida State, winners of their super regional match-ups, will descend upon Charles Schwab Field, all with the goal of etching their names in the history books.
Ahead of start of play on Friday, find out the bracket schedule, the tournament format, and which players bear watching in this year's field with this preview of the Greatest Show on Dirt.
Format
The format for the eight-team tournament is as follows:
- The eight teams eligible for the Men's College World Series are split into two, double-elimination brackets.
- The winners of the first round match-ups will move on to play each other, as will the losers.
- The loser of the game of winners will square off with the winner of the first elimination game in what will be another elimination game.
- The victor in the second elimination game will go on to play the bracket's unbeaten, 2-0 team.
- The unbeaten team must only win one game to advance to the finish. The team with one loss must win twice to advance to the final.
Bracket Dates, Viewing Schedule and Format
Friday, June 14
Game 1: North Carolina vs. Virginia (1:00 p.m. ESPN)
Game 2: Tennessee vs. Florida State (6:00 p.m., ESPN)
Saturday, June 15
Game 3: Kentucky vs. North Carolina State (2:00 p.m., ESPN)
Game 4: Texas A&M vs. Florida (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Sunday, June 16
Game 5: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 (2:00 p.m., ESPN)
Game 6: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Monday, June 17
Game 7: Loser of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4 (2:00 p.m., ESPN)
Game 8: Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 4 (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Tuesday, June 18
Game 9: TBD vs. TBD (2:00 p.m., ESPN)
Game 10: TBD vs. TBD (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Wednesday, June 19
Game 11: TBD vs. TBD (2:00 p.m., ESPN)
Game 12: TBD vs. TBD (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Thursday, June 20
Game 13 (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD (2:00 p.m., TBD)
Game 14 (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD (7:00 p.m., TBD)
Saturday, June 22
MCWS Final Game 1: TBD vs. TBD (7:30 p.m., ESPN)
Sunday, June 23
MCWS Final Game 2: TBD vs. TBD (2:00 p.m., ABC)
Monday, June 24
MCWS Final Game 3 (if necessary): TBD vs. TBD (7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Top Players to Watch
Christian Moore, 2B, Tennessee Volunteers
Moore elevated his game in 2024, having the best and most productive season of his collegiate career to date.
His slash line (.375/.453/.796) was the best of his three years with the Volunteers and his 32 home runs nearly doubled his total number of long balls in 2023. Moore delivered more RBIs (71) than in any previous season while fewer walks and strikeouts than the year before demonstrated renewed patience at the plate.
His defensive play could use more consistency as he is prone to occasionally botching what should be a routine play, and his arm strength is rather average, which could hamper his ability to catch on in the pros as an infielder.
Still, Moore's offensive output is more than enough to catch the eye of big league teams and be the difference-maker for a Tennessee team whose offense is key to their championship aspirations.
Jac Caglianone, 1B/LHP, Florida Gators
Caglianone will be the most interesting player in the MLB Draft, thanks to his two-way play and raw ability.
His bat earned him more attention this season as he compiled a slash line of .411/.532/.860, hit 33 home runs for the second consecutive year, and accounted for 79 runs.
He answered concerns about him chasing pitches in pursuit of the long ball by cutting his strikeouts in half in 2024 while continuing to make contact. Hard.
As a pitcher, he can hit 100mph, but he saw increases in his ERA, hits, and home runs in 2024.
MLB ranks him as the No. 3 prospect entering the draft and notes, "He might be a top-of-the-first-round bat, with some seeing him more as a second-rounder on the mound," suggesting his value to Major League teams will come at the plate.
James Tibbs, OF, Florida State
Tibbs hits. A lot.
In three years with the Seminoles, he tallied 205 hits, 55 homers, and 169 RBI. His career slash line with Florida State is .342/.465/.697 and his strikeouts diminished every year.
He is patient and confident, two elements that will help him in the pros. He is also a driving force for his current team, fueling one of the best offenses in the nation.
Tibbs is the best pure hitter in the tournament and if he can put bat to ball consistently, the Seminoles' high-powered offense, which put up 24 runs in a single game against UConn in the Super Regional, has the ability to compete with any team in this year's field.