Twelve teams in Men's College World Series history have gone on to win the national championship after dropping their first game in Omaha. The most recent example came in 2018, when Oregon State won six straight games to claim the title.
This is the 73rd NCAA Division I Baseball Championships held since the tournament started in 1947, and the 72nd to be played in double elimination format. The group of 12 to escape the losers' bracket after Game 1 account for less than 17 percent of national champions.
In 2019, two first-round losers, Louisville and Texas Tech, advanced to the national semifinals before bowing out.
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Here's the full list of national champions that lost their first game at the Men's College World Series.
| Year | School | First Game of College World Series |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Oregon State | L, North Carolina 8-6 |
| 2010 | South Carolina | L, Oklahoma 4-3 |
| 2006 | Oregon State | L, Miami (FL) 11-1 |
| 1998 | Southern California | L, LSU 12-10 |
| 1980 | Arizona | L, St. John's 6-1 |
| 1979 | Cal State Fullerton | L, Mississippi State 6-1 |
| 1976 | Arizona | L, Arizona State 7-6 |
| 1970 | Southern California | L, Ohio 4-1 |
| 1969 | Arizona State | L, Texas 4-0 |
| 1963 | Southern California | L, Texas 8-3 |
| 1958 | Southern California | L, Holy Cross 3-0 |
| 1950 | Texas | L, Rutgers, 4-2 |
UNDEFEATED CHAMPS: The 25 national champions to go undefeated in their College World Series runs
Oregon State joined this list in 2018, becoming first champion to do so since South Carolina in 2010.
The 2018 Beavers capped off an impressive run at the College World Series with a 5-0 win in Game 3 of the championship series against Arkansas. It was Oregon State's sixth straight victory when facing elimination in Omaha after it dropped its CWS opener to North Carolina.
Here was Oregon State's path to the national championship in 2018:
Oregon State:
