Oklahoma celebrated its first baseball national championship in more than three decades Monday night, and several Sooners players used the moment to give credit to God for a postseason run few saw coming.
The Sooners defeated North Carolina 13-2 at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, to win the 2026 Men’s College World Series championship. The victory gave Oklahoma its third national title in program history and its first since 1994.
Oklahoma closed out the best-of-three championship series with one of its strongest performances of the season. The Sooners controlled the game early and never let North Carolina build much momentum, turning what could have been a tense finale into a decisive win.
The championship capped a surprising turnaround for Oklahoma, which entered the postseason with little national buzz after an uneven regular season in the SEC. By the time the Sooners reached Omaha, they had become one of the tournament’s most compelling stories.
Throughout the College World Series, several Oklahoma players could be seen wearing crosses during games. After the final out Monday, faith was also a central part of the celebration.
OU finished 11th in the SEC (14-16), went 0-1 in Hoover, and trailed No. 2 Ga Tech 8-2 on the brink of elimination. Since:
âšľ Outscored GT 21-7, winning twice
âšľ Swept Big 12 champ KU 21-3
âšľ Beat only top-8 seeds in Omaha
âšľ Won 10 of final 11A truly remarkable title run! đź‘Ź pic.twitter.com/gtHdgHvOAZ
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 23, 2026
One of the biggest moments of the night came from second baseman Kyle Branch, who helped put the game out of reach with a three-run home run in the eighth inning. After reaching second base earlier in the game, ESPN cameras caught Branch speaking to himself.
“God is so good. God is so good,” Branch said.
Branch later said Oklahoma’s run to the title was difficult to explain without pointing to something bigger.
for the third time in program history, the Oklahoma Sooners are national champions 🏆 pic.twitter.com/xEvjGxhqgM
— Oklahoma Baseball (@OU_Baseball) June 23, 2026
Looking back on the Sooners’ postseason surge, he said the championship “had to be a God thing.”
“We have to give glory to Him and all of our thanks,” Branch added.
Shortstop Jaxon Willits offered a similar message during his postgame interview with ESPN.
“I mean, first off, I’ve gotta give all glory to God, and give thanks to that,” Willits said before discussing the team’s accomplishment.
“God is so good. God is so good.”
Kyle Branch talking to himself at 2nd base after his 8th inning 3 run HR setting a career high with 6 RBIs with his parents and brother in the stands. Incredible. pic.twitter.com/XkhyOuSN8D
— 11Point7 College Baseball (@11point7) June 23, 2026
For Oklahoma, the win ended a 32-year wait and delivered a major moment for a program with a proud baseball history. The Sooners had won national championships in 1951 and 1994, but had not returned to the top of the sport since.
This year’s team changed that with a late-season run that turned a quiet regular season into a championship finish.
By Monday night, the Sooners were not just celebrating a title. They were celebrating a journey that many of them described as rooted in faith, resilience, and belief that their season still had something left even when few outside the clubhouse expected it.
