While inclement weather unfortunately postponed some highly anticipated matchups, including the Texas A&M vs. Georgia and Oklahoma vs. UCF games, the world of college softball still delivered plenty of thrilling action in Week 9. Florida State started strong, taking down rivals Florida and then securing wins against Virginia. Arkansas also made a statement, clinching their SEC series against Florida on the road. Individual performances shined through the weekend’s action, with Texas’ Teagan Kavan racking up an impressive 26 strikeouts in just 13.2 innings against Missouri. UCLA’s Taylor Tinsley also contributed significantly, leading her team to a decisive victory over Ohio State with 10 strikeouts in seven innings.
The results led to some significant shifts in the rankings, with both Florida and Georgia experiencing drops after suffering losses. Conversely, Duke and Clemson climbed the ladder, showcasing their impressive momentum. Let’s dive into the updated ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 rankings, along with this week’s Player of the Week and a game you absolutely won’t want to miss.
Idaho State’s Olivia Robison delivered the Play of the Week with a spectacular home run that even found its way into a fan’s car window! This was Robison’s fourth home run of the season and helped secure a victory for the Bengals. But the real star of the week might be Arkansas’ Bri Ellis. Ellis is having a phenomenal season, leading the Razorbacks in almost every major hitting statistic, including a .511 batting average, 59 RBIs, and 20 home runs. Her defensive prowess is equally impressive, with 200 putouts and only three errors. Her outstanding performance against Florida, featuring six RBIs, a stolen base, and a homer, solidifies her position as one of the top hitters in college softball today.
The Game to Watch is undoubtedly the Bedlam Rivalry between No. 18 Oklahoma State and No. 2 Oklahoma on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2/ESPN+. This year’s matchup will have a slightly different feel due to conference realignment, making it the only meeting between these two rivals this season. Oklahoma holds a significant edge in the all-time series, but Oklahoma State pulled off a couple of wins last year, adding intrigue to this highly anticipated clash. Oklahoma State enters the game on a two-game skid after struggling at the plate against Arizona’s pitching. Meanwhile, Oklahoma is looking to maintain their upward trajectory, boosted by Sam Landry’s stellar 1.83 ERA and Kasidi Pickering’s impressive .902 slugging percentage. Don’t miss this pivotal showdown!
Below, find the full Week 9 Top 25 rankings, along with each team’s upcoming game schedule (all times Eastern):
1. Texas (37-3): vs. Texas State, Wednesday at 7 p.m. on SEC Network
2. Oklahoma (34-3): at Oklahoma State, Wednesday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2/ESPN+
3. Texas A&M (34-5): vs. LSU, Friday at 7 p.m. on SECN+
4. Oregon (35-4): at Minnesota, Friday at 6 p.m.
5. Tennessee (32-8): at Texas, Friday at 9 p.m. on ESPNU
6. LSU (34-5): vs. Louisiana Tech, Wednesday at 7 p.m. on SECN+
7. UCLA (36-5): at Cal Baptist, Tuesday at 9 p.m. on ESPN+
8. Florida (34-8): at Stetson, Wednesday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+
9. Florida State (36-6): at Saint Mary’s, Wednesday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+
10. Arkansas (29-8): vs. South Carolina, Friday at 7 p.m. on SECN+
11. South Carolina (30-8): vs. Charleston Southern, Wednesday at 6 p.m. on SECN+
12. Virginia Tech (32-5): vs. Charlotte, Tuesday at 5 p.m. on ACC Network
13. Arizona (33-7): at Kansas, Friday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+
14. Texas Tech (31-9): vs. Houston, Friday at 7 p.m. on ESPN+
15. Mississippi State (31-10): vs. Missouri, Friday at 7 p.m. on SECN+
16. Duke (29-12): at Pitt, Friday at 6 p.m. on ACC Network Extra
17. Stanford (26-8): at Boise State, Friday at 8 p.m.
18. Oklahoma State (23-11): vs. Oklahoma, Wednesday at 8 p.m. on ESPN2/ESPN+
19. Ole Miss (29-9): vs. UT Martin, Tuesday at 6 p.m. on SECN+
20. Georgia (25-13): vs. USC-Upstate, Wednesday at 6 p.m. on SECN+
21. Clemson (30-11): vs. Winthrop, Wednesday at 6 p.m. on ACC Network
22. Alabama (28-15): vs. Oklahoma, Saturday at 4 p.m. on ESPN2
23. Nebraska (28-10): vs. Creighton, Wednesday at 7 p.m.
24. Ohio State (30-9-1): at Pitt, Wednesday at 5 p.m. on ACC Network Extra
25. Liberty (33-8): vs. Virginia, Tuesday at 6 p.m. on ESPN+
