Previewing & Predicting Every 2025 NCAA Baseball Regional

After three months and postseason conference tournaments, the stage is set for the 2025 NCAA Division I baseball tournament. Sixty-four teams will compete for eight spots to get to Omaha and this year’s event will have some spice to it. With that said, here’s a preview and prediction for every single regional.

Auburn Regional

• #4 Auburn
• Central Connecticut State
• NC State
• Stetson

We’ll start alphabetically with the Auburn Regional. The Tigers were carried by a collection of big boys, including C/OF Ike Irish and LSU transfer pitcher Samuel Dutton, who struck out 89 over 75 frames in what was his first work as a predominant starter since 2022. Not to mention, freshman Chris Rembert hit .349 with 10 home runs.

This won’t be the easiest Regional, though. CCSU was carried by fourth-year player Aidan Redehan, the NCAA leader in batting average (.458). Stetson, meanwhile, saw big years from junior Isaiah Barkett, who hit .380 this season, and freshman Foster Apple.

Then, there’s NC State. The Wolfpack went 17-11 in ACC play and have one of the best left-handers in the country: Dominic Fritton. Fritton struck out 102 batters this season, a much better year as he becomes MLB Draft-eligible. NC State’s offense isn’t as impressive but does boast several intriguing bats, including sophomore bats Chris McHugh and Alex Sosa.

Auburn, though, has the talent and depth to make it through.

Predicted Winner: Auburn

Austin Regional

• #2 Texas
• Houston Baptist
• UTSA
• Kansas State

On paper, this should be a clean regional for Texas. The Longhorns sat at #1 in the rankings for much of 2025 but fell late in the season and lost to Tennessee early on in the SEC Tournament.

Texas’ offense is deep, and that group looks much better with Max Belyeu. Belyeu missed a healthy chunk of the SEC schedule but came back in the last weekend of the regular season. Aside from Belyeu, strikeout-happy bats Jalin Flores and Will Gasparino can do damage. Ethan Mendoza, meanwhile, hit .330 and was a sparkplug in his sophomore season.

The Longhorns don’t have an intimidating regional ahead of them. However, KSU, with an experienced pitching staff and four hitters who were in double-digits in home runs, serve as a threat.

It’ll be interesting if the regional ends in an old Big 12 matchup of yesteryear.

Predicted Winner: Texas

Athens Regional

• #7 Georgia
• Binghamton
• Duke
• Oklahoma State

Georgia’s offense may have lost their best bat from 2024 in the summer. However, there’s no shortage of power on this team, as the Bulldogs had eight players with double-digit home runs, including Robbie Burnett (20) and Kolby Branch (13).

This regional is also host to two of arguably the most disappointing teams in the nation — ones that still managed to snare at-large births: Duke and OSU.

Duke’s lineup didn’t have the same punch compared to 2024. A.J. Gracia didn’t take a huge step forward, although he showed a very keen eye that should get him drafted early in 2026. The big issue this season was Kyle Johnson, the de facto ace heading into 2025, who got pushed out of the rotation.

Nonetheless, that offense can still do damage.

As for Oklahoma State, Nolan Schubart took a step back in 2025. Schubart, long a big strikeout bat, posted the lowest OPS of his career this season. However, the Cowboys have perhaps the best pitcher in this regional, in left-hander Harrison Bodendorf. Bodendorf, the Hawaii transfer, struck out 100 batters and won 10 games.

Among all the talent in this regional, it’s one that looks more competitive than it might seem.

Predicted Winner: Georgia

Baton Rouge Regional

• #6 LSU
• Little Rock
• Dallas Baptist
• Rhode Island

The LSU Tigers finished second in the nation in K/9 (11.9) this season, which is not a shock with the talent on the roster. LSU’s rotation includes Kade Anderson, a likely first-round pick this year, and Anthony Eyanson.

Both Anderson and Eyanson finished in the top five in strikeouts this year, and with those two and an elite offense, it’s going to be a rough battle for the rest of the group.

There are, however, other players of interest. Rhode Island seniors Anthony DePino and Eric Genther finished in the top 100 in the nation in hits. Dallas Baptist, meanwhile, has one of the best power hitters in the nation in Grant Jay and two quality starters in Micah Bucknam and James Ellwanger.

Predicted Winner: LSU

Chapel Hill Regional

• #5 North Carolina
• Holy Cross
• Oklahoma
• Nebraska

North Carolina didn’t need to win the ACC Tournament to lock up a spot in the NCAA tourney. UNC did very well in the regular season and has played arguably its best ball over the last two weeks.

The Tar Heels’ pitching staff is deep as one comes, with Jake Knapp and Jason DeCaro leading this group.

And if you love pitching, you’ll love this regional. Oklahoma ace Kyson Witherspoon is arguably the best pitcher in Chapel Hill this upcoming weekend. Nebraska, the Big 10 winner, has pieced things together without staff ace Mason McConnaughey, thanks to Ty Horn and Will Walsh.

Predicted Winner: North Carolina

Clemson Regional

• #11 Clemson
• USC Upstate
• West Virginia
• Kentucky

Can Cam Cannarella do it again? Last year, Cannarella made an incredible catch to keep the Tigers’ College World Series hopes alive. This year, he maintained his status as an elite sparkplug, with a .473 OBP.

Cannarella is one of several key bats for the Tigers. Seniors Dominic Listi and Josh Paino helped carry the offense, as Luke Gaffney wasn’t as effective compared to his Purdue days.

Moving on to the rest of the regional, Kentucky snuck in despite a 29-24 (13-17) record. The Wildcats got very lucky Tyler Bell opted not to sign with the Rays, as the Kentucky freshman hit .339 for 10 home runs and was one of the best freshmen in the nation.

West Virginia, meanwhile, has a strong overall offense. Junior bats Sam White and Skylar King batted over .300 for the Mountaineers this season.

Predicted Winner: Clemson

Conway Regional

• #13 Coastal Carolina
• Fairfield
• Florida
• East Carolina

Coastal Carolina went 24-3 at home this season, perfect for the reigning Sun Belt champions.

The Chanticleers boast one of the best 1-2 punches in the nation with Cameron Flukey and Jacob Morrison, the latter of whom finished third in Division I in ERA (1.90). Add in an offense that can get the job done, thanks in part to star catcher Caden Bodine, and CCU is the favorite here heading into the regional.

However, it won’t be that easy. Two of the NCAA’s best powers will also be heading to South Carolina.

Florida, on paper, is deep but heavily banged up. Luke Heyman and Colby Shelton are among the injured players for a team that sported a significantly different lineup at the end, compared to the start. But, Liam Peterson is a difference-maker.

As for ECU, the Pirates got decimated in the transfer portal this summer and needed to win the AAC to get in. East Carolina did, and sneaked into the tournament. And, ECU has two of the best youngsters in the country in sophomore pitcher Ethan Norby and freshman Braden Burress.

Predicted Winner: Coastal Carolina

Corvallis Regional

• #8 Oregon State
• St. Mary’s
• TCU
• USC

Oregon State navigated a weird 2025 season to earn a national seed. OSU got significant contributions from freshman pitcher Dax Whitney, who struck out 89 over 60 innings. Ethan Kleinschmit and Eric Segura complete a dominant rotation, one that’ll be quite formidable this weekend.

However, don’t sleep on the rest of the competition.

USC had four regulars bat .300 this season, while Caden Aoki — a ground-ball machine — helped carry the Trojans’ pitching staff.

TCU, meanwhile, might be the biggest sleeper in this tournament. The Horned Frogs have one of the better, younger offenses among the group of 64, led by freshmen Noah Franco and Sawyer Strosnider. Not to mention, pitching depth.

The Horned Frogs should be among the nation’s best in 2026. But why can’t TCU do damage now?

Predicted Winner: TCU