Last month, 64 teams began a journey with dreams of a trip to Omaha, Nebraska.

Now, just two teams remain, each with an eye on a national championship.

Later tonight, North Carolina and Oklahoma will meet in Game 1 of the Men’s College World Series Finals, a best-of-three series to crown the NCAA baseball champion. UNC clinched its spot in the Finals early in the day on Wednesday, knocking off West Virginia to punch its ticket to the series. Then on Wednesday night Oklahoma joined the fray, defeating SEC rival Georgia to clinch its spot.

Here is everything you need to know about this series.

Men’s College World Series Finals schedule and scores

Here is the schedule for the Finals, which will be updated with the scores as games are played. Note: All times are Eastern.

Game 1: Oklahoma 9, North Carolina 3
Game 2: Sunday, June 21, 2:30 p.m, ABC
Game 3: Monday, June 22, 7:00 p.m., ESPN*

UNC’s path to the MCWS Finals

North Carolina began the NCAA baseball tournament at home, as the No. 5 overall team in the field. It was smooth sailing for the Tar Heels in the Chapel Hill regional, as they won three straight games to book a spot in the Super Regionals, where they were home against USC.

That is where the road got a bit bumpy.

North Carolina dropped Game 1 of the Super Regional, 9-5 to USC. But then with the team’s season on the line, the Tar Heels got a gem of a start from Jason DeCaro in Game 2 to force a decisive Game 3.

After falling down 3-1 on Sunday, the Tar Heels pushed a run across the plate in the bottom of the eighth, and completed a dramatic comeback in the bottom of the ninth when Owen Hull hit his fourth double of the game to center field, bringing home the winning run in walkoff fashion.

Hull and the Tar Heels remained red hot after arriving in Omaha. They knocked off Ole Miss 6-2 in their first game, behind clutch hitting from Gavin Gallaher and Colin Hynek. Then with a chance to clinch a spot in the Finals, Hull and the Tar Heels knocked off West Virginia on Wednesday by a final score of 12-7.

It was UNC’s second win against West Virginia in Omaha, and the team’s first trip to the Finals since 2007.

UNC has never won the NCAA baseball championship.

Oklahoma’s path to the MCWS Finals

The journey to Omaha was a little different for Oklahoma.

The Sooners were not one of the top 16 teams according to the Selection Committee, and started on the road in Atlanta, as the No. 2 seed in the Atlanta regional. That put Oklahoma in the same bracket as Georgia Tech, the No. 2 team overall.

Then when Oklahoma lost the 1-0 game to Georgia Tech, it meant a trip to the loser’s bracket. But a win over The Citadel and a victory over Georgia Tech set up a winner-take-all game in Atlanta.

Which the Sooners won in dramatic fashion, on a walk-off home ron from Dayton Tockey in the tenth inning.

With the win, Oklahoma earned a trip to Kansas to take on the Big 12 Champions in the Lawrence Super Regional. But the Sooners won that series in a two-game sweep, outscoring Kansas 21-3 over the two games. Tockey again went deep in Game 2, won by Oklahoma 13-2, along with Deiten Lachance, Dasan Harris, and Trey Gambill.

Once in Omaha, the Sooners did not let up. Like UNC, Oklahoma won three consecutive games to reach the Finals, including a pair of wins over Georgia.

This is Oklahoma’s first trip to the Finals since 2022, and the Sooners are looking for a third national championship.

One key player for each team

These are two talented rosters, with deep lineups and live arms both in the rotation and coming out of the bullpen.

But two players in particular have been scorching hot in recent games, and will be critical to their team’s chances in the Finals.

North Carolina: Owen Hull

Ahead of the Men’s College World Series, we tapped Hull as the key player for the Tar Heels.

We do so again, and with good reason.

After all, it was Hull who came through with the decisive hit in the Super Regionals, as his opposite-field knock in the bottom of the ninth against USC clinched that series. And he is still swinging a hot bat as the Finals begin. His last game without a hit came back on May 16 against NC State, when he went 0-for-2 in a loss to the Wolfpack. He finished the game on Wednesday having gone 4-for-5 with two RBI, along with a pair of doubles and a triple, and Hull heads to the Finals riding a 12-game hitting streak.

As with Hull, we pointed to Dasan Harris ahead of the Men’s College World Series as a key to the Sooners’ chances.

And like Hull, Harris continued his hot streak once arriving in Omaha.

The Oklahoma outfielder went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI in the Sooners’ opening win over Alabama, and in the win that sent Oklahoma to the Finals, Harris went 2-for-5 with a pair of home runs as the Sooners knocked off Georgia 11-4. For the former walk-on, it was a rather special moment.

“I dreamed of this moment since I was a little kid and I wanted to come here,” said Harris, who went to Oklahoma as a walk-on back in 2024. “To be able to be put in these spots is something special.”

Harris leads the Sooners in batting average (.359) and is second among qualified players in OPS with a mark of 1.002, behind only slugger Deiten Lachance.

Ten days ago, North Carolina trailed USC 3-1 in the bottom of the eighth inning in Game 3 of its Super Regional against USC. Facing the end of their season, the Tar Heels rallied for three runs in the final two innings to book their spot in the Men’s College World Series, with a double off the bat of Owen Hull delivering the win in walk-off fashion.

And now, Hull and the Tar Heels are headed to the Finals after a 12-7 win over West Virginia.

North Carolina took on West Virginia in Omaha on Wednesday, needing a win to punch their ticket to the Finals while the Mountaineers needed a victory to force a winner-take-all rematch on Thursday. But Hull and the Tar Heels jumped out to a lead in the top of the first, starting with yet another extra-base hit from the UNC outfielder:

Hull later came around to score after stealing third, and advancing home on an error.

After West Virginia pulled one back in the bottom of the first, the Tar Heels broke the game open in the third and fourth innings. North Carolina pushed three runs across the dish in the top of the third, with the big blow a triple off the bat of Cooper Nicholson:

Then in the fourth UNC tacked on three more runs, and it was Hull again providing some of the offense, with this double down the left-field line to bring Carter French around to score:

A Gavin Gallaher single followed, bringing Hull and Jake Schnaffer home to make it 8-1 Tar Heels in the top of the fourth.

As the North Carolina offense was enjoying the afternoon, Jackson Rose was dealing on the bump. Folger Boaz got the start, but UNC turned to the freshman lefty to start the second inning.

Early in his outing Rose relied on his fastball and slider, before he started mixing in more of his curveball. Where Rose was truly impressive was with his slider, as well as how he worked his slider and fastball inside to hitters, preventing them from getting their hands extended to barrel up pitches. He needed just six pitches to get through the second, 13 to get through the third, 14 through the fourth, and just eight to get through the fifth inning.

In the top of the sixth, the Tar Heels got another extra-base hit, as Hull laced a triple down the right-field line. That made him the first UNC player with a four-hit game at the MCWS since 2011, and Hull came around to score on another single from Gallaher to make it 9-1.

For Gallaher, who finally broke through with his first hit in two trips to Omaha earlier this week, it was his 32rd RBI in 25 career NCAA tournament games, the most among active players.

Following a stolen base, an Erik Paulsen single brought home Gallaher to make it 10-1, and the rout appeared on.

But the Mountaineers would not go down that easily.

Rose finally got into some trouble in the bottom of the sixth, walking the bases loaded after giving up a pair of singles. That’s when Scott Forbes came out of the North Carolina dugout to summon Matthew Matthijs out of the pen, ending Rose’s day after 58 pitches. He needed just one pitch to end the inning, as Brock Wills lined out to Gallaher at second, who flipped to Schnaffer for the double play.

UNC tacked on two more runs in the seventh to make the score 12-1, those 12 runs a new single-game record for the Tar Heels in a Men’s College World Series game.

West Virginia made some noise in the bottom of the seventh, chasing Matthijs as they scored four runs to cause some stirring from those wearing Carolina Blue. That’s when Forbes summoned Caden Glauber, the freshman reliever with an 11-0 record on the year, and who entered play with 23 strikeouts in just over 14 innings of work in the NCAA tournament.

But a passed ball brought another run home, cutting UNC’s lead to 12-6. West Virginia fans were in full voice by that point, while the Carolina fans were looking for the Pepto Bismol.

After a long battle, Glauber finally got Ben Lumsden looking to end the inning.

However, the Mountaineers, refused to quit, as a Gavin Kelly solo shot in the bottom of the eighth pulled West Virginia within five.

But that would be as close as they got.

Glauber struck out Sean Smith to start the ninth, and after giving up a single to Matthew Graveline, he got a popup from shortstop Matt Ineich to push West Virginia to their final out. Willis singled to right, bringing Lumsden to the plate again, but a flyball to right ended the game, and touched off the celebrations for those in Carolina Blue.

For Hull, the UNC outfielder heads to the MCWS Finals red hot. His last game without a hit came back on May 16 against NC State, when he went 0-for-2 in a loss to the Wolfpack. He finished the game on Wednesday having gone 4-for-5 with two RBI, along with a pair of doubles and a triple, and Hull heads to the Finals riding a 12-game hitting streak.

“We’re getting it done in a lot of different ways,” said Gallaher after the win to ESPN.

“I’m just so thankful to be here.”

UNC will face either Oklahoma or Georgia in the Finals starting Saturday night. Those two teams face off on Wednesday night, with Georgia needing a win to force a winner-take-all rematch on Wednesday. A win from the Sooners would punch their ticket to the Finals against the Tar Heels.

Eight teams have arrived in Omaha chasing one dream.

An NCAA baseball championship.

The Men’s College World Series begins today in Omaha, with a completely new set of teams from last year’s edition. Among the eight teams in the field are five SEC titans (Georgia, Ole Miss, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas), ACC mainstay North Carolina, West Virginia, and this year’s Cinderella, Troy.

Here is the full schedule. For key players, MLB Draft prospects, and how each team got here, we have you covered.

Men’s College World Series schedule and scores

Game 1: West Virginia 7, Troy 5
Game 2: North Carolina 6, Ole Miss 2

Game 3: Oklahoma 9, Alabama 0
Game 4: Georgia 7, Texas 1

Game 5: Troy vs. Ole Miss, 2:00 p.m., ESPN (Loser eliminated)
Game 6: West Virginia vs. North Carolina, 7:00 p.m., ESPN

Game 7: Alabama vs. Texas, 2:00 p.m., ESPN (Loser eliminated)
Game 8: Oklahoma vs. Georgia, 7:00 p.m., ESPN

Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 2:00 p.m., ESPN (Loser eliminated)
Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 8:00 p.m., ESPN (Loser eliminated)

Game 11: Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 2:00 p.m., ESPN*
Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 7:00 p.m., ESPN**

* – Winner wins Bracket 1 if unbeaten
** – Winner wins Bracket 2 if unbeaten

Game 13: Game 11 winner vs. Game 11 loser, TBD – If Game 11 loser has one loss***
Game 14: Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser, TBD – If Game 12 loser has one loss****

*** – If necessary; winner wins Bracket 1
**** – If necessary; winner wins Bracket 2

MCWS scores and schedule by bracket

Game 1: West Virginia 7, Troy 5
Game 2: North Carolina 6, Ole Miss 2

Game 5: Troy vs. Ole Miss, 1:00 p.m., ESPN (Loser eliminated)
Game 6: West Virginia vs. North Carolina, 6:00 p.m., ESPN

Game 9: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 loser, 1:00 p.m., ESPN (Loser eliminated)

Game 11: Game 6 winner vs. Game 9 winner, 1:00 p.m., ESPN*

* – Winner wins Bracket 1 if unbeaten

Game 13: Game 11 winner vs. Game 11 loser, TBD – If Game 11 loser has one loss**

** – If necessary; Winner wins Bracket 1

Game 3: Oklahoma 9, Alabama 0
Game 4: Georgia 7, Texas 1

Game 7: Alabama vs. Texas, 2:00 p.m., ESPN (Loser eliminated)
Game 8: Oklahoma vs. Georgia, 7:00 p.m., ESPN

Game 10: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 loser, 7:00 p.m., ESPN (Loser eliminated)

Game 12: Game 8 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 6:00 p.m., ESPN*

* – Winner wins Bracket 2 if unbeaten

Game 14: Game 12 winner vs. Game 12 loser, TBD – If Game 12 loser has one loss**

** – If necessary; Winner wins Bracket 2

When Gavin Gallaher came to the plate in the bottom of the seventh inning Friday night in Omaha, the UNC second baseman was still looking for his first career hit in the Men’s College World Series. Between 2024 and the first part of Friday night’s game against Ole Miss, Gallaher was 0-15 in Omaha.

But finally got a hit in Omaha, and he made that first hit count.

The UNC infielder laced a single up the middle, past the dive of shortstop Owen Paino, to bring Colin Hynek home from second and give the Tar Heels a slim 3-2 lead.

But it would be enough on Friday night in Omaha, as UNC knocked off Ole Miss by a final score of 6-2 to take their first game at the Men’s College World Series.

Both teams got tremendous outings from their starting pitchers as Ole Miss starter Taylor Rabe worked deep into the sixth inning, going 5.2 while allowing just one earned run. Jason DeCaro, who was the hero for UNC in Game 2 of the Tar Heels’ Super Regional against USC, went 6.2 innings while allowing a pair of earned runs.

But in the seventh, UNC pushed a pair of runs across to take the lead for good. After a pair of walks to open the inning, No. 9 hitter Carter French laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt to move the runners over, and turn the lineup over as well.

That brought leadoff hitter Jake Schaffner to the plate, and he lofted a fly ball deep enough to right to bring Tyler Home with the tying run to knot the game at 2-2.

That set the stage for Gallaher, and that first hit in Omaha:

Gallaher went into postseason lore in Chapel Hill during the 2024 regionals, when his grand slam in the bottom of the ninth propelled UNC to a comeback win in their first game against LIU.

But this bit of heroics came in the Men’s College World Series.

Still, UNC was not done. Because in the bottom of the eighth, it was Hynek’s turn for some heroics:

The numbers on this blast certainly stand out:

Ole Miss made a little noise in the ninth, as Luke Romine led off with a single. But reliever Caden Glauber got Collin Reuter to roll into a double play, and then Glauber retired leadoff hitter Dom Decker on a flyout to left to end the game.

On the season, the Tar Heels are now 26-0 when Glauber takes to the bump at some point in a game. It was also the third consecutive time the Tar Heels opened with a win in Omaha, dating back to 2018.

But it was all about “Mr. Postseason.” However, Gallaher had something else on his mind when speaking to ESPN after the win.

“I just want to say, sorry for a second, first, it’s my sister’s birthday. Happy birthday to her. My whole family is here, I’m so thankful for them,” started Gallaher. “I’ve been talking about it a lot, I was a little upset with myself in ‘24.”

He then talked about the timeout Scott Forbes called before his key hit.

“He told me to slow down,” said Gallaher. “He’s so good over there, his presence is so good.”

The Tar Heels will take on West Virginia Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. Eastern, while Ole Miss will see Troy at 2:00 p.m. Sunday in an elimination game.

College football fans know all about Heisman Moments.

How about a Golden Spikes Moment?

If there is such a thing, Daniel Jackson delivered just that Sunday at Foley Field in Athens, as the Georgia catcher blasted a two-run home run in the top of the tenth inning to give the Bulldogs an 11-9 lead over Mississippi State, putting his team three outs away from Omaha.

Georgia entered Sunday’s clash needing a win to advance to Omaha, after Michael O’Shaughnessy’s heroics on Saturday, while Mississippi State needed a win to extend their season. While Georgia built a 7-2 lead after five innings, Mississippi State stormed back, eventually taking a 9-8 lead on Jacob Parker’s two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth, Parker’s second blast of the game.

But Georgia scratched out a run in the top of the ninth, as Brennan Hudson laced a single to right-center to bring Kenny Ishikawa around to score, tying the game at 9-9 and setting the stage for extra innings.

That set the stage for Jackson.

After Tre Phelps reached on an error to lead off the inning, Jackson came to the plate with nobody out and Phelps on first as the potential go-ahead run. All Jackson did was “feed the trees,” sending a blast to deep left field for his 31st home run of the season:

Georgia closed things out in the bottom of the tenth to book a trip to Omaha.

For Jackson, it is the latest epic moment in a season filled with them. He not only secured SEC Player of the Year honors, but he also became the first catcher in SEC history to enjoy a 25/25 season, as he finished the regular season with 27 home runs and 25 stolen bases.

Jackson is also just the sixth player in college baseball history to reach that mark.

He also won the SEC triple crown, the first catcher and just the third player in conference history to achieve that feat. He is one of several semifinalists for the Golden Spikes Award, given each year to the most outstanding player in amateur baseball. And in July, he is expected to be an early selection in the MLB Draft.

But first, a trip to Omaha awaits.