CWS: Georgia vs. Texas Preview

The Georgia Diamond Dawgs have a difficult road ahead in Omaha as they prepare to face some of the toughest competition in the country, much of it familiar SEC opposition. Georgia finds itself on the Bracket Two side of the Men’s College World Series alongside Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama. The Dawgs will open their Omaha run on Saturday night against the Texas Longhorns.

Georgia enters the College World Series riding a wave of momentum and confidence after earning its first trip to Omaha since 2008. After everything this team has accomplished throughout the season, it would be easy for players and coaches alike to get caught up in the excitement of the moment. However, Head Coach Wes Johnson has made sure his team remains focused on the ultimate goal.

Johnson has repeatedly emphasized the importance of this opportunity, not just for the program but for the players themselves. To him, this is a business trip, not a vacation. Earlier this week, Johnson said, “I don’t want these young men living with regret 20 years from now.” The message is clear: enjoy the experience, but finish the job. If the Dawgs’ skipper is locked in, there is little doubt his players are as well.

Standing in Georgia’s way is a Texas squad that has been one of the most complete teams in college baseball all season. Interestingly enough, the two programs have not faced each other this year, making Saturday night’s matchup even more intriguing.

The Longhorns are led by Head Coach Jim Schlossnagle, who is making his first College World Series appearance with Texas in just his second season at the helm. While it may be his first trip to Omaha with the Longhorns, Schlossnagle is no stranger to the sport’s biggest stage. The 2026 College World Series marks his eighth appearance as a head coach. He previously guided TCU to five Omaha appearances and Texas A&M to two, making him one of only four coaches in college baseball history to lead three different programs to the College World Series.

Despite all of those appearances, a national championship has remained elusive for Schlossnagle. That fact alone should make Texas an even more dangerous opponent as the Longhorns chase the first title of his accomplished coaching career.

Texas possesses an outstanding pitching staff, headlined by sophomore left-hander Dylan Volantis. Volantis has been dominant throughout the season, leading the Longhorns in strikeouts with 126 while posting a stellar 2.03 ERA. The 6-foot-6, 220-pound southpaw does an excellent job using his frame to create extension and keep the ball at the bottom of the strike zone. His fastball typically sits between 92 and 94 mph, but it is his elite sweeping curveball that serves as his true out pitch and allows him to finish hitters.

Another key arm on the Texas staff is freshman right-hander Sam Cozart. While primarily working out of the bullpen, Cozart has provided valuable innings all season and could potentially earn a start depending on how the tournament unfolds. Cozart leads the team with a remarkable 1.59 ERA and uses his imposing 6-foot-6, 260-pound frame to overpower hitters with a fastball that reaches the upper 90s.

Needless to say, Georgia’s lineup will have its hands full Saturday night if Volantis gets the ball.

The Longhorns also feature one of the most dangerous lineups in the country, particularly at the top of the order with Anthony Pack Jr., Aiden Robbins, and Carson Tinney.

Pack Jr., the SEC Freshman of the Year, has been a catalyst for the Texas offense all season. A high-contact hitter with plus speed, he leads the team in batting average (.359), on-base percentage (.485), and stolen bases (20). His ability to get on base and create havoc makes him a constant threat.

Batting alongside Pack is perhaps Texas’ most complete offensive player in Aiden Robbins. Robbins has put together an exceptional season, leading the Longhorns with 24 home runs and 64 RBIs while hitting .342. Like Pack, Robbins can impact the game on the bases and is widely viewed by scouts as a potential first-round selection in July’s MLB Draft.

Rounding out Texas’ dangerous trio is junior catcher Carson Tinney, one of the Longhorns’ biggest transfer portal additions. After arriving from Notre Dame, Tinney immediately became one of the most productive hitters in the lineup. He leads Texas with a 1.194 OPS while batting .333 and launching 22 home runs. Tinney is also a quality defender behind the plate, and his combination of power and defensive ability should make him a top-three-round selection in July.

With all of that talent packed into one lineup, Georgia’s pitching staff, led by Joey Volchko and Caden Aoki, must be sharp from the first pitch. Location will be critical. Volchko should be getting the starting nod for game one. Georgia cannot afford a repeat of its Super Regional pitching performance, where the staff surrendered 10 home runs across two games. Like Foley Field, Charles Schwab Field has shown that the ball can carry when hitters square it up, making execution even more important.

If Georgia wants to secure a massive Game One victory and put itself in a favorable position for the remainder of the tournament, the pitching staff must consistently locate and avoid costly mistakes.

Of course, Georgia’s offense has been the story of the season and may ultimately provide the toughest test Texas has faced all year.

The Diamond Dawgs enter Omaha fresh off a Super Regional performance that saw them launch 12 home runs in just two games. The biggest of those blasts came from Golden Spikes Award finalist Dan Jackson, whose postseason dominance has only strengthened an already incredible season. Jackson leads Georgia in virtually every major offensive category, hitting .396 with 31 home runs, 86 RBIs, a staggering 1.329 OPS, and 26 stolen bases. His rare blend of power and speed has rapidly elevated his draft stock, with many believing he could hear his name called in the first round this July.

The rest of Georgia’s lineup has been outstanding as well. Players such as Michael O’Shaughnessy and Brennan Hudson have consistently delivered in big moments and have played major roles in the Dawgs’ postseason success.

Overall, this matchup has all the ingredients of a College World Series classic and is more than deserving of its 8:00 p.m. ET primetime slot on ESPN.

Georgia has finally made it back to the dance. The question now is whether the Dawgs can finish what they started and bring home a national championship.

GO DAWGS!!!