Last Monday, we did some research on how the 2022-23 Vols finished in the Top 16 in football, men’s & women’s basketball, baseball and softball for the first time in school history. That ride ain’t over just yet:
Baseball always has the opportunity for the last word on an academic year, and the Vols are in Omaha for the second time in three years. We’re still adjusting on the fly when it comes to regular expectations and Tony Vitello’s squad, but here’s a version of a list we’ve had the pleasure of looking at in each of the last three Junes. As you’ll see, the Vols don’t have to be last season’s #1 landlords to make history.
Last Three Super Regional Appearances
- Alabama: 2023, 2010, 2006
- Arkansas: 2022, 2021, 2019
- Auburn: 2022, 2019, 2018
- Florida: 2023, 2018, 2017
- Georgia: 2008, 2006, 2004
- Kentucky: 2023, 2017 (two total appearances)
- LSU: 2023, 2021, 2019
- Ole Miss: 2022, 2021, 2019
- Mississippi State: 2021, 2019, 2018
- Missouri: no appearances
- South Carolina: 2023, 2018, 2016
- Tennessee: 2023, 2022, 2021
- Texas A&M: 2022, 2017, 2016
- Vanderbilt: 2021, 2019, 2018
Tennessee is the only SEC team to make the super regionals the last three years in a row.
How often do these teams get to Omaha? Here’s that list since the super regional format changed in 1999:
College World Series Appearances (since 1999)
- 9: Florida (last in 2023), LSU (2023)
- 7: Arkansas (2022)
- 6: South Carolina (2012)
- 5: Mississippi State (2021), Vanderbilt (2021)
- 4: Georgia (2008), Tennessee (2023), Texas A&M (2022)
- 2: Auburn (2022), Ole Miss (2022)
- 1: Alabama (1999)
- 0: Kentucky, Missouri
Let’s zoom in here:
Last Two College World Series Appearances
- Alabama: 1999, 1997
- Arkansas: 2022, 2019
- Auburn: 2022, 2019
- Florida: 2023, 2018 (four straight from 2015-18)
- Georgia: 2008, 2006
- Kentucky: never
- LSU: 2023, 2017
- Ole Miss: 2022, 2014
- Mississippi State: 2021, 2019 (three straight 2018-21)
- Missouri: 1964, 1963 (three straight 1962-64)
- South Carolina: 2012, 2011 (three straight 2010-12)
- Tennessee: 2023, 2021
- Texas A&M: 2022, 2017
- Vanderbilt: 2021, 2019
Tennessee is the only SEC team to make it to Omaha two of the last three years.
And here’s the biggest list of all, one more time:
National Championships
- Florida: 2017
- Georgia: 1990
- LSU: 2009, 2000, 1997, 1996, 1993, 1991
- Ole Miss: 2022
- Mississippi State: 2021
- Missouri: 1954
- South Carolina: 2011, 2010
- Vanderbilt: 2019, 2014
- Still waiting: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas A&M
That’s a real thing that’s out there, again. Win a game in Omaha, and you’ll have the program’s first victory in the College World series since 2001. Win more, and more history is always out there.
What a fitting finale to this incredible year.
Go Vols.