College World Series 2022: Dates, Schedule and Top Contenders

The best and brightest of the college baseball world are Omaha-bound.

It's College World Series time with the eight teams that escaped the super regionals now set to tussle for the title.

Notably absent from that group is top overall seed Tennessee, which was upset by Notre Dame. So, without the Volunteers in the mix, which clubs loom as top contenders? We'll spotlight a pair of possible juggernauts after laying out the tourney's scheduling particulars.

Upcoming Schedule and Championship Dates

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BIRMINGHAM, AL - APRIL 05: Auburn Tigers infielder Blake Rambusch (1) during the game between the UAB Blazers and the Auburn Tigers on April 5, 2022 at Regions Field in Birmingham, Alabama. (Photo by Michael Wade/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Opening Matchups

Bracket 1

No. 5 Texas A&M vs. Oklahoma; Friday, June 17 at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN

No. 9 Texas vs. Notre Dame; Friday, June 17 at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN

Bracket 2

No. 2 Stanford vs. Arkansas; Saturday, June 18 at 2 p.m. ET on ESPN

No. 14 Auburn vs. Ole Miss; Saturday, June 18 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2

College World Series Finals

Game One: Saturday, June 25 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Game Two: Sunday, June 26 at 3 p.m. ET on ESPN

*Game Three: Monday, June 27 at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

*If necessary

No. 2 Stanford

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STANFORD, CA - MARCH 26: Stanford Cardinal infielder Carter Graham (31) swings at a pitch during the game between the Washington State Cougars and the Stanford Cardinal on Saturday, March 26, 2022 at Klein Field in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The Cardinal enter with the highest seed for a reason.

Well, a few reasons, actually.

First, this lineup can absolutely mash. Collectively, Stanford is hitting .310 overall (second-best among tourney teams) with 115 homers in 62 games (again, second-best in this field).

There really isn't a weak spot in the lineup, as all nine regulars batted .297 or better. There are, however, some strong ones. Sophomore slugger Carter Graham tops the list with his team-high totals of 22 homers and 78 RBI. Junior outfielder Brock Jones isn't far behind at 20 homers and 56 RBI, and he has scored a club-best 76 runs.

The pitching isn't quite as sharp as the hitting, but it can feel that way when senior Alex Williams is on the mound. The Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year pairs a 2.88 ERA with a 1.05 WHIP and has 90 strikeouts against just 23 walks.

No. 9 Texas

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AUSTIN, TX - APRIL 24: Texas Longhorns first baseman Ivan Melendez (right) gets congratulated by designed hitter Todd Austin (left) after Melendez hits a home run against the Baylor Bears during the game on April 24, 2022, at UFCU Disch-Falk Field in Austin, TX. (Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

If any team can thump its way to a title, Texas is that team.

Remember the references on the last slide to Stanford being second-best among tournament teams in multiple offensive categories? Well, the Cardinal are looking up at the Longhorns in every one.

As a team, Texas is hitting a face-melting .318. It has plated 536 runs in 67 games, or exactly eight per outing. It holds top-five national rankings in doubles (156, tied for second) and home runs (128, tied for third).

It isn't the deepest lineup you'll find, but with its star power at the top, it doesn't have to be.

Junior slugger Ivan Melendez might be the most fearsome hitter in this tournament, as he routinely puts bonkers numbers in the box score (32 homers and 94 RBI in 65 games). Incredibly, he's one of three Longhorns hitters batting better than .370 with double-digit homers (along with seniors Murphy Stehly and Skyler Messinger).

This pitching staff can be wobbly, but sophomores Lucas Gordon and Pete Hansen are the stabilizers. Gordon owns a 2.68 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP, while Hansen has 115 strikeouts and only 19 walks in 103.1 innings.