2024 CWS field set after NC State clinches final berth

The 2024 Men's College World Series field is set.

North Carolina State clinched a trip to Omaha and the final berth in this year's NCAA baseball finals with an 8-5 win over Georgia in Game 3 of the Athens super-regional at Foley Field.

The Wolfpack rapped out 15 hits to secure their first CWS appearance since 2021. Center fielder Eli Serrano III went 3-for-4 with a homer, and Derrick Smith closed out the win by allowing just one hit in three innings out of the bullpen.

The eight teams left standing will now take part in the 77th annual Men's College World Series beginning Friday at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. They'll square off in a double-elimination bracket for the right to take part in the best-of-three final from June 22-24.

Here's a rundown of this year's CWS bracket, and the schedules for the opening games. (Note: seeds listed are national rankings.)

Bracket 1

No. 1 Tennessee vs. No. 8 Florida State

Tennessee: The No. 1 overall seed cruised to Omaha, going 5-1 in the Knoxville super-regional while scoring at least nine runs in all six games. While the Volunteers are making their seventh CWS appearance, they've never won the tournament and last reached the final round in 1951.

Florida State: The Seminoles, back in the CWS for the first time since 2019, are also looking to win their program's first championship. Florida State is powered by a pair of top draft prospects in ACC Player of the Year James Tibbs III (1.310 OPS, 28 home runs) and sophomore third baseman Cam Smith (.402, 16 HRs).

No. 4 North Carolina vs. No. 12 Virginia

North Carolina: The Tar Heels don't have a ton of star power, with just two players ranked among MLB.com's top 200 draft prospects, but their lineup is powerful. Outfielder Vance Honeycutt (No. 20 on MLB.com's draft prospect list) hit 25 homers this year, including a walk-off shot in Game 1 of the super-regional final against West Virginia.

Virginia: Brian O'Connor's team finished well back of UNC in the ACC Coastal Division standings but earned its third CWS berth in the last four seasons by going undefeated in its super-regional. With four players in MLB.com's top 200 draft prospects, the Cavaliers promise to be a tough out in this tournament.

Bracket 2

No. 2 Kentucky vs. No. 10 NC State

Kentucky: Incredibly, this is the first CWS appearance for a Kentucky baseball program that dates back to 1896. The Wildcats were undefeated in the super-regionals and allowed only three hits while sweeping Oregon State in the super-regional final.

NC State: Don't underestimate the Wolfpack, who just reached Omaha by ousting No. 7 Georgia on the road in the super-regionals while outscoring the Bulldogs 28-17. Catcher Jacob Cozart and third baseman Alec Makarewicz are the team's offensive leaders.

Florida vs. No. 3 Texas A&M

Florida: The Gators possess arguably the biggest star of this year's CWS in pitcher/first baseman Jac Caglianone, who hit .411/.532/.860 with 33 homers while also posting a 4.71 ERA with 82 strikeouts in over 70 innings on the mound. The junior, who's the highest-ranking draft prospect still playing, is a finalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award for the second straight season.

Texas A&M: The Aggies had no trouble reaching Omaha for the eighth time in school history, outscoring their opponents 46-21 during the super-regionals. But they'll have to win the tournament without their best player in Braden Montgomery, who suffered a serious ankle injury in Saturday's win over Oregon. The junior outfielder had been projected by some as a top-five draft pick next month.