College softball bracket projections: Final predictions for NCAA regional hosts, national seeds

Texas takes over the No. 1 seed from Oklahoma after defeating Alabama for the SEC Softball Tournament championship. The Longhorns (No. 4 in the NCAA's Rating Percentage Index) lead the country with 20 Quad 1 wins this season, and picked up another resume booster after dominating the Crimson Tide 7-1 for the conference title.

Alabama also has a real case at No. 1 overall, though: The Crimson Tide dominated Arkansas (No. 1 in RPI) and Florida (No. 5 in RPI) to reach the SEC championship game, has a 15-4 mark in Quad 1 games and is No. 2 in RPI. The NCAA committee will have a tough decision when choosing its top seed.

Oklahoma was the favorite to earn the top seed, until it fell to Georgia 10-5 in its first game of the SEC Tournament, which coach Patty Gasso said was due to there being "a disconnect" with the team. Regardless, the Sooners will land one of the top seeds and look to regroup after the disappointing showing, and it doesn't hurt they have a 2-1 record against Texas this season, with all three of those games coming on the road.

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Nebraska, No. 6 in USA TODAY's most recent projections, moves up to No. 4 after dominating UCLA in the Big Ten championship. The Cornhuskers, who finished 2026 with a 26-1 record against conference foes, defeated the Bruins 7-2 to move to 45-6 on the season with a 9-5 record in Quad 1 games and a No. 3 ranking in RPI.

Texas Tech also drops a spot in our projections after being shut out by Arizona State in the Big 12 championship, and Virginia Tech narrowly misses on a regional host bid after falling to Florida State in the ACC Tournament championship.

While Oregon is No. 9 in RPI, the Ducks come in at No. 15 in our projections due to their weaker 5-4 record in Quad 1 games. Its loss to Wisconsin in the Big Ten Tournament didn't help, either.

Texas A&M holds onto the final spot despite being upset by Auburn at the SEC Softball Tournament. The Aggies' 14 Quad 1 wins and No. 17 mark in RPI, plus their No. 7-ranked strength of schedule, keeps them in the conversation for a regional host spot.

College softball automatic qualifiers, conference champions

Thirty-one conference champions earn automatic bids to the NCAA Softball Tournament. Here's the full list:

• America East: Binghamton
• American: South Florida
• ASUN: Stetson
• Atlantic 10: Fordham
• ACC: Florida State
• Big 12: Arizona State
• Big East: Connecticut
• Big Sky: Idaho State
• Big South: USC Upstate
• Big Ten:Nebraska
• Big West: Cal State Fullerton
• CAA: Charleston
• Conference USA: Jacksonville State
• Horizon: Northern Kentucky
• Ivy League: Princeton
• MAAC: TBD
• MAC: Akron
• MEAC: South Carolina State
• Missouri Valley: Belmont
• Mountain West: TBD
• NEC: Wagner
• Ohio Valley: Eastern Illinois
• Patriot: Boston University
• **SEC:**Texas
• Southern: TBD
• Southland: TBD
• SWAC: TBD
• Summit: South Dakota
• Sun Belt: TBD
• WCC: Saint Mary's*
• WAC: California Baptist

* No tournament; automatic bid awarded to regular season champion

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College softball bracket projections: Final predictions before reveal