The 2026 Men’s College World Series has its champion. But that wasn’t the one heated competitors in Omaha.
The Rocco’s Jello Shot Challenge was again for its seventh yr of pitting the wallets and livers of the MCWS fan bases in opposition to each other, with tens of 1000’s of Jello pictures set to be offered throughout the event. The tradition goes back to 2019 and has escalated in recent years, with top SEC programs regularly leading the way.
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This yr’s area of eight consisted of West Virginia, Troy, Ole Miss, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama and Oklahoma.
Rocco’s Jello Shot Challenge chief on last day of Men’s College World Series
As of Monday, West Virginia was nonetheless in entrance with 28,208 pictures, properly ahead of Oklahoma, which moved into second place over the weekend and was at 12,903. It was extremely unlikely that one other group could be catching the Mountaineers, but UNC had additionally moved up and, with 9,123 pictures offered, was threatening to move Ole Miss for third.
The Sooners and Tar Heels have been the ultimate two groups in the headlining competitors in Omaha. Oklahoma took a 1-0 lead in the championship collection by defeating UNC 9-3 on Saturday. UNC battled again on Sunday, with a 6-2 victory to tie the best-of-three. The two groups performed a winner-take-all Game 3 on Monday, and the Sooners dominated 13-2 to seal this system’s third nationwide championship.
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It’s value noting that whereas Texas completed final with 3,718 pictures offered, that complete would’ve gained the Longhorns the primary two Jello Shot Challenges in 2019 and 2021.
The Jello pictures are offered at $5 a pop, with $1.50 going to meals banks related to the eight collaborating establishments, in addition to an area group. The contest has gone from a enjoyable, little occasion at Rocco’s Pizza and Cantina to a nationwide social media obsession, with updates posted by way of dry-erase board a number of instances a day.
The occasion has had a correlation with the baseball being performed as properly. The earlier 5 winners of the Jello Shot Challenge additionally gained the Men’s College World Series, together with LSU final yr with a two-game victory over Coastal Carolina and 52,390 Jello shots sold.
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That correlation will be defined by A) the ultimate groups having extra time so as to add to their scores and B) each current champion being an SEC group, as that convention in specific has taken each competitions fairly critically. However, that streak ended this yr, as West Virginia was eradicated by UNC in the semifinals.
The file for complete Jello pictures offered is held by 2023 LSU, with 68,888.
Past Rocco’s Jello Shot Challenge winners
2025: LSU, 52,390*
2024: Tennessee, 38,799*
2023: LSU, 68,888*
2022: Ole Miss: 18,777*
2021: Mississippi State, 2,965*
2020: N/A (COVID-19)
2019: Arkansas, 864
* denotes a group that gained the Men’s College World Series