Will 2026 be the year UNC finally wins its first College World Series title? The Diamond Heels have to take down USC first, but they’re on the right track.
North Carolina swept its way through the Chapel Hill Regional, taking down VCU in Friday’s opener, before beating in-state rival East Carolina twice. The Diamond Heels’ bullpen proved instrumental, just as it did throughout the regular season, while hitters continue terrorizing opposing pitching.
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As UNC prepares to host yet another Super Regional, it’ll be doing so for the third-consecutive season, making it the only program to do so.
In addition, North Carolina is one of two teams to reach Super Regionals in each of the last three seasons.
The Diamond Heels and Trojans, who beat Texas A&M to take the College Station Regional, kick off Chapel Hill Super Regional play on Friday at 3 p.m. Fans can watch this opener on ESPN2.
UNC and USC will continue Saturday at 2 p.m., battling for a trip to Omaha on ESPN. If both squads need a Game 3, they’ll play Sunday at a time TBD.
North Carolina’s first of three-consecutive Super Regional appearances came against West Virginia in 2024, with a quick 2-game sweep. The Diamond Heels hosted Arizona in 2025, winning Game 1 in dominant fashion, before collapsing in Games 2 and 3.
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Looking at USC’s run through the College Station Regional, UNC will be in for a treat. The Trojans can mash, scoring 59 runs in five games. Trojan pitchers limited Regional opponents to just 19 runs through five games, so they can neutralize North Carolina’s bats.
What USC doesn’t have, though, is home-field advantage. The Diamond Heels play in front of college baseball’s best ACC crowd, which will play a major factor in advancing to Omaha.
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This article originally appeared on Tar Heels Wire: UNC baseball: Only program to host three straight Super Regionals
