The opening round of the 2026 College World Series is complete. No. 3 Georgia won the most highly anticipated showdown thus far in Omaha, Neb. to close out the first two days of action, taking down No. 6 Texas in a star-studded clash that was never in doubt. The Bulldogs took a commanding 4-0 lead in the first inning, and with an instantly legendary effort on the mound from Joey Volchko, they put it in cruise control on their way to a 7-1 win over their SEC foe.
Volchko struck out the side in the top of the first to set the tone, and the offense held up its end of the bargain in the bottom half of the frame. Rylan Lujo drilled a two-run home run to spark a four-run inning in which the Bulldogs tasked Texas ace Dylan Volantis to the tune of 41 pitches. The Longhorns were never able to challenge Volchko — who fanned 15 batters in a 114-pitch complete game — and things only got more lopsided in the game’s latter stages.
With the victory, Georgia and the most powerful offense in college baseball secured a spot in the winner’s bracket to set the stage for another all-SEC contest against Oklahoma.
The Sooners completed a dominant 9-0 thumping of No. 7 Alabama in the first game of Day 2 to post the most lopsided shutout win in a CWS opener since 2002. Freshman left-hander Cord Ranger’s breakout continued in Omaha as he tossed seven scoreless innings.
One of Texas and Alabama, meanwhile, will see its national championship aspirations come crashing down in an elimination game on Monday.
2026 College World Series: Daniel Jackson, Dylan Volantis headline NCAA baseball’s biggest stars in Omaha
Carter Bahns
As for Sunday’s slate, Bracket 1 will present its first elimination game when Troy and Ole Miss fight to keep their championship hunts alive. Then, in the nightcap, No. 5 North Carolina and No. 16 West Virginia square off in what could be a pitcher’s duel with a spot in the Bracket 1 final on the line.
Check back here throughout the CWS for scores and schedule updates as the brightest stars and most talented squads compete for the 2026 national championship.
2026 College World Series Schedule
All times Eastern
Friday, June 12
Game 1: No. 16 West Virginia 7, Troy 5
Game 2: No. 5 North Carolina 6, Ole Miss 2
Saturday, June 13
Game 3: Oklahoma 9, No. 7 Alabama 0
Game 4: No. 3 Georgia 7, No. 6 Texas 1
Sunday, June 14
Game 5: Troy 12, Ole Miss 8
Game 6: No. 16 West Virginia vs. No. 5 North Carolina, 7 p.m. on ESPN
Monday, June 15
Game 7: No. 7 Alabama vs. No. 6 Texas, 2 p.m. on ESPN
Game 8: Oklahoma vs. No. 3 Georgia, 7 p.m. on ESPN
Tuesday, June 16
Game 9: Troy vs. Game 6 Loser, 2 p.m. on ESPN
Game 10: Game 7 Winner vs. Game 8 Loser, 8 p.m. on ESPN
Wednesday, June 17
Game 11: Game 6 Winner vs. Game 9 Winner, 2 p.m. on ESPN
Game 12: Game 8 Winner vs. Game 10 Winner, 7 p.m. on ESPN
Thursday, June 18
Game 13 (if necessary): Game 11 Winner vs. Game 11 Loser, TBD on ESPN
Game 14 (if necessary): Game 12 Winner vs. Game 12 Loser, TBD on ESPN
Saturday, June 20
CWS Finals, Game 1: Bracket 1 Winner vs. Bracket 2 Winner, TBD on ESPN
Sunday, June 21
CWS Finals, Game 2: Bracket 1 Winner vs. Bracket 2 Winner, 2:30 p.m. on ABC
Monday, June 22
CWS Finals, Game 3 (if necessary): Bracket 1 Winner vs. Bracket 2 Winner, 7 p.m. on ESPN
