NCAA: A 2023 College World Series Bracket 1 Preview

Tre Richardson has been swinging a hot bat for Texas Christian during the 2023 NCAA Tournament. (Photo Courtesy of the Big 12 Conference)

OMAHA, Neb. – For the eight teams remaining in the NCAA Tournament, all roads lead to Omaha, Nebraska for the 2023 NCAA Division I College World Series at Charles Schwab Field. The double elimination bracket rounds will be played from June 16-22, and the College World Series Finals will start June 24 and continue through 26 if the series goes to a third game. All double elimination bracket round games will start at 2 p.m. EDT and 7 p.m. EDT.

The final eight teams that remain left for the 2023 NCAA Division I season are No. 7 Virginia, No. 2 Florida, Texas Christian, Oral Roberts University, No.8 Stanford, No.1 Wake Forest, Tennessee, and No. 5 Louisiana State University. Bracket 1 will begin on Friday, June 16 and Bracket 2 on Saturday will have all games televised on ESPN.

Every game in the College World Series will be televised on ESPN or ESPN2.

Bracket 1: Friday, June 16
TCU vs. Oral Roberts University 2 p.m. EDT
No. 2 Florida vs. No. 7 Virginia 7 p.m. EDT

Bracket 2: Saturday, June 17
No. 1 Wake Forest vs. No. 8 Stanford 2 p.m. EDT
No. 5 LSU vs. Tennessee 7 p.m. EDT 

Texas Christian University (42-22)
Head Coach: Kirk Saarloos (Second Season)
National Championships: None

The 2023 Big 12 Conference champion TCU Horned Frogs are appearing in their sixth College World Series in program history. The Horned Frogs have been on an absolute tear offensively during their run to Omaha. Horned Frogs third baseman Brayden Taylor has been hitting .314 this season with an OPS at 1.096 through 63 games. In 242 at-bats he has 76 hits, 14 doubles, 23 home runs, walked 52 times and drove in a team-leading 69 runs en route to winning the Big 12 Conference tournament Most Outstanding Player Award.

Second baseman Tre Richardson is another player to watch during the College World Series. After hitting just two home runs during the regular season, he has unleashed four home runs in the NCAA Tournament so far. Richardson is batting .315 in 257 at-bats over 64 games, smacking 81 hits, 16 doubles, 59 RBI, and drawing 26 walks. Starting pitcher Kole Klecker made 15 starts this season, going 10-4 and recording a 3.84 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP through 86.2 innings, allowing 67 hits, walking 28 batters, and striking out 69 up to this point in the season.

Oral Roberts University (51-12)
Head Coach: Ryan Folmar (11th Season)
National Championships: None

The Golden Eagles reached the NCAA Division I World Series for the first time since 1978, beating the University of Oregon 11-6 in game three of the Eugene Super Regional last Sunday, just two weeks after capturing their 21st Summit League conference championship.

Center fielder Jonah Cox is swinging a hot bat, hitting .420 with a 1.148 OPS through 262 at-bats in 62 games, recording an NCAA-best 110 hits, 16 doubles, 11 home runs, 67 RBI and drawing 30 walks. Right fielder Matt Hogan, a redshirt senior, batted .322 with a 1.155 OPS in 58 games, recording 69 hits in 208 at-bats, 12 doubles, 18 home runs, walking 51 times, and driving in 70 runs.

Starting pitcher Jakob Hall will be a crucial arm for the Golden Eagles. He posted a 3.56 ERA this year, going 8-3 in 17 starts and throwing 93.2 innings  while allowing 89 hits, walking 15, and striking out 91.

No. 7. University of Virginia (50-13)
Head Coach: Brian O’Connor (20th Season)
National Championships: 1 (2015)

The University of Virginia Cavaliers are playing in the sixth College World Series in program history, and are looking to win their second national championship. in program history since the 2015 season. The Cavaliers are leading the country in batting average at .335 and doubles with 169 going into Omaha. Virginia beat their conference rival, the Duke University Blue Devils, in three games at the Charlottesville Super Regional.

Virginia also became the first NCAA Division I program to finish the regular season undefeated in non-conference play since 2015, after going 25-0 outside the conference prior to the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament.

The Cavaliers lead the nation in hits with 756, and junior catcher Kyle Teel batted .418 this season and tied for eighth in the country with Brigham Young University third baseman Austin Demming. In 63 games, Teel had 251 at-bats, recording 105 hits, 25 doubles, 13 home runs, 69 RBI, and 31 walks, and is projected to be a first round pick at the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.

Cavaliers third baseman Jake Gelof has been also swinging a hot stick, batting .331 through 63 games. In 245 at-bats, Teel has 81 hits, 23 doubles, 23 home runs, 47 walks, and 89 RBI.

Starting pitcher Connelly Early recorded a 3.06 ERA prior to the College World Series, going 12-2 in 17 starts, throwing 82.1 innings and allowing 76 hits, walking 20 batters, and striking out 98.

No. 2 University of Florida (50-15)
Head Coach: Kevin O’Sullivan (15th Season)
National Championships: 1 (2017)

The University of Florida Gators are in their 15th College World Series and are looking to win their second national championship after beating South Carolina in two games during the Super Regional this past weekend. head coach Kevin O’Sullivan has led the Gators to eight appearances in Omaha.

Gators sophomore two-way player Jac Caglianone is having a spectacular season, and is one of the three finalists for the Golden Spikes Award. Caglianone is batting .336 while leading the country with 31 home runs this season. In 65 games, Caglianone has 256 at-bats and 86 hits, 13 doubles, 16 walks, and 84 RBI. On the bump, Caglianone’s posted a 3.78 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP, going 7-3 through 16 starts and 69 innings while allowing 46 hits, 49 walks, and striking out 81.

Junior outfielder Wyatt Langford is batting .373 in the 2023 season with a 1.267 OPS through 58 games. In 212 at-bats, he’s cracked 79 hits, 24 doubles, 18 home runs, 48 RBI, and drawn 51 walks.

Relief pitcher Ryan Slater could be a threat out of the Gators bullpen after posting 10-1 record in 24 appearances, recording a 3.51 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. In 56.1 innings, he’s allowed 49 hits, walked 17, and struck out 47.