The North Carolina Tar Heels are in the college baseball national championship for the first time since 2007. Head coach Scott Forbes and his team are looking for the first national title in program history. In a best two out of three series, the Tar Heels will face off against the Oklahoma Sooners at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha to see who is college baseball’s best.
Here is World Baseball Network’s preview of the North Carolina Tar Heels ahead of the 2026 national championship.
Walker McDuffie and Caden Glauber are relievers who make all the difference
The two X factors for the 2026 North Carolina Tar Heels are relief pitchers Walker McDuffie and Caden Glauber. The two players have been massive in closing out games for the Tar Heels during their 2026 run in the College World Series.
On June 14 against West Virginia, McDuffie went 3 2/3 innings and struck out four hitters. He also allowed no runs during his time on the mound against the Mountaineers. He earned the ninth win of his freshman season during that game.
Glauber came in behind McDuffie and closed out the game by recording the final two outs. Those two outs were two strikeouts by the freshman from Fort Mill, S.C.
This season, North Carolina is 28-0 in Glauber’s 28 appearances. In 5 1/3 innings of work during the College World Series, Glauber has allowed one run and has struck out seven opposing hitters.
With these two relief pitchers playing at their best, the Tar Heels have a favorable shot at winning the 2026 national championship.
Gavin Gallaher and Owen Hull are two hitters to watch
North Carolina’s lineup in the College World Series is spearheaded by Gavin Gallaher and Owen Hull.
Gallaher had a disappointing trip to the College World Series during his freshman year in 2024. However, he has flipped the script and has become a big factor for North Carolina in the College World Series in his junior season.
The middle infielder just won a Gold Glove award. In three games in the 2026 College World Series, he has six hits and seven RBIs. A pair of his RBIs came against West Virginia on June 14, where he had a two-run triple to separate the Tar Heels from the Mountaineers.
Hull, who transferred into Chapel Hill from George Mason, has been North Carolina’s best hitter all season. In 2026, he has a .398 batting average with 26 doubles, eight home runs, and 85 RBIs. Hull also has an on-base percentage of .505 and has stolen 18 bases this season.
In the College World Series, Hull has seven hits and four RBIs. Four of his seven hits have been for extra bases.
For Oklahoma, Gallaher and Hull will need to be circled on their lineup card. These are the two hitters that can get the big hit North Carolina needs at any moment.
College World Series National Championship Schedule
Game One – Saturday, June 20 – North Carolina vs Oklahoma – 3 p.m. ET – ESPN
Game Two – Sunday, June 21 – North Carolina vs Oklahoma – 2:30 p.m. ET – ABC
Game Three – If Necessary
WBN NCAA: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/
PHOTO: North Carolina head coach Scott Forbes (21) on the sidelines during an NCAA baseball College World Series game against West Virginia, Sunday, June 14, 2026 in Omaha, Neb. North Carolina won 5-2. (AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis)
