OMAHA, Neb. (theACC.com) – The North Carolina Tar Heels will represent the Atlantic Coast Conference as the No. 5 national seed opens their 2026 Men’s College World Series run on Friday, June 12, at 7 p.m. ET against the Ole Miss Rebels. Coming off a victory in the Chapel Hill Super Regional, the Tar Heels will play in the Men’s College World Series for the 13th time in program history.
Since 2023, a total of 23 different teams have qualified for the Men’s College World Series, with the Tar Heels being the lone team to make multiple appearances. North Carolina returns to Omaha, Nebraska, for the ninth time in the past 20 years, which is tied for the most of any program over that span.
This year marks the 20th consecutive tournament in which a team from the ACC has advanced to the Men’s College World Series. The ACC has placed 36 teams in the past 19 tournaments - an average of just under two teams per year.
North Carolina punched its ticket with a 4-3 walk-off win over Southern California in a winner-take-all Game 3 on Sunday, June 7. Owen Hull delivered a game-winning double to the warning track in left-center field, driving in Carter French and sending Boshamer Stadium into pandemonium.
The Tar Heels were paced in the winner-take-all game by outstanding pitching, highlighted by a stellar start from ACC Freshman of the Year Caden Glauber. Making just the third start of his collegiate career, Glauber worked 7.1 innings, allowing just three runs and striking out a career-high 11. North Carolina turned to Jackson Rose and Walker McDuffie out of the bullpen, who combined to work 1.2 scoreless innings and did not allow a hit.
North Carolina will face its first trip away from Boshamer Stadium since the 2026 ACC Baseball Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina. North Carolina played its last game outside of the Tar Heel State on Sunday, April 12, when it completed a series win at Clemson. In the Chapel Hill Regional, the Tar Heels swept their way through, defeating VCU once and East Carolina twice. After falling in the Chapel Hill Super Regional Opener, the Heels responded with back-to-back wins over USC.
Ole Miss returns to Nebraska after winning the Lincoln Regional earlier this month. The Rebels once again hit the road for the Auburn Super Regional, taking down Auburn, the No. 4 national seed, in two games. This marks the Rebels’ seventh trip to the College World Series and first since hoisting the national championship trophy in 2022. Ole Miss has compiled a 41-21 record this season.
Friday’s game will air at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN+. ESPN’s brand-new NCAA Men’s College World Series studio show will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET.
North Carolina will face either No. 16 national seed West Virginia, winners of the Morgantown Regional and Super Regional, or Troy, the Gainesville Regional and Troy Super Regional champions, on Sunday, June 14.