LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The 2025 Division softball season is upon us and 17 programs head to the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla. for the 22nd edition of the NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic presented byMaxBP
. The season-opening tournament takes place Feb 6-9 and showcases over half the field in the national rankings, including a Super Regional rematch between No. 7 Duke and No. 15 Missouri.
All 44 games will be streamed live for free courtesy of NFCA Official Sponsor GameChanger, the sole streaming provider of the tournament. Additionally, GameChanger, NFCA Official Sponsor Major League Baseball and the Association are teaming up to broadcast games, Saturday, Feb. 8, on MLB Network. Duke and Missouri open the tripleheader at 1:00 p.m. followed by No. 19 Nebraska against No. 13 Texas Tech with No. 6 Tennessee and No. 21 Northwestern closing out the evening.
View broadcast teams for games on Fields 8 & 9, including MLB Network HERE.
Tournament Central | Schedule (PDF) | Download GameChanger App | Purchase Tickets
Along with the six aforementioned ranked programs, the field also includes No. 24 Mississippi State, RV Penn State and RV Kentucky. Along with Duke and Mizzou, Tennessee also reached Super Regionals in 2024 with Kentucky, Mississippi State, Morgan State, Northwestern and Penn State also earning NCAA postseason bids.
The field also includes the last three tournament champions – Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi State – along with Nebraska, which captured the 2002 title.
Rounding out the field are Bethune-Cookman, Iowa, Kennesaw State, Marshall, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Southern Miss and Texas Tech.
This marks the seventh consecutive tournament in Clearwater (2012-14, 2020, 2023-25). The first 15 tournaments were held in Columbus, Ga., from 1996 through 2010. Michigan has captured the most Leadoff titles with three, while Louisiana and Washington (won the inaugural in 1996) have each won twice.
Tickets are still available for purchase. Please note ticket prices include tax and an additional third-party fee incurred during the purchasing process.
All games will be streamed live (free) on the GameChanger App with contests on fields 8 and 9 featuring a dedicated broadcast team and a multi-camera view.
To watch this tripleheader on MLB Network, viewers can visit www.mlbnetwork.com for their local channel listings. Last season’s three-game broadcast made history as the first live collegiate softball televised on MLB Network.
Please note that viewers who are unable to access the broadcasts on MLB Network, can still watch the games on the GameChanger app for free.
2025 participating teams: Bethune-Cookman • Duke • Iowa • Nebraska • Kentucky • Marshall • Mississippi State • Missouri • Morgan State • Nebraska • Northwestern • Notre Dame • Penn State • Pittsburgh • Southern Miss • Tennessee • Texas Tech
Division I Leadoff Classic champions
2024 – Missouri; 2023 – Tennessee; 2020 – Mississippi State; 2014 – Hofstra; 2013 – Louisiana; 2012 – DePaul; 2010 – Illinois; 2008 – Michigan; 2007 – Georgia Tech & Michigan; 2005 – Oklahoma; 2004 – LSU; 2003 – UMass; 2002 – Nebraska; 2001 – Stanford; 2000 – Washington; 1999 – Louisiana; 1998 – Michigan; 1997 – South Carolina; 1996 – Washington
*2006 & 2009 tournaments were rained out
The NFCA (National Fastpitch Coaches Association) is the professional organization for fastpitch softball coaches. Known for its competitive Leadoff Classics, the NFCA also educates and supports softball coaches on a variety of different levels: from a highly-regarded Awards Program to a comprehensive drills database, to in-person events and a National Convention.
Learn more about the NFCA and consider joining our lineup of 7,000 coaches today!
