DURHAM, N.C. – Murray State head coach Dan Skirka often starts his day behind a lawnmower, personally cutting the grass at the Racers’ humble ballpark in Murray, Kentucky. This week, however, Skirka and his scrappy squad are trading their 800-seat Johnny Reagan Field for the bright lights of Omaha. In one of college baseball’s most inspirational Cinderella stories, Murray State stunned Duke 5-4 on Monday night to win the Durham Super Regional and clinch the final spot in the 2025 College World Series.

That victory sent the “little guy” Racers to Omaha for the first time ever – a feat achieved with authenticity, grit, and a fraction of the resources of their power-conference foes. On paper, Duke had every advantage: The Blue Devils play in the ACC, boast a home stadium seating 2,000 fans (more than double Murray State’s), and operate an athletic department with over $150 million in annual revenue. By contrast, Murray State’s entire athletics budget is under $20 million. But none of those numbers mattered on the field. The Racers, fueled by belief and hard work, toppled mighty Duke and earned a ticket to college baseball’s biggest stage. As Skirka’s Racers have shown, the “little guys” still have a real shot – and America is loving every minute of it.

Parity on the Rise: Powerhouses Are Not Invincible

Murray State’s upset is the latest evidence of growing parity across college baseball. The 2025 NCAA tournament began with a record 13 SEC teams selected to compete, reinforcing the SEC’s reputation as the sport’s dominant conference. Yet by the end of the super regionals, only two SEC teams – LSU and Arkansas – survived to reach Omaha. In other words, 11 of the SEC’s 13 entrants were eliminated, proving that even the most stacked leagues can’t steamroll the underdogs. “The so-called ‘Road to Omaha’ continues, but with a few less stops in the SEC than expected,” one commentator wryly noted.

Indeed, several national top seeds fell victim to upsets. No. 1 overall seed Vanderbilt didn’t even escape its home regional (becoming the first top seed to fall that early since 2015). No. 2 national seed Texas was stunned by in-state upstart UTSA. And in Oxford, Mississippi, the 10th-seeded Ole Miss Rebels were ousted by Murray State in an elimination game – a shocking result that set the stage for the Racers’ fairytale postseason run. By the time the College World Series field was set, traditional powers were in the minority. Instead of an all-SEC juggernaut bracket, the final eight in Omaha feature a mix of programs big and small – from LSU and Arkansas to mid-majors like Murray State and Coastal Carolina – each proving that titles aren’t won on reputation alone.

“Only two SEC teams are in Omaha. The so-called dominant conference isn’t invincible after all,” fans have been buzzing. This parity reflects a broader trend: scholarship limits, the rise of veteran-laden rosters, and the leveling effect of the aluminum bat have given well-coached “have-nots” a fighting chance against the “haves.” As the 2025 tournament showed, the name on the front of the jersey matters far less than the passion and execution of the players wearing it.

Grit over Glitz: Small Programs, Big Hearts

The success of programs like Murray State is built on authenticity and grit rather than fancy facilities. No big payrolls or flashy gear – and that’s part of their charm. “A lot of times, we’ll say for what we lack in cash, we make up in culture,” says Oral Roberts athletic director Tim Johnson, speaking from experience. Johnson’s Oral Roberts Golden Eagles – a small Summit League school – embraced the underdog role and made a stunning run to the 2023 College World Series. “The small, private school that lacks the money and facilities of the top programs can show other factors matter,” Johnson noted. Oral Roberts knocked off national seeds and won 51 games by emphasizing toughness and togetherness over glitz.

That same ethic defines Murray State and similar programs. With limited resources, coaches often wear many hats – Skirka literally helps maintain the field himself, underscoring the do-it-yourself ethos. The Racers practice in modest facilities and travel without the luxuries of Power Five teams, yet they’ve molded a tight-knit, hungry roster that plays with a chip on its shoulder. “For us, it’s all about trusting each other and sticking together,” said Murray State pitcher Isaac Silva during the super regional. That trust was evident as the Racers rallied from an opening game loss to pound Duke 19-9 in Game 2, then outlasted them in the winner-take-all finale. The authenticity of these smaller programs – where it’s about love of the game, not the brand – resonates with players and fans alike.

Even their opponents recognize the heart of the underdog. After facing another mid-major in his super regional, TCU coach Kirk Saarloos remarked, “The only difference is maybe just resources… Does that mean they’re not as good? Heck no. They’re here… and can win this thing”. It’s a telling statement: the gap is closing. When a team of blue-collar strivers meets a team of blue-chip recruits, it’s anyone’s game. And in many cases, the scrappers are prevailing.

Murray State’s Moment: A Cinderella in Omaha

No moment illustrates this better than Murray State’s triumph in Durham. Duke’s Jack Coombs Field was packed with over 2,000 roaring fans, many expecting to witness the Blue Devils end their own 64-year Omaha drought. Instead, they saw history of a different kind. Murray State jumped out to an early lead, fell behind 3-2 by mid-game, but never lost belief. The Racers scratched across runs in the seventh and eighth innings to seize a 5-3 lead. When Duke pushed back within 5-4 in the eighth, the underdogs responded with lockdown pitching and defense to seal the win. As the final out was recorded, the small contingent of Murray State fans in attendance erupted in joy – their Racers were heading to the College World Series.

Players donned t-shirts proclaiming “Omaha Bound,” and in the visiting clubhouse a Powerade shower drenched Coach Skirka – the architect of a miracle. “Seven years ago, we were just trying to build a winning program,” Skirka said, referencing when he took over at Murray. “Now look at us – we’re going to Omaha.” It’s the kind of fairy-tale ending usually reserved for Hollywood: a mid-major team from the Missouri Valley Conference, in its first-ever super regional, knocking out an ACC power on its home field. But it’s all real, and that authenticity is exactly what makes college baseball special.

The victory also carries some poetic symmetry. Just a week earlier, the Racers had to defeat another Goliath – defending national champion Ole Miss – in an Oxford Regional thriller. Murray State stunned the No. 10 national seed Rebels not once but twice (9-6 and 12-11) to advance. In an era when big-budget programs seem to monopolize football and basketball, here was a baseball team from a small school toppling one giant after another. As Racers infielder Jonathan Hogart said after winning their conference tournament, “No one believed in us except us. That’s all we needed.” The country may not have expected to see Murray State in the College World Series, but their underdog spirit has captured hearts nationwide.

Coastal Carolina & Other Underdog Legends

Murray State’s run calls to mind the greatest underdog champion of the past decade: Coastal Carolina’s magical 2016 title. That year, the Coastal Carolina Chanticleers – a mid-major from the Big South (now Sun Belt) – shocked the world by winning the College World Series in their first-ever CWS appearance. They beat powerhouse programs without the benefit of Power Five resources. In fact, Coastal’s athletic budget was roughly $60 million less than Arizona’s, the team it defeated in the national championship series. But the Chanticleers had something money can’t buy: belief. “They thought we played in a small conference and couldn’t get this done. This bunch wanted to prove everybody wrong,” long-time Coastal coach Gary Gilmore said after his team hoisted the trophy. His players echoed that sentiment. “We’re not the most talented team in America – we’re just the national champion,” quipped one senior, perfectly capturing the underdog ethos.

Coastal’s victory in 2016 proved conclusively that a team without a big-name pedigree, fancy facilities, or top-ranked recruiting classes could reach the pinnacle through sheer hard work and smart coaching. The Chanticleers took down college baseball bluebloods one by one – NC State, LSU, Florida, TCU, Arizona – in a stunning postseason gauntlet. Their story has become legend, a beacon of hope for every smaller program dreaming big.

There are other examples, too. In 2012, tiny Stony Brook University (America East Conference) shocked LSU in a super regional and punched its ticket to Omaha. The Seawolves became media darlings as a true mid-major Cinderella at the CWS. And perhaps the most astounding underdog champion of all: Fresno State in 2008. The Bulldogs entered the tournament as a No. 4 regional seed – the lowest seed in their regional – and lost 31 games during the season, yet caught fire in June and won the national title. Fresno State remains the only team with 30+ losses ever to win the College World Series, cementing its place as “the ultimate Cinderella run” in college baseball history.

More recently,  Oral Roberts University became the latest underdog to crash the party in Omaha. ORU, a small Christian school, entered the 2023 tournament as a No. 4 seed and proceeded to knock off regional host Oklahoma State and Pac-12 power Oregon en route to the CWS. Once there, the Golden Eagles proved they belonged, winning a game and nearly reaching the semifinals. “When you’re a giant killer, the last thing you worry about is the giant,” ORU’s Tim Johnson said, reflecting on the fearless mindset it takes. From Stony Brook to Coastal to Oral Roberts to Murray State today, college baseball’s postseason has become a showcase for David vs. Goliath dramas – and fans can’t get enough.

America Loves an Underdog

If there’s one thing American sports fans adore, it’s the underdog. The surge of national support behind teams like Coastal Carolina and Murray State is proof. Neutral fans have enthusiastically adopted these plucky programs, reveling in the chance to cheer for giant-killers. Television ratings and social media buzz often spike when a Cinderella story emerges, injecting fresh excitement into the College World Series. It’s not just about one school’s triumph – it’s about the broader appeal of seeing upstarts challenge the established order. As one college administrator noted, these stories “fuel the fire for a lot of college athletics fans and…make college athletics so unique”. In an age of big-money, big-brand sports, a tale of the little guy defying the odds feels refreshing and authentic.

The 2025 College World Series now offers the ultimate underdog narrative: Murray State – the team that mows its own field – competing for a national championship against the likes of LSU, Arkansas, UCLA, and other powerhouses. The Racers will line up on equal footing in Omaha’s Charles Schwab Field, proving once again that baseball cares little for pedigree once the first pitch is thrown. Win or lose in Omaha, Murray State has already inspired countless fans and smaller programs, showing that dreams are never too big in America’s pastime. And should the Racers go all the way, it would be hard to imagine a more fitting climax to this season of parity – a true “little guy” on top of the college baseball world.

One thing is for certain: college baseball’s heart beats for the underdog. From Coastal Carolina’s improbable title run in 2016 to Murray State’s fairytale in 2025, these stories remind us why we watch sports in the first place. It’s the raw emotion of an upset, the sight of a team dogpiling on the mound in pure joy, the realization that anyone can wear the crown. As the Racers head into the College World Series, they carry with them the hopes of every small program and every fan who’s ever pulled for the plucky outsider. In Omaha, the grass on the field will be cut to perfection – and it wouldn’t be surprising if Coach Skirka takes a moment to appreciate it before his underdog team goes to work. After all, he helped mow those lawns back home, and that grounded perspective is exactly what got Murray State this far. In college baseball, the gap between the powerhouse and the “little guy” is closing fast, and the journey has never been more riveting.