College softball preseason top 25 poll, plus how to watch
There’s much to be excited about for the 2025 college softball season, which runs from Feb. 6 to May 4.
Can Oklahoma complete the nearly impossible and five-peat? Or will the Sooners be dethroned? There are a few old faces who used the transfer portal to get to new places. Former Stanford ace NiJaree Canady looks to lead Texas Tech to new heights, infielder Rylee Holtorf left Washington for Florida, and outfielder Jalia Lassiter stayed in the SEC transferring from Ole Miss to LSU.
Realignment is now in full swing, so buckle up and prepare for more tough conference matchups. UCLA, Washington and Oregon are now competing in the Big Ten; Texas and Oklahoma will play in the SEC; Arizona, Arizona State and Utah will compete in the Big 12; Lastly, Cal and Stanford are now in the ACC.
Here’s the complete ranking, plus how to watch the action this season.
How to watch
Games will be televised on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, Big 12 Now on ESPN+, ESPN3, ESPN+, SEC Network+ and ACCNX, in addition to being available on the ESPN App.
You can find the full schedule here.
Subscribe to ESPN+ | Stream college softball on ESPN
Preseason Top 25
Here is the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 preseason ranking, plus each team’s first game for the 2025 season.
All games are on Friday, Feb. 6 unless otherwise stated. All times Eastern.
1. Texas (15 first-place votes)
2024 record: 55-10
2024 finish: WCWS runner-up
First game for 2025: TBD
2. Florida (four first-place votes)
2024 record: 54-15
2024 finish: Lost in WCWS semifinals
First game for 2025: vs. North Florida at 6 p.m.
3. Oklahoma (six first-place votes)
2024 record: 59-7
2024 finish: Won WCWS
First game for 2025: vs. CSUN at 6:30 p.m.
4. Oklahoma State
2024 record: 49-12
2024 finish: Lost in WCWS Game 6
First game for 2025: vs. Florida State at 11 a.m.
5. Tennessee
2024 record: 44-12
2024 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2025: vs. Nebraska at 7 p.m.
6. UCLA
2024 record: 43-12
2024 finish: Lost in WCWS Game 10
First game for 2025: vs. Cal State Fullerton at 9 p.m.
7. Texas A&M
2024 record: 44-15
2024 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2025: vs. Utah State at 5:30 p.m.
8. Duke
2024 record: 52-9
2024 finish: Lost in WCWS Game 5
First game for 2025: vs. Penn State (Feb. 7) at 5 p.m.
9. LSU
2024 record: 44-17
2024 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2025: vs. Charlotte (Feb. 7) at 5 p.m.
10. Texas Tech
2024 record: 29-21
2024 finish: Did not make tournament
First game for 2025: vs. Marshall (Feb. 7) at 6 p.m.
11. Alabama
2024 record: 39-20
2024 finish: Lost in WCWS Game 9
First game for 2025: vs. Washington (Feb. 7) at 11:30 a.m.
12. Florida State
2024 record: 46-16
2024 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2025: vs. Oklahoma State at 11 a.m.
13. Arkansas
2024 record: 37-18
2024 finish: Lost in regionals
First game for 2025: at Texas State at 6 p.m.
14. Georgia
2024 record: 43-19
2024 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2025: vs. NC State at 1 p.m.
15. Missouri
2024 record: 48-18
2024 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2025: vs. Marshall (Feb. 7) 12 p.m.
16. Nebraska
2024 record: 30-23
2024 finish: Did not make tournament
First game for 2025: vs. Tennessee at 7 p.m.
17. Arizona
2024 record: 37-18-1
2024 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2025: vs. Michigan State at 7 p.m.
18. Virginia Tech
2024 record: 40-14-1
2024 finish: Lost in regionals
First game for 2025: vs. Fordham (Feb. 7) at 10 a.m.
19. Baylor
2024 record: 36-23
2024 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2025: vs. ACU at 3 p.m.
20. Northwestern
2024 record: 35-13
2024 finish: Lost in regionals
First game for 2025: vs. Kennesaw State (Feb. 7) at 1 p.m.
21. California
2024 record: 37-19
2024 finish: Lost in regionals
First game for 2025: vs. Minnesota (Feb. 7) at 1:30 p.m.
22. Michigan
2024 record: 43-18
2024 finish: Lost in regionals
First game for 2025: vs. Delaware (Feb. 7) at 11:30 a.m.
T23. Stanford
2024 record: 50-17
2024 finish: Lost in the WCWS semifinals
First game for 2025: vs. Long Beach at 7:30 p.m.
T23. Oregon
2024 record: 30-21
2024 finish: Lost in regionals
First game for 2025: vs. Buffalo (Feb. 7) at 1 p.m.
25. Mississippi State
2024 record: 34-20
2024 finish: Lost in regionals
First game for 2025: vs. Texas Tech (Feb. 7) at 4 p.m.
