OMAHA, Neb. – The 2026 Men’s College World Series begins today with the first two games in Bracket 1, and it’s one of the three happiest days at the College World Series, along with the second day and the day the national championship is awarded, because nobody is going to be eliminated.
No sad goodbyes to seniors, no one is playing their last game, just a celebration of college baseball on its biggest stage.
The first game of this year’s College World Series pits the Troy Trojans from the Sun Belt Conference against the West Virginia Mountaineers from the Big 12 at 2 p.m. EDT. Troy will start senior left-hander Ben Stubbs (18G, 91 1/3 IP, 4.93 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, 83K, 37BB), while West Virginia will counter with Chancen Cole, a sophomore right-hander with a 2.85 ERA over 94 2/3 innings, a 1.11 WHIP, and 106 strikeouts against just 30 walks.
At 7 p.m. EDT, the Ole Miss Rebels will put Taylor Rabe, a sophomore righty, on the hill. Rabe has made 16 appearances and 10 starts for the Rebels this year, throwing 70 1/3 innings with a 3.71 ERA, a 1.02 WHIP, 98 strikeouts and just 11 walks. North Carolina has yet to announce a starter for their College World Series opener.
The winning teams from each of Friday’s games advance to Game 6 on Sunday evening, will the losing teams will square off in Game 5, an elimination game, on Sunday afternoon.
Weather – Out here in the middle, the worry this time of year is thunderstorms, but according to The Weather Channel, Friday will be sunny, with a high of 88 degrees and a low of 66, with sunset expect for 8:57 p.m., right around the time Ole Miss and North Carolina should be wrapping up, barring extra innings
Where to Watch – Every game of the 2026 Men’s College World Series will be televised on ESPN, with the exception of Game 2 of the Championship Series. That game, scheduled for Sunday, June 22 at 2:30 p.m. EDT, will be televised on ABC.
2026 Men’s College World Series Schedule
All times Eastern Daylight Time
* – If Necessary
Friday, June 12
2 p.m. – Game 1 – Bracket 1 – West Virginia (45-15) vs. Troy (38-30) – ESPN
7 p.m. – Game 2 – Bracket 1 – North Carolina (50-12-1) vs. Ole Miss (41-21) – ESPN
Saturday, June 13
3 p.m. – Game 3 – Bracket 2 – Oklahoma (38-22) vs. Alabama (42-19) – ESPN
8 p.m. – Game 4 – Bracket 2 – Georgia (51-12) vs. Texas (45-13) – ESPN
Sunday, June 14
3 p.m. – Game 5 – Bracket 1 – Game 1 Losing Team vs. Game 2 Losing Team – ESPN
8 p.m. – Game 6 – Bracket 1 – Game 1 Winning Team vs. Game 2 Winning Team – ESPN
Monday, June 15
2 p.m. – Game 7 – Game 3 Losing Team vs. Game 4 Losing Team – ESPN
7 p.m. – Game 8 – Game 3 Winning Team vs. Game 4 Winning Team – ESPN
Tuesday, June 16
2 p.m. – Game 9 – Bracket 1 – Game 6 Losing Team vs. Game 5 Winning Team – ESPN
7 p.m. – Game 10 – Bracket 2 – Game 8 Losing Team vs. Game 7 Winning Team – ESPN
Wednesday, June 17
2 p.m. – Game 11 – Bracket 1 – Game 6 Winning Team vs. Game 9 Winning Team – ESPN
7 p.m. – Game 12 – Bracket 2 – Game 8 Winning Team vs. Game 10 Winning Team – ESPN
Thursday, June 18
If the Game 9 Winning Team wins Game 11 or the Game 10 Winning Team wins on Wednesday, the teams play again on Thursday to determine which team advances to the Championship Series.
TBD – Bracket 1 Final Game – ESPN*
TBD – Bracket 2 Final Game – ESPN*
Saturday, June 20
TBD – Championship Series Game 1 – ESPN
Sunday, June 21
2:30 p.m. – Championship Series Game 2 – ABC
Monday, June 22
7 p.m. – Championship Series Game 3 – ESPN*
Photo: Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska. (AP Photo)
