LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Oklahoma swept Iowa State in its Big 12 opener, while the race for No. 3 tightened up in this week’s 2023 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Sooners (30-1) outscored the Cyclones 26-3 and posted two shutouts as it was one of three Division I programs to reach the 30-win mark last weekend.
In the race for the third spot, there are only 10 points separating No. 3 UCLA (707) from No. 5 Clemson (697) with Tennessee (700) still sitting at No. 4. The Bruins (29-4) and Lady Vols (26-2) posted conference series wins over ranked foes, then-No. 19 Oregon and then-No. 16 Alabama, respectively, while the Tigers (32-1) extended their win streak to 18 games with a three-game ACC-series sweep at Georgia Tech.
Second-ranked Oklahoma State (29-2) blanked North Texas, 2-0, in a mid-week home contest before taking all three from then-No. 20 Baylor (23-8) in the Big 12 opener for both squads.
Following a three-game Pac-12 sweep of Oregon State, which saw Stanford put 27 runs on the scoreboard, the Cardinal (27-3) took over the No. 6 ranking. Falling a spot to No. 7 was Florida State, which won its ACC matchup at then-No. 14 Duke.
With Florida slipping three spots to No. 11, Washington and Texas each moved up one to No. 8 and No. 9, respectively, and Arkansas returned to No. 10 after a brief absence from the top-10. The Huskies (25-6) swept then-No. 18 Arizona at home, while the Longhorns (30-5-1) went 4-0, including three Big 12 triumphs over Texas Tech.
The 10th-ranked Razorbacks (24-9) earned a big SEC series win over the Gators (24-7). Arkansas knocked off UF in games one and three to capture its second straight league series. Earlier on March 20, the Razorbacks knocked off Alabama, 2-1 in 11 innings, to earn the series win in Tuscaloosa.
Texas A&M returned to the rankings at No. 25 after one week away from the poll.
The 2023 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 26, 2023.
2023 USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Softball Coaches Poll
March 28 (Week 7)
|
Rank |
School (First Place Votes) |
Points |
2023 Record |
Last Week’s Ranking |
|
1 |
Oklahoma (32) |
800 |
30-1 |
1 |
|
2 |
Oklahoma State |
765 |
29-2 |
2 |
|
3 |
UCLA |
707 |
29-4 |
3 |
|
4 |
Tennessee |
700 |
26-2 |
4 |
|
5 |
Clemson |
697 |
32-1 |
5 |
|
6 |
Stanford |
633 |
27-3 |
7 |
|
7 |
Florida State |
608 |
26-7 |
6 |
|
8 |
Washington |
576 |
25-6 |
9 |
|
9 |
Texas |
534 |
30-5-1 |
10 |
|
10 |
Arkansas |
476 |
24-9 |
12 |
|
11 |
Florida |
473 |
24-7 |
8 |
|
12 |
Virginia Tech |
427 |
25-6 |
11 |
|
13 |
Duke |
402 |
26-7 |
14 |
|
14 |
LSU |
391 |
26-6 |
15 |
|
15 |
Georgia |
353 |
27-6 |
17 |
|
16 |
Kentucky |
339 |
20-7-1 |
13 |
|
17 |
Alabama |
292 |
24-10 |
16 |
|
18 |
Oregon |
259 |
20-10 |
19 |
|
19 |
Auburn |
181 |
24-9 |
21 |
|
20 |
Arizona |
166 |
20-12 |
18 |
|
21 |
Baylor |
138 |
23-8 |
20 |
|
22 |
Northwestern |
130 |
17-8 |
24 |
|
23 |
Wichita State |
118 |
26-7 |
22 |
|
24 |
Utah |
103 |
21-5 |
23 |
|
25 |
Texas A&M |
77 |
19-11 |
RV |
New To Poll: No. 25 Texas A&M
Dropped Out: No. 25 Louisiana
Receiving Votes: Louisiana (22), California (20), Arizona State (6), Boston University (5), Louisville (2).
The 2023 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 26.
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