Previewing & Predicting the 2025 College World Series

We’ll start with the Arizona Wildcats, who pulled off a massive upset of UNC this past weekend to get to Omaha. It was far from an easy three-game set, as Arizona lost 18-2 in the opener before pulling off two come-from-behind wins.

Arizona’s offense is deep, full of players who could be either Day 1 or 2 picks this July. Brendan Summerhill, arguably their best player, was red-hot over the first two rounds, with six hits over the first two rounds. Junior infielder Mason White is a constant threat, with 19 home runs on the season.

Two other juniors, outfielder Aaron Walton (1.029 OPS) and catcher Adonys Guzman (.881 OPS) — the latter of whom was a top high school prospect three years ago — are also names to watch.

As for their pitching staff, freshman Smith Bailey played a key role this season. Bailey, who can crank it up to the mid-90s with his fastball, struck out 76 over 83 innings this season and largely held UNC back. Ace Owen Kramkowski will need a rebound after he was hit hard by the Tar Heels.

The Wildcats will start their run in Omaha against Coastal Carolina.

Arkansas

The Razorbacks are undefeated in the 2025 NCAA Tournament, as Arkansas went a perfect 5-0 to head back to the College World Series. Arkansas’ offense & pitching staff makes the Razorbacks one of the favorites heading into the College World Series.

The Razorbacks benefited greatly from their 2024-25 transfer portal class. Zach Root (formerly with East Carolina) turned into the team’s staff ace. Kuhio Aloy (BYU), Cam Kozeal (Vanderbilt), and Charles Davalan (FCGU) gave the team not just stability in their outfield & infield defensively but also offensively, as well.

Arkansas comes into the CWS with seven players with double-digit home run totals.

Coastal Carolina

For the first time since 2016, Coastal Carolina is back in the College World Series.

The Chanticleers swept Auburn in the Supers to get back to Omaha. CCU got a massive home run from Caden Bodine to win Game 1, while Walker Mitchell (three hits, two RBI) and Jacob Morrison (six strikeouts in six innings) did enough to move Coastal Carolina into the final eight.

As I noted when the Supers started, Coastal Carolina had arguably the best 1-2 starting pitcher punch among the remaining teams. Morrison won’t overwhelm with his fastball but was highly effective when it came to controlling the game.

Cameron Flukey, a sophomore from southern New Jersey, can overwhelm with a power fastball. Flukey struck out 106 thus far and set himself up well to be a Day 1 pick next summer.

The offense, meanwhile, is led by Bodine. Bodine, who could be drafted very early alongside Middleton next month, has power and is the focal point of this offense. Bodine led the team with a .466 OBP and not to mention, he can gun down runners from behind the plate. He posted a 37.8% CS% this season.

Louisville

The Cardinals beat ACC rival Miami to make it to Omaha, making Louisville the only team out of the conference to do so. It’s odd to say that, given the talent in the conference this season.

However, this Cardinals team belongs here.

Louisville’s pitching staff includes one of the most potent pitchers who will head to Omaha: Patrick Forbes. Forbes missed almost a month of the 2025 season but has been rolling through over the last few weeks. The right-hander struck out nine Hurricanes to help the Cardinals win Game 1 of the Supers, one week after a 13-strikeout performance against ETSU.

Forbes possesses a devastating two-pitch combo. One of those is a blistering fastball with run, a pitch that can get up to the upper-90s. The other is a very good slider.

But aside from their staff ace, the Cardinals’ offense can get it done. Sophomore outfielder Zion Rose — an athletic bat with power and speed — headlines a strong group that includes fellow speesters Lucas Moore and Alex Alicea, as well as senior outfielder Eddie King Jr.

LSU

The LSU Tigers won it all two years ago, thanks to a roster that produced several first-round picks, including the firs two in the 2023 Draft. Now, LSU has a chance to win it again.

LSU’s offense is something else. There’s plenty of likely pro players, from junior slugger Jared Jones to tourney star Chris Stanfield, who drove in four over the final two games of the Super Regionals. However, perhaps the most exciting player in that lineup is freshman Derek Curiel, who hit .347 as a freshman.

But if LSU wants to win it all, they’ll need the pitching to come through. Their top two arms, Kade Anderson & Anthony Eyanson, have done so all year.

Murray State

The Murray State Racers made an improbable run to the College World Series. Murray State went to Oxford as the #4 seed, took out Georgia Tech & Ole Miss to move on, then won two straight in Durham to make it to Omaha.

Even though Murray State is the “Cinderella” of this group, the Racers have talent. Junior Will Vierling, a top high schooler three years ago who transferred to the school after two tough years in Louisville, hit .316 with 10 home runs this season.

Then, there are the seniors. Outfielder Dustin Mercer hit .356 this season. Jonathan Hogart hit 22 home runs. While this school might not overwhelm on paper, the Racers have talent to say the least.

Oregon State

Oregon State faced a stiff test in the Super Regionals. However, the Beavers — a de facto independent — beat Florida State to make it to the College World Series, one year after disappoinment in Kentucky.

The Beavers did an exceptional job of getting here. Oregon State poached infielder Aiva Arquette, who batted .354 with 18 home runs this season, in the transfer portal. Power-hitter Gavin Turley has been a threat all year. Trent Caraway, meanwhile, comes in as one of the hottest hitters in the NCAA, with five home runs thus far in the tourney.

Oregon State’s pitching staff is deep, a recurring, obvious theme here. Freshman Dax Whitney won’t be eligible for the MLB Draft until 2027 but right now, he’s a potential #1 overall pick. Whitney struck out 111 batters in 71.1 IP and is just one of several notable pitchers.

Eric Segura, Ethan Kleinschmit, and Nelson Keljo all had K/9 rates north of 9.0 this season.

UCLA

We end with UCLA, the #15 seed and only Big 10 team in Omaha.

The Bruins, along with Oregon and USC, helped put the Big 10 in the baseball spotlight this season. And much of that, at least on UCLA’s end, had to do with impact infielder Roch Cholowsky, who had eight hits over the first two rounds.

It’s par for the course for Cholowsky, who heads into the CWS with 23 home runs and will be front-and-center of the 2026 MLB Draft next July.

Aside from Cholowsky, there are other bats on this team who can do damage. Sophomore infielder Mulivai Levu drove in 85 runs this season. Cholowsky and Levu were two of six regulars who batted over .300 this season.

As for UCLA’s pitching staff, this isn’t a standout group. Neither Michael Barnett or Landon Stump, their top two starters, struck out a lot of batters this season. Barnett doesn’t throw particularly hard.

Prediction

It’s a shame Arkansas and LSU are on one side of the bracket. That would be an incredible final two.

Having said that, I believe Arkansas gets it done. Their offense, at least on paper, is deeper and the Razorbacks have the pitching to get it done.