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It’s a true national championship.

Unlike last year — when the final eight consisted entirely of ACC and SEC schools — college baseball is represented from coast to coast.

The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats have a notable connection to all but one participant.

Here’s a look at the connective tissue between the Cats and the teams they will/could face in Omaha:

Coastal Carolina

The Wildcats open Friday against the Chanticleers, who are back in the College World Series for the first time since 2016 — when they defeated ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in the final series.

It was a heartbreaking ending to a thrilling and unexpected postseason run for Jay Johnson’s first UA squad. The Wildcats won the opening game of the championship series 3-0 before dropping a pair of one-run decisions. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ had the tying run on third base when Coastal clinched the title.

That year marked the first time the Chanticleers had made it to Omaha. The three-game final series was the only time ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and Coastal have squared off in baseball.

Oregon State

The Beavers and Wildcats were members of the Pac-10/12 from 1978-2024. Despite its geographical disadvantage, OSU has won three CWS titles, one fewer than ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.

The two programs have faced each other 90 times — including the final Pac-12 sporting event in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on May 18, 2024.

The winner of that game would be crowned Pac-12 regular-season champion. The Wildcats scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning to walk off the Beavers and steal the crown.

OSU is on ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s side of the bracket and plays the second game Friday against the next team on our list.

Louisville

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has faced Louisville three times, including during the Wildcats’ run to their most recent CWS title, in 2012.

The Cardinals were part of the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Regional that year. It didn’t go well for them.

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ clobbered Louisville by scores of 16-4 and 16-3 at Hi Corbett Field to move on to the next round.

On the flip side, it didn’t go well for the Wildcats when the teams met earlier this year.

Louisville was ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s third and final opponent in the season-opening Shriners Children’s College Showdown in Arlington, Texas. The Wildcats took a 1-0 lead on Mason White’s solo home run in the first inning. That would be the only hit ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ would register in a 13-1 setback.

UCLA

Another former member of the Pac-10/12, UCLA has been battling ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in baseball since the 1920s. The two have met 266 times.

Although they had a combined 24 appearances in the CWS entering this year, the Bruins and Wildcats have faced each other only once in Omaha. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ defeated UCLA 4-0 in 2012. UA starter Konner Wade threw a five-hit complete game.

The last series between the Bruins and Wildcats was rather remarkable. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ walked off UCLA three straight times last season at Hi Corbett. Brendan Summerhill, Emilio Corona and White provided the game-winning RBIs.

UCLA’s first opponent in the '25 CWS is upstart Murray State on the other side of the bracket.

Arkansas

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has faced Arkansas seven times, including two matchups in the CWS.

The Razorbacks defeated the Wildcats 10-3 in 1979. The Cats returned the favor by a 7-2 score in 2004.

The two met in neutral-site games in 2017 and '18. Both games were shutouts. JC Cloney and Cameron Ming combined for a three-hitter vs. the Razorbacks in '17. ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ managed just two hits against three Arkansas pitchers in '18.

Arkansas was the host for Chip Hale’s second NCAA regional appearance, in 2023, but the Razorbacks and Wildcats never met in Fayetteville.

Arkansas is also on the other side of the bracket and is set to face the other SEC team in the field.

LSU

LSU has played in 19 College World Series and has won seven national titles. Somehow, the Tigers and Wildcats have never met on a baseball diamond.

So what’s the connection? You know the answer to that.

LSU is coached by Johnson, who guided the UA program to a pair of CWS appearances in 2016 and '21. After the Wildcats went oh-for-Omaha in '21, Johnson left for Baton Rouge.

Two players Johnson recruited, first baseman Tommy Splaine and left-hander Eric Orloff, are still at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. Neither has said a negative word about him in media interviews. UA fans? That’s a different story.

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ vs. LSU would be — by far — the spiciest championship matchup as far as UA followers are concerned. Many felt betrayed when Johnson left and never will forgive him.

Two former UA assistants, hitting coach Marc Wanaka and pitching coach Nate Yeskie, are members of Johnson’s staff at LSU.

All-Region for Pluta

UA junior closer Tony Pluta has been named to the American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings West All-Region first team.

A first-time All-Region honoree, Pluta is eligible for the ABCA All-American Team, which will be announced Friday.

Pluta set the school single-season record with his 14th save in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s 4-3 comeback win over North Carolina in the third and deciding game of their Super Regional series Sunday. He has a 1.26 ERA, a 0.81 WHIP and has held opposing hitters to a .183 batting average.

Pluta previously was named the Big 12 Baseball Scholar-Athlete of the Year, All-Big 12 second team and College Sports Communicators Academic All-District.

2 Cats at USA camp

UA right-handers Smith Bailey and Owen Kramkowski have accepted invitations to participate in the UA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp later this month in Cary, North Carolina.

The camp features 56 non-draft-eligible college players. After a five-game intrasquad series June 29-July 3, USA Baseball will select the Collegiate National Team. Twenty players have represented ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on that team.

Bailey, a rising sophomore, is 3-3 with a 4.01 ERA. The Peoria product has struck out 76 batters in 83 innings. He was the starting pitcher when ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ won the Big 12 Tournament, the Eugene Regional and the Super Regional. Bailey posted a 2.08 ERA across those three starts.

Kramkowski, a rising junior, has a team-high nine victories. The Walden Grove High School graduate has 83 strikeouts in 87 innings and ranks 28th nationally in fewest walks allowed per nine innings (1.76).

Kramkowski and Bailey are the expected starters for ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s first two games of the CWS on Friday and Sunday.

Inside pitch

– Although their final Super Regional game ended at 2:42 p.m. local time Sunday, the Wildcats remained in North Carolina until Tuesday morning. The team flew directly to Omaha, touching down Tuesday afternoon. At least one player wore a shirt depicting one of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s season-long themes: “Chasing 5.â€� The UA is seeking its fifth national championship.

– ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ was set to practice Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday morning at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Official CWS festivities begin Thursday with team photos, a short practice at Charles Schwab Field and media obligations.

– ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ picked up its first transfer-portal commitment in this cycle Monday from Western Kentucky left-hander Patrick Morris. Morris attended Chandler High School and played two seasons at Chandler-Gilbert Community College. He posted a 1.11 ERA with 33 strikeouts in 32â…“ innings this past season for WKU. Morris has one more year of eligibility thanks to a recent change pertaining to junior-college athletes.