Dudy Noble Field among possible sites for 2021 NCAA Regional and Super Regional
STARKVILLE – The Carnegie Hall of College Baseball, Dudy Noble Field, is among the 20 sites selected by the NCAA as possible host sites for the Regional and Super Regional rounds of the upcoming NCAA Tournament, announced the NCAA on Friday (May 14).
The Dude has hosted an NCAA Regional 14 times and a Super Regional on three occasions, including both during the 2019 season that ended at the College World Series. The 2007 season also saw a Super Regional at The Dude after Mississippi State won the Tallahassee Regional.
In 2021, Mississippi State is ranked No. 2 by Perfect Game and sits No. 3 according to the five other major polls. With the No. 2 RPI in the country, State sits at 36-11 overall and 17-8 in the SEC and is in search of the 12th regular season SEC title in program history, sitting just one-half game back of Arkansas and Tennessee entering Friday (May 14) night’s games.
Due to the health and safety protocols surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, it was deemed necessary to conduct NCAA championship competition at predetermined sites. Of the 20 selected sites, the committee will choose 16 to host regional-round games. Eight of those 16 regional sites will host super regionals.
Based on recent guidance from the NCAA COVID-19 Medical Advisory Group, the NCAA will allow up to 50% fan capacity at these predetermined sites. Exact capacity percentages will vary by site, depending on state and local health mandates due to the pandemic.
The designation of predetermined sites will have no bearing on the teams selected to participate or for seeding in the 2021 Division I Baseball Championship. The championship field will consist of 30 conference automatic qualifiers and 34 at-large qualifiers.
The 16 regional hosts will be announced on Sunday, May 30 at 7:30 p.m. CT, prior to the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on Monday, May 31 at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN2. Information on ticketing and protocols for the 2021 postseason will be distributed after final sites are announced.