The NCAA Division I Baseball Championship provides for a field of 64 teams. 30 conference champions qualify automatically. The NCAA Division I Baseball Committee selects the balance of the field (34 teams) at large. Winners of the 16 regional tournaments advance to eight super-regional tournaments. Super-regional winners qualify for the College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska.
2002 Championship -- 56th Annual
Key Dates
Sunday, May 26 - 16 regional sites announced
Monday, May 27 - 64-team bracket, regional pairings announced
Monday, June 3 - Host teams announced for super regionals
Monday, June 10 - Order of first-round games announced for College World Series
Thursday, June 13 - Opening ceremonies, 8 p.m.
Regionals
(16 on and off campus sites)
Four teams per site, double elimination
Regional Site Selection
Deadline to submit site host is Friday, May 17
Sixteen sites announced Sunday, May 26
Lights are preferred, but not required
Minimum guarantee is $35,000
Host institution receives at-large bid if not already an automatic qualifier
| Regionals Format |
| Friday, May 31 |
| *Game 1 - No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed |
| *Game 2 - No. 2 seed vs. No. 3 seed |
| Saturday, June 1 |
| Game 3 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2 |
| Game 4 - Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2 |
| Game 5 - Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3 |
| Sunday, June 2 |
| Game 6 - Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 |
| Game 7 - Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 (if necessary) |
* Host may change order of games on May 31 only.
Game times determined by host |
| Format |
| Friday, June 7 |
| Game 1 |
| Saturday, June 8 |
| Game 2 |
| Sunday, June 9 |
| Game 3 (if necessary) |
Super Regionals
(8 on and off campus sites)
Two teams per site, best of three
Super Regional Site Selection
- Deadline to submit site host proposal is Friday, May 17
- Eight sites announced Monday, June 3
- Lights are preferred, but not required
- Minimum guarantee is $35,000
College World Series
Omaha's Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium
Omaha, Nebraska -- Creighton University, host
Eight teams with two, four-team brackets
Single championship game
FUTURE SITES 2003
Regionals (16 on and off campus sites)
Super-Regionals (8 on and off campus sites)
College World Series
Omaha's Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium
Omaha, Nebraska -- Creighton University, host
FUTURE SITES 2004
Regionals (16 on and off campus sites)
Super-Regionals (8 on and off campus sites)
College World Series
Omaha's Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium
Omaha, Nebraska -- Creighton University, host