LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The race for No. 1 was up for grabs as four different programs received first-place votes, but it was Oklahoma which held on by just four points to retain the top spot in this week’s USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll.

In the aftermath of Texas’ Big 12 series win over OU (35-3), the Sooners (12), the Longhorns (9), No. 3 Duke (10) and No. 5 Oklahoma State (1) earned first-place votes. Oklahoma collected 770 points, four more than the 766 of second-ranked Texas (31-6). The Blue Devils (33-3) were a close third with 760 points. No. 4 Tennessee and the No. 5 Cowgirls round out the top five. 

With a pair of 2-1 victories in games two and three, the Longhorns collected back-to-back wins over the Sooners for the first time since 2009, which also marked the last time they won a league series against OU. For Oklahoma, it was the first back-to-back losses since falling to Washington and Wisconsin on Feb. 22 and 23, 2020. Additionally, the Sooners dropped their first conference series since 2011 and fell for the first time in a three-game series (implemented in 2012).

Duke, which was at No. 2 last week, was just one of four top 25 teams to go undefeated last week. The Blue Devils remained perfect at home (20-0) and ran their win streak to eight games following a three-game sweep of North Carolina and mid-week win over Charlotte. Duke sits atop the Atlantic Coast Conference at 13-2 and have swept three ACC series.

Tennessee won its Southeastern Conference series against then-No. 3 Georgia with wins in games one and three.

Joining Duke on this week’s unbeaten train was Oklahoma State, No. 8 Stanford and No. 12 (tie) Alabama. The Cowgirls (33-6) edged North Texas before sweeping Houston on the road in Big 12 action, while the Cardinal (31-6) topped Santa Clara and shut out Arizona State in a three-game sweep. Crimson Tide pitchers surrendered just two runs as Alabama took all three from Ole Miss.

No. 6 LSU, No. 7 Georgia, No. 9 Florida and No. 10 Washington make up the rest of the top 10.

Joining the rankings this week at No. 25 is Texas State. The Bobcats (32-9) have won 10 of their last 12 after going 3-1 last week with a victory over then-No. 25 Baylor and Sun Belt series win over Troy.

The 2024 USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches with one representing each of the NCAA’s Division I Conferences. Results are through April 7. The poll is revealed each Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. ET during the regular season.

2024 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Softball Coaches Poll

4/9/24 (Week 9)

New to Poll: No. 25 Texas State 

Dropped Out: No. 25 Baylor 

Receiving Votes: Louisiana (25), Baylor (19), Kentucky (17), Miami (17), Kansas (8), FAU (5), Virginia (5), Nevada (3), Northwestern (2), Auburn (1), Grand Canyon (1).

The 2024 USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches with one representing each of the NCAA’s Division I Conferences. Records reflect games played through April 7. Poll is released on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. ET during the regular season.

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