STARKVILLE, Miss. – For the second time this season, Arizona State is the top softball team in all the land, according to the latest edition of the USA Today NFCA Division I Top 25 poll that was released on Tuesday by the Association.
The Sun Devils (42-5) used a sweep of then seventh-ranked Arizona on the road for the first-time in program history to garner 27 of 30 first-place votes and finish 39 points ahead of last week’s No. 1, Michigan (42-4). The Wolverines, meanwhile, dropped to second after sweeping Penn State and splitting with Iowa last week. Despite their loss, Michigan still received the other three first-place votes.
Moving up two spots this week to third was Texas (41-4), which after sweeping Texas Tech this weekend has now won 25 of its last 26 games. Georgia (40-7) dropped one spot to fourth in the new poll after a loss to Arkansas, while Florida (40-8) moved back into the top five at fifth for the first time since March after going 2-1 against then fourth-ranked Alabama (42-7).
For only the second time this season, no teams exited or entered the weekly rankings. No. 25 Auburn (34-14) held onto the final spot this week by edging Fresno State (29-11) by only four points. Additionally, 10 other teams received at least one point in this week’s rankings including newcomers Florida Atlantic (30-22), Illinois State (30-14) Indiana (30-15) and Jacksonville (35-14).
The USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference.
To view the entire poll, click here.