The 1986 NCAA Division I baseball season of college baseball in the United States organized by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) began in the spring of 1986. The season progressed through the regular season and concluded with the 1986 College World Series. The College World Series, held for the fortieth time in 1986, consisted of one team from each of eight regional competitions and was held in Omaha, Nebraska, at Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium as a double-elimination tournament. Arizona claimed the championship for the third time.
Realignment and format changes The Big South Conference was granted NCAA Division I status, joining after one season in the NAIA. The members were Armstrong State, Augusta State, Baptist, Campbell, Coastal Carolina, Radford, UNC Asheville, and Winthrop. The Colonial Athletic Association began sponsoring baseball, with American, East Carolina, George Mason, James Madison, Richmond, UNC Wilmington, and William & Mary composing the seven team league. The Southeastern Conference dissolved its two-division format, playing as a single conference with all teams playing a three-game series against every other conference member. Stetson joined the Trans America Athletic Conference. They had previously played as an independent.
Conference winners This is a partial list of conference champions from the 1986 season. The NCAA sponsored regional competitions to determine the College World Series participants. Four regionals of four teams and four of six each competed in double-elimination tournaments, with the winners advancing to Omaha. 25 teams earned automatic bids by winning their conference championship while 15 teams earned at-large selections. ConferenceRegular season winnerConference tournamentTournament venue • cityTournament winner Atlantic Coast Conference 1986 Atlantic Coast Conference baseball tournament Durham Athletic Park • Durham, NC Atlantic 10 Conference East - West - 1986 Atlantic 10 Conference baseball tournament Piscataway, New Jersey Big East Conference North - /South - 1986 Big East Conference baseball tournament Muzzy Field • Bristol, CT Big Eight Conference Oklahoma 1986 Big Eight Conference baseball tournament All Sports Stadium • Oklahoma City, OK Oklahoma State Big South Conference East - West - 1986 Big South Conference baseball tournament Augusta, GA Big Ten Conference East - West - 1986 Big Ten Conference baseball tournament Siebert Field • Minneapolis, MN Colonial Athletic Association / 1986 Colonial Athletic Association baseball tournament Harrington Stadium • Greenville, NC EIBL No tournament Mid-American Conference No tournament Midwestern Collegiate Conference North - South - 1986 Midwestern Collegiate Conference baseball tournament Detroit, MI Metro Conference Florida State 1986 Metro Conference baseball tournament Seminole Stadium • Tallahassee, FL Florida State Mid-Continent Blue - Gray - 1986 Association of Mid-Continent Universities baseball tournament Chicago, IL Pacific-10 Conference North - South - No tournament Pacific Coast Athletic Association No tournament Southeastern Conference LSU 1986 Southeastern Conference baseball tournament Alex Box Stadium • Baton Rouge, LA LSU Southern Conference North - South - 1986 Southern Conference baseball tournament Hennon Stadium • Cullowhee, NC Southwest Conference / 1986 Southwest Conference baseball tournament Olsen Field • College Station, TX Trans America Athletic Conference East - West - 1986 Trans America Athletic Conference baseball tournament Hunter Field • Abilene, TX
Conference standings The following is an incomplete list of conference standings:
College World Series
The 1986 season marked the fortieth NCAA baseball tournament, which culminated with the eight team College World Series. The College World Series was held in Omaha, Nebraska. The eight teams played a double-elimination format, with Arizona claiming their third championship with a 10–2 win over Florida State in the final.
Award winners
All-America team
References