College World Series Final 2024: Tennessee vs Texas A&M preview

The 2024 College World Series is finally here, and the 300 Division 1 baseball programs in the country have been whittled down to just two.

The top-ranked Tennessee Volunteers are looking for their first ever national title. A shocking statistic for such a powerhouse program like Tennessee, they have finished runner up in 1951, third place in 2001, and fourth place in 1995, but have yet to wear the crown.

In order to get there, however, they will have to get through number three Texas A&M. The Aggies have had an outstanding run through the NCAA tournament, following on from a successful year in the SEC West.

Texas A&M have yet to win the national championship either, so whatever happens, 2024 will see a Southeastern Conference team win for the very first time. The dominant division in college baseball, the SEC has provided seven of the last eight teams to make the finals, with the 2022 Oklahoma Sooners being the lone exception. As of this fall, however, the Sooners will join the Texas Longhorns in moving to the SEC as well.

Both Tennessee and Texas A&M had to get here through the Sunshine State, with the Vols having to beat the Florida State Seminoles twice and the Aggies doing likewise to the Florida Gators.

While both teams have strong bats and deep bullpens, the dividing point will hinge on the coaching strategy. And there, they have history. Tennessee coach Tony Vitello was an assistant on the staff of Texas A&M’s coach Jim Schlossnagle at TCU from 2011-13.

These two teams met only once this season, with a 7-4 Tennessee win the outcome. Game 1 is this Saturday at 7:30 pm ET and can be seen on ESPN. Game 2 will be on Sunday at 2 pm ET and will air on ABC, while a Game 3, should it be necessary, will be on Monday at 7 pm ET on ESPN.