MAY MADNESS: ACC announces new 16 team single-elimination conference tournament for THIS baseball season

A new era of baseball is upon us. Introducing, May Madness.

Beginning this year (May 20-25th), the ACC Baseball Championship will take a page out of basketball’s playbook and move to a 16-team single-elimination tournament.

Beginning at this year’s Championship, all 16 ACC Baseball teams will compete in a single-elimination tournament.

🔗 details: https://t.co/nKzJ9Aklu8 pic.twitter.com/pwWKU7IXyP

— ACC Baseball (@ACCBaseball) February 5, 2025

Since 2006, the ACC Baseball Championship has been played in a round-robin style (pool play), where 12 teams compete for the championship.

This mirrored a normal baseball playoff, so it made sense to most baseball fans. But for  those who only casually follow baseball, or those who aren’t really fans but like to root for NC State in postseason play, this will make things a lot easier to follow. And honestly this is going to make things a ton more exciting.

Single play-in games are now standard in the MLB as they try to increase excitement by expanding the playoff field. Now the ACC is getting in on that single-game action.

Per the ACC (source): 
“Under the new format, the top four seeds in the championship will be based off the performance in the regular season and will receive a double-bye into the quarterfinal round, which is scheduled to be held on Thursday and Friday.  Seeds five through eight will earn a bye into Wednesday’s second round. Seeds 9-16 will begin play with four first round games on Tuesday.”

“The single-elimination championship format will feature four games per day on Tuesday (first round) and Wednesday (second round). Two quarterfinal games will take place on both Thursday and Friday, while Saturday will host the two semifinal contests. Sunday will host the championship game.”

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Tickets should be a much more hot commodity this season.  The games will be played at the Durham Bulls stadium and will go on sale February 12th.