Which teams have lost most College World Series finals in last 20 years? Exploring CWS' Biggest Losers
The College World Series is the pinnacle of collegiate baseball, and every college baseball program starts the season with the goal of winning the CWS title. The Tennessee Vols are the most recent first-time CWS champions, having defeated the Texas A&M Aggies in a classic final.
However, for every victorious side, there's a vanquished one in the College World Series finals. Let's look at the teams with the most losses in CWS finals in the last two decades.
Which teams have lost the most College World Series finals in the last 20 years?
Florida, North Carolina, Texas, and Vanderbilt have lost the most finals games in the last twenty years. Florida lost three CWS finals, while North Carolina, Texas, and Vanderbilt lost two games within the same period.
The Florida Gators have lost the most College World Series games in the timespan. They have been in the finals three times since 2004 but haven't been able to go all the way. The Gators lost to LSU in 2023, South Carolina in 2011, and Texas in 2005.
North Carolina hasn't had the most luck in the CWS over the past two decades either. They have been to two finals since 2004, losing in back-to-back years to the Pat Casey-led Oregon State.
Texas has also lost two CWS finals. LSU defeated them in 2009 and Cal St. Fullerton in 2004.
Last but not least is Vanderbilt, the team that has won the most CWS titles in the past two decades on our list. However, they've been at the receiving end of losses in the finals to Mississippi State in 2021 and Virginia in 2015.
How did the Florida Gators perform in 2024?
The Florida Gators had an average regular season that saw them sneak into the playoffs. The Gators won their Regional and Super Regionals to surprise their detractors.
Hence, they were the only unseeded team in the 2024 College World Series. They put up a respectable showing in Omaha, defeating NC State and Kentucky but losing twice to eventual finalists, the Texas A&M Aggies. The Gators can look back at the 2024 season with pride and will be looking to perform even better in the coming years.