11 Schools That Have The Most College World Series Appearances Without A National Title

The College World Series is set to begin on Friday at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha. Eight teams will compete for the right to hoist a national championship trophy.

The final stage of the NCAA Tournament will begin with a double elimination setup consisting of four schools on each side of the bracket. The two victors will then meet for a best-of-three championship series.

A new champion will be crowned this year with eight fresh faces in the field. Last year’s winner, Tennessee, was eliminated in Super Regional play to prevent a repeat.

While there are a number of different programs historically that have been able to bring home the hardware, plenty of others that have come close only to fall short.

Below are the 11 teams who’ve been to Omaha the most while failing to secure an ever-elusive national title.

Auburn Tigers (6)

The Auburn Tigers have been to the College World Series six times in their baseball program’s history. They’ve never been able to win a title nor play in a championship game or series.

Auburn’s most recent appearance in Omaha came in 2022 when it finished 5th in the bracket. The Tigers’ overall record in the event is 4-12 with their top season coming in 1967 when they finished 4th.

St. John's Red Storm (6)

St. John’s first went to the College World Series in 1949, the year before it moved to Omaha, Nebraska. The Red Storm then appeared in the field three times in the 1960s, once in 1978, and again in 1980.

In total, the program boasts six appearances, though none have come in the last 45 years. The Red Storm own a 6-12 record in the event with a third-place finish being the school’s best output.

TCU Horned Frogs (6)

TCU has been to the College World Series on six separate occasions, but like the two teams before them, they’ve been unable to compete on the championship stage.

All of the Horned Frogs’ appearances have come since 2010, and they do boast an overall record of 13-12 in Omaha. TCU owns the highest winning percentage on this list as the lone team above .500. Unfortunately, it’s only been good enough for a few third-place finishes.

Western Michigan Broncos (6)

Western Michigan is the last of a quartet of six-time attendees. Unlike each of the teams mentioned before them, they have reached a title game. In 1955, the Broncos played for a national championship where they were beaten by Wake Forest.

All of the program’s College World Series appearances came between 1952 and 1963. They’ve not been back to Omaha in more than six decades.

Maine Black Bears (7)

Maine was an absolute powerhouse in the early-to-mid 1980s. Between 1976 and 1986, the Black Bears appeared in six College World Series. The also made the field in 1964.

Despite the string of success, the program was unable to bring home a title. Maine’s highest finish in the event was third, and its overall record in Omaha is 7-14.

Texas A&M Aggies (8)

The Aggies were one game away from hoisting their first national championship trophy in 2024 before dropping back-to-back games in the Final Series to SEC rival Tennessee. It’s the closest the school’s ever been to a college baseball title.

Texas A&M has been to eight College World Series in its history, with three coming in the last decade. The team’s overall record in Omaha is 8-16.

Northern Colorado Bears (10)

The Northern Colorado baseball program has appeared in 10 College World Series, though none have come in the last 50 years. The Bears were a mainstay in Omaha between 1952 and 1962, making nine stops. They made a 10th in 1974.

In those 10 appearances, the Bears are just 3-20. They boast the lowest winning percentage of any team on this list and have never reached the College World Series Final.

Arkansas Razorbacks (11)

Arkansas has played in 11 College World Series and will soon suit up for a 12th. The Razorbacks are the lone team on this list competing in the 2025 event.

The program has seen success in the past. Arkansas has twice played for a national championship. It came one strike away from winning it all in 2018 before a misplayed popup on the final out sparked an Oregon State comeback. The Razorbacks own a 15-20 all-time record in Omaha. Is this the year they get over the hump?

North Carolina Tar Heels (12)

North Carolina is a team that’s been close but hasn’t able to close out the final series. The Tar Heels have twice been runners-up at the College World Series, playing for titles in back-to-back seasons in 2006 and 2007. In both cases, they were beaten by Oregon State.

In all, UNC has made 12 appearances in Omaha. They boast an overall record of 19-26 and have been to eight College World Series since 2006.

Clemson Tigers (12)

The Tigers have twice advanced through the winner’s bracket to come one win away from playing for their first College World Series title. On both occasions, the season ended with back-to-back losses to rival South Carolina. They’ve never finished higher than third place in the field.

Clemson has made the field in Omaha 12 times in its history. They boast a 12-24 overall record in the event with their last appearance coming in 2010.

Florida State Seminoles

Florida State takes the cake on this topic hands down. The Seminoles have appeared in the College World Series on 24 occasions. That’s third-most of any program in the sport, and two times more than anyone on this list. Still, they’ve been unable to bring home the hardware.

FSU has 32 wins in Omaha to go along with 48 losses. They’ve finished runners-up three times with the most recent being in 1999. The ‘Noles made last year’s field, going 2-2. They were unable to beat eventual national champ Tennessee in the Semifinals. Had they been successful, either Florida State or Texas A&M would’ve had the chance to remove themselves from this conversation.