D1 Baseball Field of 64 Projections - May 18

[bluebooksandbluecups]

2026 NCAA Field Of 64 Projections: May 18 • D1Baseball

The very latest D1Baseball NCAA tournament projections are out with just one change in terms of the Top 16 seeds.

d1baseball.com

Feels very favorable for the Heels. We moved to the #4 overall seed and have UCF (#2), High Point (#3) and St. Joes (#4) in the Chapel Hill Regional. Then for Supers we’d host the winner of the Lincoln Regional (Nebraska #1 and Arky #2).

 

[premn]

I do think 4 makes sense for us. I’d guess it’s where we end up eventually as long we don’t lose the first game of the tournament and Texas/Auburn doesn’t win the SEC tournament.

 

[ImaTarHeel]

I've seen Tennessee several times as our 2 seed.

 

[goheels1117]

I've seen Tennessee several times as our 2 seed.

If we stay in the top 4, I don't think Tennessee is going to be seeded between 29 and 32.

 

[bluebooksandbluecups]

I've seen Tennessee several times as our 2 seed.

Obviously, a big name and an SEC team…but they aren’t the Tennessee team that we’ve seen under Vitello. They went 6-8 on the road this year. They did split on the road at Oklahoma last weekend, but lost 3 of 4 other road series in conference play. Their road sweep of Mississippi Stste was impressive.

Tennessee would be a tough #2. Nothing about the Bosh would intimidate them. And they have two pretty good weekend starters in Kuhns and Blanco (both with basically 100+ Ks each on the season).

 

[bluebooksandbluecups]

If we stay in the top 4, I don't think Tennessee is going to be seeded between 29 and 32.

Yep. Being the #4 seed vs. the #5 puts us in an entirely different pool of #2 seeds which is more favorable.

 

[goheels1117]

Obviously, a big name and an SEC team…but they aren’t the Tennessee team that we’ve seen under Vitello. They went 6-8 on the road this year. They did split on the road at Oklahoma last weekend, but lost 3 of 4 other road series in conference play. Their road sweep of Mississippi Stste was impressive.

Tennessee would be a tough #2. Nothing about the Bosh would intimidate them. And they have two pretty good weekend starters in Kuhns and Blanco (both with basically 100+ Ks each on the season).

All similar things you could have said about LSU in 2024 and they came about as close to knocking us out as you can. The talent is still on the roster.

Kuhns isn't a great matchup for us. He hardly walks people and he's shut down Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss. Not afraid of anybody we'd draw as our 2 but don't think it'd be an ideal outcome. Also, our Rams Club donors who don't care about baseball would cash in and sell to a bunch of Tennessee fans.

 

[uncjhodges]

Yep. Being the #4 seed vs. the #5 puts us in an entirely different pool of #2 seeds which is more favorable.

far more favorable, especially cause the 1 sec team that seems to be trending in that area was in chapel hill last year and isn’t geographically inclined to come here

 

[bluebooksandbluecups]

Building off of what 1117 was saying above…if we use the DSR rankings (which apparently were much more accurate in seeding the softball tourney)…then #29-32 would be:

29. Kentucky
30. Jacksonville State
31. TCU
32. Miami

As type this, though, I see that D1 gave us UCF as our #2 and they are #25 in the DSR (a little higher than what you’d expect us to get). And sitting right behind them at #26 is Coastal Carolina.

So, I will predict our #2 ends up being either Coastal or Oklahoma. Just my guess though.

 

[bluebooksandbluecups]

All similar things you could have said about LSU in 2024 and they came about as close to knocking us out as you can. The talent is still on the roster.

Kuhns isn't a great matchup for us. He hardly walks people and he's shut down Alabama, Texas, and Ole Miss. Not afraid of anybody we'd draw as our 2 but don't think it'd be an ideal outcome. Also, our Rams Club donors who don't care about baseball would cash in and sell to a bunch of Tennessee fans.

Tennessee would really be rolling the dice if they saved Kuhns for us though. Let’s hope he wouldn’t be an option.

 

[uncjhodges]

Building off of what 1117 was saying above…if we use the DSR rankings (which apparently were much more accurate in seeding the softball tourney)…then #29-32 would be:

29. Kentucky
30. Jacksonville State
31. TCU
32. Miami

As type this, though, I see that D1 gave us UCF as our #2 and they are #25 in the DSR (a little higher than what you’d expect us to get). And sitting right behind them at #26 is Coastal Carolina.

So, I will predict our #2 ends up being either Coastal or Oklahoma. Just my guess though.

Piggybacking on this, the Chair of the committee also said in an interview during FSU-Miami, they didn’t want to be overly reliant on RPI.

 

[floridahighschoolcoach]

Let's pull for Tennessee to win a couple of games at Hoover this week.

 

[Tarheeldw21]

When was the last time there was only one regional location between N.C., SC, TN and VA?

 

[floridahighschoolcoach]

That's a great question? It's been a long time and it means that we will definitely get a couple of local teams most likely.

 

[CrushGroovin]

State was last 4 in. Wonder if that changes.

 

[bluebooksandbluecups]

State was last 4 in. Wonder if that changes.

I think they are very nervous over in Raleigh now.

 

[HoopsHeel]

State was last 4 in. Wonder if that changes.

Let’s hope!!!

 

[uncjhodges]

I think they are very nervous over in Raleigh now.

And Lexington. 13-18 in the sec now and only won 2 series

 

[bluebooksandbluecups]

Well, Wildcat and Wolfpack fans are definitely pulling for Fighting Camels and Purple Panthers this week.

 

[UNC76]

The updated D1 projections are out, with no changes for us from 5/18. The people hoping to sell their non-UNC game tickets for a profit won't be happy with that bracket:

2026 NCAA Field Of 64 Projections: May 21 • D1Baseball

The very latest NCAA projections are out entering Thursday's conference tournament action.

d1baseball.com

They have dropped the wolpfack to the next to last team in the field.