The setup
Florida State is hosting a regional for the 38th time in tournament history, the most of any school in the country. The Seminoles entered the regional 38-17 with a solid ACC season behind them. Link Jarrett's fourth season at his alma mater has produced another regional host, with FSU coming off back-to-back Super Regional appearances and a 2024 College World Series run that made Jarrett the highest-paid coach the program has ever had.
Dick Howser Stadium has been a fixture of college baseball postseason play for decades. The Tomahawk Chop, the Animals of Section B, the crowd that has watched generations of Seminoles. The regional weekend in Tallahassee is one of the most distinctive atmospheres in the sport.
Coastal Carolina at 37-21 is the most credentialed two seed in any regional that doesn't include Lincoln or Eugene. Kevin Schnall's first season ended in the College World Series Finals last June, the culmination of a 56-win debut that included Sun Belt titles, hosting and winning the Conway Regional, and taking the Auburn Super Regional. Northern Illinois at 35-17 is in its first NCAA Tournament since 1972, an emotional moment for a program that has waited decades. St. John's claims the Big East auto bid at 33-24.
The teams
Florida State
Hosting for the 38th time in program history, the most of any school. Link Jarrett's fourth season has FSU back to hosting consistently after the 2024 College World Series semifinal run and the 2025 Super Regional appearance. The Seminoles enter the regional with veteran pitching and the kind of program continuity that makes regional weekends predictable in Tallahassee.
Coastal Carolina
Kevin Schnall's second season as head coach after one of the most historic debut seasons in college baseball history. In 2025, Schnall led Coastal to 56 wins, Sun Belt regular season and tournament titles, a Conway Regional win, an Auburn Super Regional title, and a run to the College World Series Finals. He took over from Hall of Fame coach Gary Gilmore in June 2024.
Northern Illinois
First NCAA Tournament since 1972. The Huskies have waited 54 years for this moment. The MAC champion at 35-17 with the kind of pitching depth that handled their conference cleanly. A three seed with feelings.
St. John's
Big East champions. The Red Storm won their conference tournament to claim the auto bid. A 33-24 record reflects a tough non-conference slate that prepared them for postseason baseball. Cross-country travel to Tallahassee adds another layer to the weekend.
What's at stake
Coastal Carolina is the biggest threat to Florida State in this regional, and the Chanticleers have done this before. A potential Sunday or Monday FSU vs Coastal final could be one of the games of the weekend in the Southeast. Both programs know how to play in this format.
Northern Illinois deserves the storyline. 54 years between NCAA Tournament appearances is the kind of program drought that should be celebrated regardless of what happens on the field. A Friday night under the lights against Coastal Carolina, on national television, with everything to play for.
St. John's plays the spoiler role and the long-travel underdog. Big East baseball has produced surprise regional runs before, and the Red Storm have nothing to lose against the No. 10 overall seed.