LOUISVILLE, Ky. – There was movement in the rankings this week, including new No. 2 and 4 programs in this week’s 2022 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll. Oklahoma (20-0) continued as the unanimous No. 1, while Florida State leapfrogged Alabama for No. 2 and UCLA moved into No. 4 over Florida.
Following a week off, the top-ranked Sooners (20-0) cruised to five run-rule victories. They topped Minnesota at home and then defeated Baylor, Cal and Hawai’i twice as part of the Rainbow Wahine Classic, which witnessed Jocelyn Alo become the NCAA’s all-time home run leader with her 96th long ball against the hosts.
The Seminoles (23-1) knocked off Furman and swept Georgia Tech in three closely contested road games of Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) play. The third-ranked Crimson Tide (21-2) dropped two-of-three in their opening Southeastern Conference (SEC) weekend at then-No. 21 LSU. The Tigers (19-7) swept the opening twinbill before Alabama earned a 2-1 triumph in the series finale.
UCLA exploded for 64 runs and allowed just three as the fourth-ranked Bruins (22-3) cruised to five victories at home, while the Gators (22-2) split it opening SEC series with Mississippi State.
The latter half of the top 10, No. 6 Virginia Tech, No. 7 Washington, No. 8 Kentucky, No. 9 Arizona and No. 10 Oklahoma State posted a combined 18-0 mark.
The only significant shift in the rankings witnessed Tennessee elevate three spots to No. 15 and Missouri dip to No. 18 after the Lady Vols (18-6) opened with two SEC road wins over the Tigers (16-6) and earned a mid-week win over Austin Peay.
No. 24 UCF and No. 25 USF returned to the rankings after going a combined 12-1 last week and both reaching the 20-win plateau.
The 2022 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 March 13.
2022 USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Softball Coaches Poll
March 15 (Week 5)
|
Rank |
School (First Place Votes) |
Points |
2022 Record |
Prev. Ranking |
|
1 |
Oklahoma (32) |
800 |
20-0 |
1 |
|
2 |
Florida State |
753 |
23-1 |
3 |
|
3 |
Alabama |
718 |
21-2 |
2 |
|
4 |
UCLA |
709 |
22-3 |
5 |
|
5 |
Florida |
676 |
22-2 |
4 |
|
6 |
Virginia Tech |
648 |
18-3 |
6 |
|
7 |
Washington |
596 |
19-5 |
7 |
|
8 |
Kentucky |
533 |
19-2 |
9 |
|
9 |
Arizona |
521 |
19-4 |
8 |
|
10 |
Oklahoma State |
513 |
16-5 |
10 |
|
11 |
Oregon |
472 |
19-3 |
11 |
|
12 |
Arkansas |
440 |
17-4 |
12 |
|
13 |
Duke |
432 |
21-3 |
13 |
|
14 |
Northwestern |
336 |
15-4 |
16 |
|
15 |
Tennessee |
328 |
18-6 |
18 |
|
16 |
Georgia |
325 |
22-3 |
15 |
|
17 |
Clemson |
286 |
16-6 |
17 |
|
18 |
Missouri |
282 |
16-6 |
14 |
|
19 |
Auburn |
247 |
24-1 |
20 |
|
20 |
LSU |
226 |
19-7 |
21 |
|
21 |
Michigan |
218 |
15-6 |
19 |
|
22 |
Arizona State |
112 |
18-5 |
23 |
|
23 |
Louisiana |
68 |
15-5 |
22 |
|
24 |
UCF |
63 |
22-7 |
RV |
|
25 |
USF |
39 |
22-4 |
RV |
New to Poll: No. 24 UCF, No. 25 USF
Dropped Out: No. 24 Notre Dame, No. 25 Charlotte
Receiving Votes: Stanford (20), Notre Dame (12), Texas (9), Charlotte (6), Oregon State (6), Boise State (2), Ohio State (1), USC Upstate (1), Western Kentucky (1).
The 2022 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 March 13, 2022.
