The 2025 Men's College World Series brought elite collegiate baseball back to Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, running from June 13 through June 22, 2025. Eight powerhouse programs converged in a double-elimination tournament to chase the ultimate national championship trophy, concluding with a hard-fought championship series between the LSU Tigers and the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.
If you're tracking how the bracket shook out, who played whom, or how the championship unfolded, here is the complete breakdown of the 2025 tournament.
The Eight-Team Field and Opening Matchups
Getting to Omaha requires surviving regional and super regional rounds across the country. The final eight teams reaching Charles Schwab Field featured a mix of veteran postseason contenders and dangerous lower seeds that carved through upsets.
The opening weekend pairings set the tone for a chaotic tournament:
- Coastal Carolina vs. Arizona: No. 13 seed Coastal Carolina opened tournament play against the Arizona Wildcats on Friday, June 13. The Chanticleers secured a 7-4 victory to kick off their deep run.
- Oregon State vs. Louisville: In Friday's nightcap, No. 8 seed Oregon State squared off against Louisville, escaping with a tight 4-3 win thanks to late-inning heroics.
- UCLA vs. Murray State: No. 15 seed UCLA met Cinderella run-maker Murray State on Saturday, June 14, with the Bruins pulling away for a 6-4 win.
- Arkansas vs. LSU: In a blockbuster opening-round clash of heavyweights, No. 3 seed Arkansas met No. 6 seed LSU. LSU's pitching staff locked down a 4-1 victory.
Double-Elimination Bracket Progression
The middle week of the College World Series tests bullpen depth and roster endurance. Teams that stumble early must navigate the grueling elimination bracket, playing every few days without a break.
Elimination and Survival Games
As the tournament progressed through mid-June, several classic games shaped the bracket:
- Louisville Eliminated Arizona: Louisville bounced back from its opening loss by eliminating Arizona 8-3 on Sunday, June 15.
- Coastal Carolina Keeps Rolling: The Chanticleers defeated Oregon State 6-2, continuing a historic tear that eventually reached 26 consecutive wins before meeting resistance.
- LSU Stays Unbeaten: LSU managed a 9-5 win over UCLA on June 17, sending the Bruins home and keeping the Tigers in the driver's seat.
- Louisville Over Oregon State: In a dramatic 7-6 thriller, Louisville eliminated Oregon State on June 17.
- The Arkansas-LSU Rematch: In the bracket final on June 18, LSU edged out Arkansas 6-5 in a game that knocked the Razorbacks out of contention and sent the Tigers straight to the championship series. Meanwhile, Coastal Carolina punched its ticket by defeating Louisville 11-3.
The Championship Series: LSU vs. Coastal Carolina
The championship series pitted the battle-tested LSU Tigers against the surging Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.
- Game 1 (June 21): The opener turned into a pitching masterclass led by LSU's Kade Anderson. A lone RBI single by Steven Milam in the bottom of the first inning proved to be all the offense LSU needed. The 1-0 shutout snapped Coastal Carolina's 26-game winning streak and put the Tigers one win away from history. You can read full tournament archives on NCAA.
- Game 2 (June 22): LSU didn't let up on Sunday afternoon, defeating Coastal Carolina 5-3. The victory clinched the program's eighth national title, cementing another legendary chapter in LSU Athletics history.
Ticket Information and Pricing Realities
Attending the College World Series in Omaha requires planning well in advance. Ticket structures generally fall into two primary categories:
- All-Sessions Passes: These passes grant admission to every single game of the tournament. Secondary market prices for all-sessions passes typically start around $1,684 depending on primary availability and participating fanbases.
- Single-Game Tickets: Individual game tickets vary widely based on the matchup. High-demand games featuring traditional SEC powerhouses or elimination brackets often see standing-room prices spike above $100, while early-round weekday matchups can sometimes be found starting around $40 to $90.
Official primary ticket distribution and verified exchanges are managed directly through the College World Series of Omaha.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the College World Series played?
The tournament takes place annually at Charles Schwab Field Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska, which has hosted the event since 2011.
How many teams make it to Omaha?
Eight teams qualify for the final tournament site. They emerge from a larger 64-team field that battles through regional and super regional rounds across the country.
What is the tournament format?
The eight teams are split into two four-team, double-elimination brackets. The winner of each bracket advances to face one another in a final best-of-three championship series.
How do teams qualify for the CWS?
Teams must win their respective regular-season or conference tournaments to earn an automatic bid or an at-large selection to the 64-team NCAA regionals. Surviving the regional and super regional rounds earns them a trip to Omaha.
