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.
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T1. Texas
2025 record: 56-12
2025 finish: WCWS champion
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 at Nebraska, 7:05 p.m.
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T1. Texas Tech
2025 record: 54-14
2025 finish: WCWS runners-up
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 at McNeese State, 7 p.m.
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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.
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4. Tennessee
2025 record: 47-14
2025 finish: Lost in WCWS semifinals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. BYU, 7 p.m.
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5. Oregon
2025 record: 54-10
2025 finish: Lost in WCWS second round
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 vs. Missouri, 10 a.m.
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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.
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7. Florida State
2025 record: 49-12
2025 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. Samford, 6 p.m.
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8. Arkansas
2025 record: 44-14
2025 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 vs. Virginia, 9 a.m.
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9. Nebraska
2025 record: 43-15
2025 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 vs. Washington, 2:05 p.m.
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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.
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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.
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12. Clemson
2025 record: 48-14
2025 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. SE Louisiana, 7 p.m.
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13. LSU
2025 record: 42-16
2025 finish: Lost in regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. NC State, 7 p.m.
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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.
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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.
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16. Alabama
2025 record: 40-23
2025 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. Villanova, 3 p.m.
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17. Stanford
2025 record: 42-13
2025 finish: Lost in regional finals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. Oklahoma State, 9 p.m.
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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.
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19. Duke
2025 record: 41-18
2025 finish: Lost in regional finals
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 vs. Boston University, 2 p.m.
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20. Oklahoma State
2025 record: 35-20
2025 finish: Lost in regional finals
First game for 2026: Feb. 5 vs. Stanford, 8 p.m.
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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.
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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.
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23. Liberty
2025 record: 50-15
2025 finish: Lost in super regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 vs. Tennessee, 4 p.m.
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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.
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25. Washington
2025 record: 35-19
2025 finish: Lost in regionals
First game for 2026: Feb. 6 vs. Nebraska, 2:05 p.m.
Sports
Carlos Beltrán elected to Hall of Fame despite Astros sign-stealing scandal
Beltrán was voted in by baseball writers despite his reputation as a ringleader of Houston’s infamous scheme in 2017. Andruw Jones also heads to Cooperstown.
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Sports
Baseball Hall of Fame adds 2 outfielders to Cooperstown, including one tied to Astros’ scandal
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Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones, who combined to hit 869 home runs (Beltran hit 435, Jones hit 434), were both elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame Tuesday.
In his fourth year on the ballot, Beltran received the necessary 75% of votes to be inducted into Cooperstown, finishing with the highest percentage (84.2%) among possible inductees.
Jones had to wait nine years, but it was worth it. He finished with 78.4% of the votes and won’t have to sweat out his 10th and final year on the ballot in 2027.
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Carlos Beltran and Andruw Jones were elected to the Hall of Fame Tuesday. (Robert Deutsch/USA Today Network via Imagn Images; Timothy Clary/Getty Images)
New York Mets fans’ core memory of Beltran is his strikeout to end the 2006 National League Championship Series, but the nine-time All-Star was a consistent force throughout his entire career. He even made the Midsummer Classic in his second-to-last season, when he hit .295 with an .850 OPS, 35 home runs and 101 RBIs.
Beltran, a switch-hitter, won three Gold Glove Awards while accumulating 2,725 hits, 435 of which were home runs. He also stole 300 bases in his career, making him one of just eight players in MLB history in the 300-300 club. Beltran has the fourth most home runs by a switch-hitter, trailing Mickey Mantle, Eddie Murray and Chipper Jones.
He is also one of 39 players to both drive in and score at least 1,500 runs. Thirty-two of those players, including Beltran, are in the Hall of Fame. The other seven who aren’t are either tied to performance-enhancing drugs (Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro, Gary Sheffield, Manny Ramirez) or are not yet eligible for the Hall of Fame (Albert Pujols, Miguel Cabrera). In 65 postseason games, Beltran hit .307 with a 1.021 OPS. Beltran spent seven seasons with both the Mets and Royals and put up nearly identical stats, so it remains to be seen what hat he’ll wear on his plaque.
While the numbers scream Hall of Fame, it became clear that voters were punishing him for his involvement in the Houston Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. Beltran, who won his lone World Series with that tainted Houston team in his final MLB season, has been considered a mastermind of the scheme, which cost him his job as New York Mets manager in 2020 before he managed a game.
Beltran was the only player on the team directly named by MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred when announcing punishments for the organization.

Carlos Beltran of the Houston Astros takes the field during player introductions prior to Game 3 of the 2017 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Minute Maid Park Oct. 27, 2017, in Houston, Texas. (Alex Trautwig/MLB via Getty Images)
METS AGREE TO DEAL WITH ALL-STAR BO BICHETTE AFTER MISSING OUT ON KYLE TUCKER: REPORTS
As for Jones, the Curaçao native is one of four players with 400 home runs and 10 Gold Glove Awards, along with Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Schmidt. Jones led the majors with 51 home runs in 2005, finishing just short of the MVP Award to Albert Pujols.
A five-time All-Star, the outfielder spent 12 of his 17 MLB seasons with the Atlanta Braves and played in 76 postseason games.
The duo, along with Jeff Kent, will be formally inducted into Cooperstown in July. Kent was elected by the Contemporary Baseball Era committee in December.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Andruw Jones makes a diving catch against the Philadelphia Phillies April 16, 2005. (Tom DiPace/Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
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Looking at the rest of the voting, second baseman Chase Utley received 59.1% of votes in his first year on the ballot. That was the highest percentage next to Jones.
Andy Pettitte (48.5%, 8th year) and Alex Rodriguez (40%, 5th year) both fell short again despite their career numbers. They were linked to performance-enhancing drugs during their careers.
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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.
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