Sports
College softball 2026: Preseason Top 25 and how to watch
The 2026 college softball season is nearly here. The first poll of the season is out, and there are no surprises at the top. The Women’s College World Series champions, Texas, and runners-up, Texas Tech, are tied for the top spot. And just behind them are Oklahoma and Tennessee, the two teams that lost in the semifinals. But surely the season won’t stay predictable for long. Action begins across the country on Feb. 5.
Here’s the complete ranking.
How to watch
Everything college softball on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SEC Network, ACC Network, Big 12 Now on ESPN+, ESPN3, ESPN+, SEC Network+ and ACCNX is accessible here, in addition to being available on the ESPN App.
What’s the full schedule
You can check out the complete scoreboard here to stay up to date this spring.
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 2026 season.
All times Eastern.
T1. Texas
2025 record: 56-12
2025 finish: WCWS champion
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 at Nebraska, 7:05 p.m.
T1. Texas Tech
2025 record: 54-14
2025 finish: WCWS runners-up
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 at McNeese State, 7 p.m.
3. Oklahoma
2025 record: 52-9
2025 finish: Lost in WCWS semifinals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 at Arizona State, 8:15 p.m.
4. Tennessee
2025 record: 47-14
2025 finish: Lost in WCWS semifinals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. BYU, 7 p.m.
5. Oregon
2025 record: 54-10
2025 finish: Lost in WCWS second round
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 vs. Missouri, 10 a.m.
6. Florida
2025 record: 48-17
2025 finish: Lost in WCWS first round
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 vs. Illinois State, 7 p.m.
7. Florida State
2025 record: 49-12
2025 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. Samford, 6 p.m.
8. Arkansas
2025 record: 44-14
2025 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 vs. Virginia, 9 a.m.
9. Nebraska
2025 record: 43-15
2025 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 vs. Washington, 2:05 p.m.
10. UCLA
2025 record: 43-15
2025 finish: Lost in WCWS second round
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 vs. UC Santa Barbara, 7 p.m.
11. Texas A&M
2025 record: 48-11
2025 finish: Lost in regional finals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. Abilene Christian, 5:30 p.m.
12. Clemson
2025 record: 48-14
2025 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. SE Louisiana, 7 p.m.
13. LSU
2025 record: 42-16
2025 finish: Lost in regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. NC State, 7 p.m.
14. South Carolina
2025 record: 44-17
2025 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. Virginia Tech, 6 p.m.
15. Georgia
2025 record: 35-23
2025 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 vs. Missouri State, 3:30 p.m.
16. Alabama
2025 record: 40-23
2025 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. Villanova, 3 p.m.
17. Stanford
2025 record: 42-13
2025 finish: Lost in regional finals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. Oklahoma State, 9 p.m.
18. Arizona
2025 record: 48-13
2025 finish: Lost in regional finals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. Southern Utah, 4:30 p.m.
19. Duke
2025 record: 41-18
2025 finish: Lost in regional finals
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 vs. Boston University, 2 p.m.
20. Oklahoma State
2025 record: 35-20
2025 finish: Lost in regional finals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. Stanford, 8 p.m.
21. Virginia Tech
2025 record: 43-13
2025 finish: Lost in regional finals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 at South Carolina, 6 p.m.
22. Ole Miss
2025 record: 42-21
2025 finish: Lost in WCWS first round
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 at Cal State Fullerton, 10 p.m.
23. Liberty
2025 record: 50-15
2025 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 vs. Tennessee, 4 p.m.
24. Mississippi State
2025 record: 39-19
2025 finish: Lost in regional finals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 at Baylor, 7:30 p.m.
25. Washington
2025 record: 35-19
2025 finish: Lost in regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 vs. Nebraska, 2:05 p.m.
Sports
Details emerge after Miami star seen throwing punch at Indiana player following national title loss
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An Indiana Hoosiers defensive lineman was accused of making a remark about Miami Hurricanes star Mark Fletcher Jr.’s deceased father after the national championship game on Monday night, nearly sparking a brawl between the two players at Hard Rock Stadium.
Fletcher was caught on the ESPN broadcast taking a swing at Hoosiers defensive lineman Tyrique Tucker. Players and personnel from both schools had to come between the competitors before the issue escalated further.
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Mark Fletcher Jr. #4 of the Miami Hurricanes stiff arms Aiden Fisher #4 of the Indiana Hoosiers during the third quarter in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
Mike Rumph, Miami’s director of recruiting, alleged in a comment on Instagram that Tucker made the comment.
“Dude was talking about Mark’s dad who passed away last year. Mark is and always will be one of the most classy people you will meet. RIP Mr. Fletcher,” Rumph wrote.
Tucker had a different take, saying that Fletcher was trying to sucker punch him.
FERNANDO MENDOZA’S BROTHER ENTERS TRANSFER PORTAL AFTER INDIANA WINS NATIONAL TITLE
Tyrique Tucker #95 of the Indiana Hoosiers celebrates after defeating the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 in the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
“I was just trying to congratulate him on the game,” he told The Herald-Times. “He tried to sneak me, everybody kind of held me back. That was a cheap punch. Luckily, we got the win, I’m not really too worried about it. He’s salty, he going home with the L.”
Tucker apparently wanted to congratulate Fletcher on his two touchdown performance before things went awry, according to The Herald-Times. He said he didn’t say anything to him.
Fletcher hasn’t said anything about the incident.
Miami Hurricanes running back Mark Fletcher Jr. (4) rushes for a touchdown against the Indiana Hoosiers in the second half during the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19, 2026. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)
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The star running back nearly carried the Hurricanes to a national championship. But a few miscues ultimately sunk them in a 27-21 loss.
Follow Fox News Digital’s sports coverage on X and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
In Bodø, Norway, about 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle, the Northern Lights often flicker across the nighttime sky. But on Tuesday, the tiny town hosted an even more awe-inspiring sight: one of the biggest UEFA Champions League upsets in recent memory.
That’s where Bodø/Glimt sent shock waves through the soccer world by humiliating Premier League title contenders Manchester City 3-1. It was the team’s first-ever win in Europe’s most prestigious continental competition, and it could hardly have come in more impressive fashion.
A brace by Kasper Waarst Høgh set the Norwegian club on course for the upset, but Jens Petter Hauge‘s stunning goal was the pick of the bunch. After a driving run past 2024 Ballon d’Or winner Rodri, who was later sent off for picking up two yellow cards in 53 seconds, Hauge curled the ball into the top corner past a helpless Gianluigi Donnarumma.
Jens Petter Hauge’s GOLAZO puts Bodø/Glimt 3-0 up before Rayan Cherki pulls a goal back for Manchester City ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/LsjZQH5Trz
— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) January 20, 2026
Bodø/Glimt’s victory was the first by any Norwegian club in the Champions League since 2007, and they might not be done just yet — as of Tuesday, they’re only two points out of the knockout-round places. With a win over Atletico Madrid in the final matchweek, they’ll be well placed to create even more moments of magic in the next round.
The younger brother of Fernando Mendoza was a backup in Bloomington and, while he didn’t play much, he was effective when he got on the field.
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