LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The 2024 NFCA Division I Leadoff Classic is the season-opening tournament for 17 teams as they head to Eddie C. Moore Complex, Feb. 8-11 in Clearwater, Fla. History will be made at the tournament, as three contests on Feb. 10 will be aired on MLB Network, marking the first live collegiate softball games on the Network.
Additionally, all 43 games will be streamed live on NFCA Official Sponsor GameChanger’s app (free). The sole streaming provider will run live video streams, which can be viewed on a phone, table and desktop with games on Fields 8 & 9 featuring a multi-camera broadcast, play-by-play and analysis.
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Every participant competed in their conference tournament a year ago, with nine advancing to the 2023 NCAA Regionals. Clemson, Oregon and Utah all claimed regional titles with the Utes capturing their first-ever Super Regional series and participating in their first WCWS since 1994.
Those three above-mentioned programs, along with Liberty, Missouri and Notre Dame will take part in the MLB Network broadcasts on Feb. 10. The tripleheader begins with the 13th-ranked Utes taking on the Fighting Irish at 1:00 p.m. ET, followed by the Lady Flames and Mizzou at 4:00 p.m. Capping off the historic day will be a top 15 matchup between the fifth-ranked Clemson Tigers and No. 15 Oregon.
Along with the aforementioned programs, the other 2023 regional participants in the field are Central Arkansas, Indiana, and North Carolina Central. Additionally, 2023 National Invitational Softball Championship (NISC) winner Iowa is headed to Clearwater.
Rounding out the field are Army West Point, Kansas, Missouri State, NC State, South Alabama, St. John’s and Western Kentucky.
Previous Division I Leadoff Classic champions
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
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!
