What happened: Eight programs have clinched berths in the Men's College World Series and are headed to Omaha. The bracket is now set for the double-elimination tournament that decides the national champion. A full breakdown of the qualifying teams has been published.
Why it matters: Reaching Omaha is the defining achievement of the college baseball season, and the eight-team field represents the survivors of a grueling regional and super-regional gauntlet. The matchups carry significant weight for program legacies and for prospects ahead of the MLB draft pipeline.
What to watch: Watch for the opening-round pairings and first pitch from the eight teams that punched their tickets to Omaha as bracket play begins.