UNC baseball’s Jackson Van De Brake, Jake Knapp preview Chapel Hill Regional
Following the NCAA Selection Show, UNC baseball players Jackson Van De Brake and Jake Knapp previewed the 2025 NCAA Tournament’s Chapel Hill Regional.
UNC baseball will try to create more “Bosh Magic” as an NCAA regional host for the third time in four years as the No. 5 national seed.
The No. 1 Tar Heels (42-12) open against No. 4 Holy Cross (31-25) on Friday, May 30 (Noon, ACC Network) in the Chapel Hill Regional at Boshamer Stadium. No. 2 Oklahoma (35-20) and No. 3 Nebraska (32-27) are on the opposite side of the bracket.
The Chapel Hill Regional is paired with the Eugene Regional, which is hosted by the No. 12Â national seed Oregon (42-14). Arizona (39-18) is the No. 2 seed in the Eugene Regional. The winners of the two regionals will play in the super regional. If UNC advances, it will host a Super Regional for the second straight season.
UNC is hosting a regional for the third time in the past four seasons. The Tar Heels advanced to the College World Series as a host and the No. 4 national seed in 2024. UNC will take aim at consecutive College World Series appearances for the first time since 2008-09.
Here is the full Chapel Hill Regional schedule.
NCAA Regional bracket, schedule for Chapel Hill
UNC baseball coach Scott Forbes previews Chapel Hill Regional 2025
Following the 2025 NCAA Selection Show, UNC baseball coach Scott Forbes previewed the NCAA Tournament’s Chapel Hill Regional at Boshamer Stadium.
FridayGame 1:Â North Carolina (42-12) vs. Holy Cross (31-25), Noon, ESPNGame 2:Â Oklahoma (35-20) vs. Nebraska (32-27), 5 p.m., ESPN+SaturdayGame 3:Â Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser, 1 p.m.Game 4:Â Game 1 winner vs. Game 2Â winner, 6 p.m.SundayGame 5:Â Game 4 loser vs. Game 3 winner, 1 p.m.Game 6:Â Game 4 winner vs. Game 5 winner, 6 p.m.Monday (if necessary)Game 7:Â Game 6 winner vs. Game 6Â loser, TBDUNC baseball NCAA Tournament appearances
UNC has made 37 NCAA Tournament appearances, including five straight under head coach Scott Forbes. The Tar Heels pace the ACC with eight consecutive tournament appearances and are hosting a regional for the 13th time in the last 19 seasons. In that span, UNC has logged a 35-7 record, with 11 super regional appearances. Last season, The Tar Heels advanced to the College World Series in Omaha for the first time since 2018.
UNC baseball’s performance in ACC
UNC finished one game shy of an ACC regular-season championship for the second straight season. But the Tar Heels showed their postseason potential with a championship run in Durham, winning the 2025 ACC Tournament. UNC has won the conference tournament for the second time in four years. The Tar Heels enter the postseason with a 42-12 record.
NCAA baseball tournament scheduleSelection show:Â Monday, May 26, Noon ETRegionals:Â May 30-June 2Super Regionals:Â June 6-9College World Series:Â June 13-23Where to watch NCAA baseball tournament
Rodd Baxley covers Duke, North Carolina and N.C. State for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding those teams? Send them to rbaxley@fayobserver.com.