Florida can thank its No. 1 strength of schedule for receiving an invite Monday to its 16th consecutive NCAA Division I Baseball Tournament.
The Gators (28-27) will play in the Stillwater (Okla.) Regional as a three seed starting at 3 p.m. ET Friday (ESPN+). They will open against Big Ten Tournament champion Nebraska (39-20), the regional second seed. Host Oklahoma State (40-17), the 11th national seed, plays four seed Niagara (38-15) at 7 p.m.
— Florida Gators Baseball (@GatorsBB) May 27, 2024
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It’s Florida’s 39th tournament appearance and the 16 in a row, all under coach Kevin O’Sullivan, is the second longest streak in the nation behind Vanderbilt’s 18. It’s just the third time the Gators will travel for a regional in O’Sullivan’s tenure.
Division I Baseball Committee Chairman Matt Hogue said the committee took strength of schedule as a key aspect in selecting the Gators, one of the 33-at-large teams.
“We did spend a great deal of time considering Florida and their overall resume, and again, I think you bring up a great issue and a great question when you do have teams from different places, different conferences, it’s difficult,” Hogue said in an ESPN interview.
“One of the key aspects for Florida was that strength of schedule. I think, number one at overall strength of schedule. Number 13 at non-conference strength of schedule. That was something that mattered a lot through all of the conversations.”
A record 11 SEC teams (Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vanderbilt) made the 64-team, double-elimination tourney.
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O’Brate Stadium in Stillwater, Okla., is home for the Oklahoma State Cowboys baseball team, which hosts a regional this weekend. [NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN-USA TODAY NETWORK]
The winner of the Stillwater Regional plays the winner of the Clemson Regional, which features the host Tigers (41-14), the sixth national seed, Vanderbilt (38-21), Coastal Carolina (34-23) and High Point, N.C. (34-25), in the best-of-three Super Regional. The winner there advances to the College World Series in Omaha, Neb., beginning June 14.
Gray Reid has spent most of his career in basketball and sports media. He began as a student manager for the Nevada men’s basketball team, then went on to coach overseas in China and later joined the LC State men’s basketball program as a graduate assistant. After coaching, Gray joined SBLive Sports as a videographer and video editor, eventually moving into his current role as Regional Marketing Director.
As tensions escalate overseas, locals in South Florida express a complex mix of concern, hope, and fear—especially for loved ones in Israel and Iran. Community leaders and families share their perspectives on uncertainty, security, and what the future holds.
This Week in South Florida Full Episode: March 1, 2026
PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. — On the latest episode of “This Week in South Florida” host Janine Stanwood welcomes President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Broward County Audra Berg, Secretary General of the Assembly of the Cuban Resistance Orlando Gutierrez-Boronat, Division Director of Flood Control and Water Supply Planning for the South Florida Water Management District Carolina Maran, State Rep. Juan Carlos Porras and State Rep. Kevin Chambliss.
The full episode can be seen at the top of this page.
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Janine Stanwood
Janine Stanwood is a Emmy award-winning reporter and anchor. She joined Local 10 News in February 2004 as an assignment editor.
