Scott Forbes hasn't delivered North Carolina's first baseball national championship yet, but everything he has built points toward one inevitable conclusion: If the Diamond Heels keep reaching Omaha, the breakthrough isn't a matter of if—it's a matter of when.
For two decades now, North Carolina baseball has been one of the nation's premier programs. The Tar Heels have produced countless major leaguers, won ACC championships, and made Omaha a familiar destination. Yet one glaring omission remains on the program's résumé: a national championship.
After watching what head coach Scott Forbes has built over the past six seasons, though, it's becoming increasingly difficult to believe that drought will continue much longer.
It's no longer a question of if North Carolina will win its first College World Series title.
It's a question of when.
Replacing a legend is one of the most difficult jobs in sports. Mike Fox spent more than two decades establishing Carolina as one of college baseball's blue bloods, reaching seven College World Series and setting a remarkably high standard. Following a coach of that stature is often an impossible task.
Instead of shrinking under that pressure, Forbes has elevated the program.
In just six seasons at the helm, North Carolina has qualified for the NCAA Tournament every single year (per UNC, the only coach in program history to accomplish that feat). Under Forbes, the Tar Heels have advanced to four Super Regionals, reached Omaha twice, and this past season came within one victory of capturing the program's elusive first national championship.
That level of sustained excellence isn't accidental.
It's the result of what Forbes simply calls "The Process."
Leadoff hitter and starting shortstop Jake Schaffner recently explained that philosophy on the Carolina Insider Podcast.
"The Process is taking one day, one moment at a time. Really not looking in the past and not looking forward in the future. If you're playing a game, it's focusing on each pitch with a life of its own; treating that pitch like it's the last pitch."
That mindset was evident throughout the 2026 season.
Carolina's hitters rarely gave away at-bats. They consistently worked deep counts, forced opposing pitchers into stressful innings, drew walks, accepted hit-by-pitches, and found ways to manufacture offense without chasing results.
Defensively, the Tar Heels were just as disciplined. Every player seemed prepared for every possible scenario before each pitch was thrown. That's what "The Process" looks like in action—a team completely locked into the present moment instead of worrying about the scoreboard or the stakes.
And the results continue to follow.
North Carolina has now reached nine of the past 20 College World Series, an astounding level of consistency. Overall, the Tar Heels have made 13 trips to Omaha, but still have no championship trophy to show for it. Following this year's runner-up finish, Carolina now owns the second-most College World Series appearances without winning a national title, trailing only Florida State.
Some fans may view that statistic as a curse.
I see it differently.
The hardest part isn't winning a championship. It's consistently putting yourself in position to win one.
Baseball is an unpredictable sport. A bad hop, one dominant opposing pitcher, or one untimely slump can end a season. That's why no coach can promise a national championship.
What a coach can control is building a program that reaches Omaha over and over again.
Scott Forbes has proven he can do exactly that.
Eventually, the breaks will go North Carolina's way. Eventually, the final hit will fall, the final out will be recorded, and dogpiles will happen in Carolina blue instead of against it.
Because if the Diamond Heels continue trusting The Process and continue playing baseball at this level, history suggests the breakthrough is inevitable.
It's not a matter of if.
It's only a matter of when.
