With just over three weeks until Selection Monday (May 26), it’s time to take a serious look at where the ACC stands in the projected NCAA Tournament field. If you’ve been too busy watching weekend series to keep up with the bracketology talk, we’ve got you covered with the latest projections and what they mean for the conference.
ACC’s Tournament Outlook: 10 Bids and Counting?
According to the latest Baseball America projections, the ACC is maintaining a strong presence with 10 bids expected in the Field of 64, second only to the SEC’s 13 teams. This marks the second consecutive week that the SEC has widened its lead, while the ACC holds steady with its impressive 10-team representation.
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For context, that’s significantly more than the Big 12 (6), Big Ten (4), and Sun Belt (3). In a normal year, grabbing 10 bids would be cause for celebration, but this season it actually represents a slight step back from earlier projections when the ACC and SEC were deadlocked at 11 bids each.
Which ACC Teams Are ‘Projected’ In?
Let’s piece together the likely candidates based on conference standings and recent performance:
- North Carolina – The Tar Heels have maintained a strong RPI and have been consistently ranked in the top 25 all season.
- Clemson – Despite some weekend struggles, the Tigers remain in position for an at-large bid.
- Florida State – The Seminoles have been rock solid all season, led by ace Jamie Arnold who’s drawing serious attention as a top MLB draft prospect.
- NC State – After dropping out of previous projections, the Wolfpack have fought their way back in, though they’ll need to stay hot down the stretch.
- Wake Forest – Historically a team that lives on the bubble, the Deacs must finish strong to lock in their spot.
- Duke – The Blue Devils have been on the bubble of hosting but have fallen behind the hosting line in recent weeks.
- Georgia Tech – Previously projected as a host, they’ve slipped to a 2-seed position in recent weeks.
- Virginia Tech – Recently dropped from a 2-seed to a 3-seed in the projections.
- Miami – Consistent play this season is what makes a Canes appearance a shoe-in.
- Louisville – Strong play within the ACC drives the Cardinals in locking down a spot in the field.
- Virginia – Though they’ve struggled lately, their strong early season performance and program pedigree keep them in the mix. Considered one of the First Four Out.
- Notre Dame – One of Four To Watch the Irish need things to fall into place as the season wraps.
Hosting Possibilities
The hosting picture has shifted significantly over the past few weeks. The latest projection notes that “projected hosts no longer reflect the top 16 of the Top 25 rankings and are instead a blend of standings and metrics.”
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This approach has pushed some ACC teams behind the hosting line, including Georgia Tech, while others are still fighting to secure home-field advantage for regionals.
What to Watch Down the Stretch
The final weeks of regular-season play and the ACC Tournament will be critical for several teams:
- Virginia Tech needs to rebound – After dropping to a 3-seed in projections, they’ll need strong performances in their remaining series to improve their seeding position.
- Duke’s hosting chances – The Blue Devils could still play their way into hosting with a strong finish and deep ACC Tournament run.
- Bubble watch – Teams like Louisville and Miami need to solidify their positions to ensure they don’t get squeezed out if conference tournament upsets elsewhere shrink the at-large pool.
The Take
Having 10 teams in the Field of 64 would be a tremendous showing for the ACC, but we’re not convinced they’ll maintain that many bids through Selection Monday. Conference tournament week always brings upsets that shrink the bubble, and historically, the committee has rarely awarded that many bids to a single conference.
That said, the depth of quality in the ACC this year is undeniable. What is most impressive is how the middle of the conference has elevated its play. It’s no longer just a top-heavy league with 3-4 dominant teams. We’re seeing programs that were rebuilding just a couple years ago now competing for national seeds.
The real question is whether any ACC team can break through and bring home the title. After watching Tennessee claim the crown last year by beating Texas A&M, we’re hungry to see an ACC team make a run in Omaha.
What do you think? Which ACC team has the best shot at making it to the College World Series this year?
Key Dates to Remember
- ACC Tournament: May 20-25, 2025 (Charlotte, NC)
- NCAA Selection Show: Monday, May 26, 2025 (12 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPNU)
- NCAA Regionals: May 30-June 2, 2025
- NCAA Super Regionals: June 6-9, 2025
- Men’s College World Series: June 13-24, 2025 (Omaha, NE)
