With inclement weather on the way in Omaha, Nebraska, there's been a slight change of plans for Game One of the Men's College Baseball World Series finals.
Instead of an 8:00 PM EST start, the game has a new first pitch time, one that will be much earlier than originally scheduled.
Game One of the CWS Finals moved up to an afternoon time slot
The NCAA announced on Friday afternoon that first pitch for the first game of the best-of-three series is now scheduled for 3:00 PM EST, which will still be aired on ESPN for those watching from home. For fans who are attending the game, gates are set to open at noon.
⚾️ GAME UPDATE ⚾️
— NCAA Baseball (@NCAABaseball) June 19, 2026
Due to possible inclement weather, #MCWS Finals Game One will now begin at 3 PM ET.
Gates will open at Noon local. pic.twitter.com/lympPx3Kmt
Over the last few days, there's been some skepticism regarding the start time of the opening game on Saturday. With some heavy rain being forcasted later on in the evening, many fans speculated if the NCAA would make a change in order to beat the weather.
Well, that question is now answered.
Gavin Gallaher had the perfect response after winning a Gold Glove at a new position
The good news is that the NCAA has been heavily monitoring the situation and has made the change now to give fans time to prepare. Those heading to Omaha for the weekend have some time to sort through their travel plans, while fans who simply want to watch the game from wherever they may be can map out their Saturday agenda accordingly.
For both teams, the objective doesn't change. In fact, it's probably better for both sides, given that the two teams don't have to wait all day for first pitch. Instead, they can enjoy a nice early meal, get their pregame work in, and settle in for the 3:00 PM EST start time, hopefully early enough to beat the anticipated bad weather.
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