The Men’s College World Series for 2026 has officially commenced. However, another intense rivalry is also unfolding in Omaha.
Rocco’s Jello Shot Challenge is back for its seventh installment, setting up a contest among MCWS fan bases to see who can spend more and consume more, with numerous thousands of Jello shots anticipated to be purchased over the next ten days or so. This customary event began in 2019 and has grown significantly in recent times, frequently seeing premier SEC teams at the forefront.
The participants for this year include West Virginia, Troy, Ole Miss, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, and Oklahoma.
Current Frontrunner in Rocco’s Jello Shot Challenge by Day Two of the Men’s College World Series
West Virginia is significantly ahead, having sold 18,286 Jello shots, substantially surpassing Ole Miss, which sits in second place with 6,541. At the very end of the list is Texas, with 1,637, a figure that surprisingly would have secured victory in the inaugural Jello Shot Challenge back in 2019.
Each Jello shot is priced at $5, and of that amount, $1.50 is allocated to food banks linked with the eight competing universities, along with a community charity. This competition has transformed from a minor, enjoyable gathering at Rocco’s Pizza and Cantina into a widespread social media phenomenon, with score updates being written on a dry-erase board several times daily.
There’s also a noticeable link between this event and the actual baseball games. The last five champions of the Jello Shot Challenge simultaneously clinched the Men’s College World Series title, for instance, LSU accomplished this last year after defeating Coastal Carolina in two games and selling 52,390 Jello shots.
This relationship can be attributed to two factors: A) teams that advance further have extended opportunities to accumulate more points, and B) every recent victor has originated from the SEC, a conference renowned for its intense dedication to both types of contests. The highest number of Jello shots ever sold belongs to LSU in 2023, totaling 68,888.
Previous Champions of Rocco’s Jello Shot Challenge
2025: LSU, 52,390*
2024: Tennessee, 38,799*
2023: LSU, 68,888*
2022: Ole Miss: 18,777*
2021: Mississippi State, 2,965*
2020: Not Applicable (COVID-19)
2019: Arkansas, 864
* indicates a team that secured victory in the Men’s College World Series
