LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Coming off a 6-0 week, which included wins over three top-15 teams, UCLA grabbed hold of the No. 1 spot in the 2023 USA Today/NFCA Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll. The Bruins (12-0) ascension to the top ended Oklahoma’s streak of 31 consecutive weeks at No. 1.
After a home win over Liberty (3-2), UCLA made the most of its trek across the country to take part in the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational. The Bruins won three tightly-contested affairs against then-No. 15 Alabama, No. 6 Florida State and RV Louisiana, the latter two witnessed the Bruins score two runs in the top of the seventh to come out on top. They also trumped RV Nebraska (8-0) and then-No. 8 Virginia Tech (8-4).
UCLA was the last team to hold the No. 1 position since OU began its streak on March 2, 2021.
The Sooners (8-1) suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of Big 12 foe Baylor. After three resounding shutout wins over Longwood, Stephen F. Austin and Army, Oklahoma was edged by the host Bears in a non-conference matchup at the Getterman Classic.
For Baylor (8-1), who enters the poll at No. 25 this week, it marked the program’s second win over a No. 1 team, the first coming against Florida on Feb. 8, 2009.
The No. 3 Florida Gators (10-00) continued its offensive onslaught, scoring 77 runs and picking up seven more wins last week. UF scored at least nine runs in five of those contests and is Division I’s top-scoring offense, averaging 11.8 runs per game.
Oklahoma State crept up to No. 4 after an undefeated showing at the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational. The Cowgirls (8-1) picked up wins against Texas A&M (8-0), Nebraska (10-0), Virginia Tech (10-9), Louisiana (12-2) and then-No. 25 Michigan (15-6).
Clemson surged into the No. 5 spot after five wins last week, including a perfect 4-0 mark, hosting the ACC/Big Ten Challenge. The Tigers (10-0) swept then No. 14 Northwestern (15-2, 3-2) and Ohio State (5-1, 10-0), while also picking up a mid-week victory against Furman (10-0).
No. 6 Florida State was 3-2 at the TaxAct Clearwater Invitational and posted a 5-2 overall week. The Seminoles (9-3) picked up wins over then-No. 10 Arizona (6-4), then-No. 4 Arkansas (9-6) and Louisiana (10-2), while dropping a pair of tight contests versus UCLA (4-6) and Alabama (1-2).
Washington (9-1) catapulted into the No. 8 position after sweeping five games, including two from the hosts, at the Houston Classic.
Two more TaxAct Clearwater Invitational participants Arkansas (8-2) and Virginia Tech (7-3), dipped to No. 7 and 10, respectively, while Texas stayed at No. 9 following a 6-0 week at home.
Along with Baylor, Missouri (9-2) enters the Top 25 this week at No. 24, while No. 22 Arizona State and Michigan dropped out.
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 Feb. 19, 2023.
2023 USA Today / NFCA Division I Top 25 Softball Coaches Poll
February 21 (Week 2)
|
Rank |
School (First Place Votes) |
Points |
2023 Record |
Last Week’s Ranking |
|
1 |
UCLA (29) |
797 |
12-0 |
2 |
|
2 |
Oklahoma (3) |
759 |
8-1 |
1 |
|
3 |
Florida |
732 |
10-0 |
3 |
|
4 |
Oklahoma State |
697 |
8-1 |
5 |
|
5 |
Clemson |
649 |
10-0 |
7 |
|
6 |
Florida State |
606 |
9-3 |
6 |
|
7 |
Arkansas |
598 |
8-2 |
4 |
|
8 |
Washington |
526 |
9-1 |
12 |
|
9 |
Texas |
492 |
8-1-1 |
9 |
|
10 |
Virginia Tech |
458 |
7-3 |
8 |
|
11 |
Alabama |
453 |
6-2 |
15 |
|
12 |
Tennessee |
451 |
6-1 |
11 |
|
13 |
Arizona |
393 |
7-3 |
10 |
|
14 |
Duke |
385 |
7-3 |
16 |
|
15 |
LSU |
349 |
10-0 |
18 |
|
16 |
Stanford |
337 |
8-2 |
19 |
|
17 |
Georgia |
284 |
7-3 |
13 |
|
18 |
Kentucky |
275 |
6-1-1 |
17 |
|
19 |
Northwestern |
255 |
4-4 |
14 |
|
20 |
Auburn |
202 |
9-1 |
21 |
|
21 |
Maryland |
149 |
8-1 |
23 |
|
22 |
Oregon |
116 |
8-2 |
24 |
|
23 |
UCF |
113 |
5-5 |
20 |
|
24 |
Missouri |
97 |
9-2 |
RV |
|
25 |
Baylor |
90 |
8-1 |
RV |
New To Poll: No. 24 Missouri, No. 25 Baylor
Dropped Out: No. 22 Arizona State, No. 25 Michigan
Receiving Votes: Arizona State (82), Michigan (14), San Diego State (10), North Texas (9), Texas A&M (7), Louisiana (6), Wichita State (4), Cal State Fullerton (2), BYU (1), Charlotte (1), Mississippi State (1).
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 Feb. 19, 2023.
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