GAMEDAY: NC State opens the Auburn Regional vs. UCF | Game Preview and How to Watch

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NC State Wolfpack vs. UCF Knights | Auburn Regional

Time: 6:00 PM ET
Location: Plainsman Park, Auburn, Alabama
TV: ESPN2
Betting Line: NC State -1.5

Game Preview

NC State opens the 2026 NCAA Tournament in the Auburn Regional as the No. 3 seed against No. 2 UCF. This marks the Wolfpack’s 36th NCAA Regional appearance and head coach Elliott Avent’s 23rd, in what is expected to be his final postseason with the program.

The Wolfpack finished 14-16 in a brutally tough ACC schedule, but boasts one of the more potent offenses in the regional. They hit .307  as a team with 77 home runs. However, pitching depth has been a major issue due to the Jacob Dudan and Ryan Marohn injuries, which have forced bullpen arms into starting roles.

UCF comes in with a solid 19-11 Big 12 record. The Knights are a little more balanced on paper with better team pitching (4.37 ERA vs. NC State’s 5.63), but they lack starting depth due to their own injuries.

This is only the second all-time meeting between the programs (UCF won the first in 1994). The winner advances to face the Auburn-Milwaukee winner in the regional.

Probable Starting Pitchers:

• NC State: RHP Anderson Nance (4-2, 3.78 ERA): Making just his second career start; threw 6 strong innings in the regular season finale.
• UCF: RHP Camden Wicker (5-3, 4.00 ERA): Steady veteran who can go deep into the game

It’s also worth noting that NC State may have  Marohn available in relief.

Scouting UCF

UCF is a gritty, battle-tested team from the Big 12 that overachieved a bit this season. Their offense puts together quality at-bats from top to bottom (they batted.292 this year) and they don’t strike out a ton. They have solid power (51 HR) but aren’t as explosive as State’s offense.

Pitching is their calling card in some ways, but injuries have thinned the rotation. NC State’s patient, high-OBP lineup against UCF’s staff that relies on efficiency and bullpen depth. If the Wolfpack can get to Wicker early and force UCF’s relievers into high-leverage spots, their offensive firepower could be the difference maker.

Conversely, if Nance struggles, UCF’s lineup is capable of stringing together hits and producing some big innings.

How does the Auburn Regional work?

The Auburn Regional is a four-team, double-elimination bracket hosted by Auburn (the 5th-ranked team according to D1) at Plainsman Park in Auburn, Alabama. If you are just tuning into baseball now that it’s the postseason, let us walk you through it all.

The four teams are:

• No. 1: Auburn (38-19)
• No. 2: UCF (31-21)
• No. 3: NC State (32-22)
• No. 4: Milwaukee (25-31)

The Schedule

Friday, May 29

• Game 1: Auburn vs. Milwaukee (1 PM, ESPN+)
• Game 2: UCF vs. NC State (6 PM, ESPNU/ESPN2)

Saturday, May 30

• Game 3: Loser of Game 1 vs. Loser of Game 2 (elimination game)
• Game 4: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 (winner’s bracket)

Sunday, May 31

• Game 5: Winner of Game 3 vs. Loser of Game 4
• Game 6: Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5

Monday, June 1 (if necessary)

• Game 7: If two teams remain undefeated or the bracket requires it, a final game to decide the champion.

A team is eliminated after two losses. The regional winner is the last team standing (they may have one loss).

What Happens Next?

The winner of the Auburn Regional advances to a Super Regional (best-of-3 series) against the winner of the paired regional (likely the Lincoln Regional, hosted by Nebraska).

• Super Regionals are typically hosted by the higher national seed.
• Winning the Super Regional (need to win 2 of 3 games) sends the team to the Men’s College World Series in Omaha (8 teams total).

NC State has a tough road: They open against a solid UCF team, and Auburn is a strong favorite as both the host and a national top-5 seed with elite pitching. But double-elimination gives the Wolfpack a chance to fight back even with one loss.