The 2020 college baseball season will see teams hoping to make it to Omaha, Nebraska for the College World Series.
2020 COLLEGE BASEBALL: Our preseason top 25 | Eight for Omaha, predicted
The quest for Omaha starts today, as the 2020 opening weekend is set for Feb. 14-16. Eight ranked opponents take the field for important matchups on opening day, including two ranked matchups — No. 1 Louisville at No. 25 Ole Miss and No. 2 Vanderbilt at No. 13 Michigan, a rematch of last season's College World Series final.
To view the top 11 games to watch on opening day and how to watch them, click here.
In D1Baseball.com's preseason top 25 released on Monday, Jan.13, Louisville earned the top spot, followed by Vanderbilt, Miami (Fla.), Florida and Georgia. The latter three teams had the largest jump of the five from last year's final poll, with Miami and Georgia closing out the year ranked 19th and 18th, respectively, while Florida ended a disappointing 2019 season unranked and was eliminated by Dallas Baptist in the regional round.
Here's how each of the top 5 preseason teams will start the 2020 season:
No. 1 Louisville
Right out of the gate, the Cardinals take on No. 25 Ole Miss in a three-game series in Oxford Feb. 14-16. Five more unranked opponents fill their schedule until ACC play begins on March 6, when Louisville travels to Winston-Salem to take on Wake Forest in a three-game series.
LOUISVILLE REPORT: Louisville a potential No. 1 in the 2020 preseason college baseball rankings
No. 2 Vanderbilt
The Commodores open their 2020 season at the second annual MLB4 Tournament in Scottsdale, AZ. The four teams that will participate are Vanderbilt, Michigan, UConn and Cal Poly. Each will play the other once, including another rematch of last season's CWS between Vanderbilt and Michigan on Feb. 14. What a way to introduce the 2020 college baseball season.
Games against UConn and Cal Poly will follow on Feb. 15 and Feb 16, respectively.
Find what you need to know and how to watch the MLB4 Collegiate Baseball Tournament here.
VANDERBILT REPORT: Vandy set to begin another title defense in 2020 with loaded pitching staff
No. 3 Miami
Before taking on Florida in a top-5 matchup, the Hurricanes begin the season hosting Rutgers for a three-game series from Feb. 14-16. They then play Kent State on Wednesday, Feb 19 before hosting the Gators for a three-game series Feb. 21-23.
MIAMI REPORT: Miami baseball is loaded with talent headed into 2020 season
No. 4 Florida
The Gators open the 2020 season at home Feb. 14-16, hosting Marshall in a three-game series. A home-and-away series against Jacksonville on Feb. 18-19 leads to a highly-anticipated series against Miami on Feb 21-23; the Hurricanes will host.
FLORIDA REPORT: Why Florida baseball is especially eager to begin the 2020 season
No. 5 Georgia
Three opponents precede the Bulldogs' three-game series (home, away, neutral) against No. 19 Georgia Tech on Feb. 28-Mar. 1. Richmond visits Athens to open the season Feb. 14-16 in a three-game series. Kennesaw State and Santa Clara then follow in preparation for Georgia's first ranked opponent of the season in Georgia Tech.
GEORGIA REPORT: Georgia baseball enters 2020 led by a cadre of flame-throwers
But until then, fall ball takes over. One of the most interesting matchups to date was a rematch of last year's College World Series finals. The Nov. 10 meeting between Vanderbilt and Michigan came less than five months after the Commodores won their second national title in five seasons.
2020 COLLEGE WORLD SERIES: News, info, and schedules | 2019 bracket
The fall game was tight with both teams entering the ninth tied at two after Vanderbilt scored one at the bottom of the eighth. An error by the Commodores set up the Wolverines for a go-ahead run to win 3-2.
For more up to date information on the strongest teams entering the 2020 season, click the fall reports below.
MCWS HISTORY: Programs with most MCWS titles | Most MCWS appearances | 7 longest homers
MLB: MVPs who played in college | Cy Youngs by college | Players that won a MCWS and World Series
In 2019, Vanderbilt didn't surprise many people. After losing 7-4 in the first game of the College World Series final to Michigan, the Commodores rebounded, beating the Wolverines 4-1 in Game 2 and 8-2 in Game 3. In the postseason, they outscored opponents 77-44 and only allowed five or more runs once before reaching the CWS final.
Here's a look at every College World Series winner since 1947:
| YEAR | CHAMPION (RECORD) | COACH | SCORE | RUNNER-UP | SITE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Vanderbilt (59-12) | Tim Corbin | 8-2 | Michigan | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2018 | Oregon State (55-12-1) | Pat Casey | 5-0 | Arkansas | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2017 | Florida (52-19) | Kevin O'Sullivan | 6-1 | LSU | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2016 | Coastal Carolina (55-18) | Gary Gilmore | 4-3 | Arizona | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2015 | Virginia (44-24) | Brian O'Connor | 4-2 | Vanderbilt | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2014 | Vanderbilt (51-21) | Tim Corbin | 3-2 | Virginia | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2013 | * UCLA (49-17) | John Savage | 8-0 | Mississippi State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2012 | * Arizona (48-17) | Andy Lopez | 4-1 | South Carolina | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2011 | * South Carolina (55-14) | Ray Tanner | 5-2 | Florida | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2010 | South Carolina (54-16) | Ray Tanner | 2-1 (11 inn.) | UCLA | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2009 | LSU (56-17) | Paul Mainieri | 11-4 | Texas | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2008 | Fresno State (47-31) | Mike Batesole | 6-1 | Georgia | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2007 | * Oregon State (49-18) | Pat Casey | 9-3 | North Carolina | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2006 | Oregon State (50-16) | Pat Casey | 3-2 | North Carolina | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2005 | * Texas (56-16) | Augie Garrido | 6-2 | Florida | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2004 | Cal St. Fullerton (47-22) | George Horton | 3-2 | Texas | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2003 | Rice (58-12) | Wayne Graham | 14-2 | Stanford | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2002 | * Texas (57-15) | Augie Garrido | 12-6 | South Carolina | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2001 | * Miami (Fla.) (53-12) | Jim Morris | 12-1 | Stanford | Omaha, Neb. |
| 2000 | * LSU (52-17) | Skip Bertman | 6-5 | Stanford | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1999 | * Miami (Fla.) (50-13) | Jim Morris | 6-5 | Florida State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1998 | Southern California (49-17) | Mike Gillespie | 21-14 | Arizona State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1997 | * LSU (57-13) | Skip Bertman | 13-6 | Alabama | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1996 | * LSU (52-15) | Skip Bertman | 9-8 | Miami (Fla.) | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1995 | * Cal St. Fullerton (57-9) | Augie Garrido | 11-5 | Southern California | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1994 | * Oklahoma (50-17) | Larry Cochell | 13-5 | Georgia Tech | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1993 | LSU (53-17-1) | Skip Bertman | 8-0 | Wichita State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1992 | * Pepperdine (48-11-1) | Andy Lopez | 3-2 | Cal St. Fullerton | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1991 | * LSU (55-18) | Skip Bertman | 6-3 | Wichita State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1990 | Georgia (52-19) | Steve Webber | 2-1 | Oklahoma State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1989 | Wichita State (68-16) | Gene Stephenson | 5-3 | Texas | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1988 | Stanford (46-23) | Mark Marquess | 9-4 | Arizona State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1987 | Stanford (53-17) | Mark Marquess | 9-5 | Oklahoma State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1986 | Arizona (49-19) | Jerry Kindall | 10-2 | Florida State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1985 | Miami (Fla.) (64-16) | Ron Fraser | 10-6 | Texas | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1984 | Cal St. Fullerton (66-20) | Augie Garrido | 3-1 | Texas | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1983 | * Texas (66-14) | Cliff Gustafson | 4-3 | Alabama | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1982 | * Miami (Fla.) (55-17-1) | Ron Fraser | 9-3 | Wichita State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1981 | Arizona State (55-13) | Jim Brock | 7-4 | Oklahoma State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1980 | Arizona (45-21-1) | Jerry Kindall | 5-3 | Hawaii | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1979 | Cal St. Fullerton (60-14-1) | Augie Garrido | 2-1 | Arkansas | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1978 | * Southern California (54-9) | Rod Dedeaux | 10-3 | Arizona State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1977 | Arizona State (57-12) | Jim Brock | 2-1 | South Carolina | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1976 | Arizona (56-17) | Jerry Kindall | 7-1 | Eastern Michigan | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1975 | Texas (59-6) | Cliff Gustafson | 5-1 | South Carolina | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1974 | Southern California (50-20) | Rod Dedeaux | 7-3 | Miami (Fla.) | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1973 | * Southern California (51-11) | Rod Dedeaux | 4-3 | Arizona State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1972 | Southern California (47-13-1) | Rod Dedeaux | 1-0 | Arizona State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1971 | Southern California (46-11) | Rod Dedeaux | 5-2 | Southern Illinois | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1970 | Southern California (45-13) | Rod Dedeaux | 2-1 (15 inn.) | Florida State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1969 | Arizona State (56-11) | Bobby Winkles | 10-1 | Tulsa | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1968 | * Southern California (43-12-1) | Rod Dedeaux | 4-3 | Southern Illinois | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1967 | Arizona State (53-12) | Bobby Winkles | 11-0 | Houston | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1966 | Ohio State (27-6-1) | Marty Karow | 8-2 | Oklahoma State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1965 | Arizona State (54-8) | Bobby Winkles | 2-0 | Ohio State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1964 | Minnesota (31-12) | Dick Siebert | 5-1 | Missouri | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1963 | Southern California (35-10) | Rod Dedeaux | 5-2 | Arizona | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1962 | Michigan (34-15) | Don Lund | 5-4 (15 inn.) | Santa Clara | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1961 | * Southern California (36-7) | Rod Dedeaux | 1-0 | Oklahoma State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1960 | Minnesota (34-7-1) | Dick Siebert | 2-1 (10 inn.) | Southern California | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1959 | Oklahoma State (27-5) | Toby Greene | 5-0 | Arizona | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1958 | Southern California (29-3) | Rod Dedeaux | 8-7 (12 inn.) | Missouri | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1957 | * California (35-10) | George Wolfman | 1-0 | Penn State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1956 | Minnesota (37-9) | Dick Siebert | 12-1 | Arizona | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1955 | Wake Forest (29-7) | Taylor Sanford | 7-6 | Western Michigan | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1954 | Missouri (22-4) | John "Hi" Simmons | 4-1 | Rollins | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1953 | Michigan (21-9) | Ray Fisher | 7-5 | Texas | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1952 | Holy Cross (21-3) | Jack Barry | 8-4 | Missouri | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1951 | * Oklahoma (19-9) | Jack Baer | 3-2 | Tennessee | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1950 | Texas (27-6) | Bibb Falk | 3-0 | Washington State | Omaha, Neb. |
| 1949 | * Texas (23-7) | Bibb Falk | 10-3 | Wake Forest | Wichita, Kan. |
| 1948 | Southern California (26-4) | Sam Barry | 9-2 | Yale | Kalamazoo, Mich. |
| 1947 | * California (31-10) | Clint Evans | 8-7 | Yale | Kalamazoo, Mich. |
*Indicates undefeated teams in College World Series play.
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