The Nebraska Cornhuskers have ascended to No. 1 in the NCAA Softball rankings after winning 11 consecutive games. Alabama and Oklahoma are tied for first in the SEC standings following their recent performances.
Key points
Nebraska Cornhuskers are ranked No. 1 in NCAA Softball.
Nebraska has won 11 consecutive games.
Alabama Crimson Tide and Oklahoma Sooners are tied in SEC standings.
NCAA softball top 25 rankings roundup for April 21
There's a new No. 1 team in one of the major NCAA Softball top 25 rankings this week.
That team is the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who rose two spots to No. 1 in Softball America's top 25 rankings on Sunday. Nebraska (36-6) has won 11 straight games entering Week 12 after a three-game sweep of Minnesota over the weekend. The Huskers will look to extend their win streak when they host the Iowa Hawkeyes on Friday.
In the SEC, the Alabama Crimson Tide (42-4, 15-3) moved into a first-place tie with coach Patty Gasso's Oklahoma Sooners (42-6, 15-3) atop the conference standings. Alabama swept the Kentucky Wildcats over the weekend at Rhoads Stadium, in large part thanks to a thrilling three-run seventh inning rally on Saturday, while Oklahoma settled for taking two of three from a top-10 Arkansas team in Norman.
Both the Crimson Tide and Sooners suffered rare losses in midweek play to Samford and Oklahoma State, respectively. Alabama visits Tennessee (37-7) in a top-10 series beginning Saturday. Oklahoma hosts a top-15 Georgia Bulldogs (33-12) team in Norman.
Out in the Big 12, Texas Tech (42-4) wasn't immune to the midweek bug, either. The Red Raiders were blanked, 3-0, on Wednesday night in San Marcos against Texas State. Texas Tech meets Arizona State (35-13) in Tempe for a top-25 series this weekend, as well.
Q&A
Why did Nebraska Cornhuskers become No. 1 in NCAA Softball rankings?
Nebraska Cornhuskers rose to No. 1 after winning 11 straight games, including a three-game sweep of Minnesota.
What is Alabama's current record in NCAA Softball?
Alabama has a record of 42-4 with a conference record of 15-3 in NCAA Softball.
How did Alabama perform against Kentucky Wildcats?
Alabama swept the Kentucky Wildcats, highlighted by a thrilling three-run rally in the seventh inning of one game.
What teams are tied for first place in the SEC standings?
Alabama and Oklahoma are currently tied for first place in the SEC standings, both with a conference record of 15-3.
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Here's a look at where Alabama softball sits in this week's top 25 polls and national outlet rankings.
NCAA Softball Coaches Poll sees familiar team at No. 1
In Tuesday's new Week 11 NFCA/GoRout Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll, Oklahoma remained No. 1 for the second straight week. The top three teams remained the same with Texas Tech holding at No. 2 and Alabama at No. 3.
The Crimson Tide received seven first-place votes and are ranked one spot ahead of Nebraska and two spots ahead of SEC rival Florida (43-6). The Coaches Poll again features six SEC schools in the top 10 in Tuesday's rankings. The SEC continues to lead the way with 10 teams overall in the top 25.
Here's a look at the full Coaches Poll rankings as of April 21.
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama third baseman Ambrey Taylor throws to first for an out in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama right fielder Ana Roman makes the catch on a fly ball for an out in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama infielders Ambrey Taylor and Salen Hawkins talk during a time out in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Head coach Patrick Murphy talks to players Lauren Johnson and Alexis Pupillo during a timeout in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama second baseman Jena Young fields a grounder and flips to second to force out a Kentucky base runner in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama batter Alexis Pupillo points to softball alumni in the left field stands as she celebrates her two-run homer in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama pitcher Vic Moten makes a pitch in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; AlabamaĆ¢ā¬ā¢s Audrey Vandagriff and Gerritt Griggs embrace after Vandagriff drove Griggs home to win in the bottom of the 7th inning in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama shortstop Salen Hawkins catches a throw with her bare hand to force out Kentucky base runner Peyton Plotts in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama batter Alexis Pupillo celebrates her two-run homer in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
1 / 10
Photos: Alabama softball walks-off Kentucky in comeback Game 2 win
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama third baseman Ambrey Taylor throws to first for an out in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
1 / 10
Photos: Alabama softball walks-off Kentucky in comeback Game 2 win
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama third baseman Ambrey Taylor throws to first for an out in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
2 / 10
Photos: Alabama softball walks-off Kentucky in comeback Game 2 win
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama right fielder Ana Roman makes the catch on a fly ball for an out in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
3 / 10
Photos: Alabama softball walks-off Kentucky in comeback Game 2 win
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama infielders Ambrey Taylor and Salen Hawkins talk during a time out in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
4 / 10
NCAA softball top 25 rankings roundup for April 21
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Head coach Patrick Murphy talks to players Lauren Johnson and Alexis Pupillo during a timeout in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
5 / 10
Photos: Alabama softball walks-off Kentucky in comeback Game 2 win
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama second baseman Jena Young fields a grounder and flips to second to force out a Kentucky base runner in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
6 / 10
Photos: Alabama softball walks-off Kentucky in comeback Game 2 win
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama batter Alexis Pupillo points to softball alumni in the left field stands as she celebrates her two-run homer in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
7 / 10
Photos: Alabama softball walks-off Kentucky in comeback Game 2 win
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama pitcher Vic Moten makes a pitch in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
8 / 10
Photos: Alabama softball walks-off Kentucky in comeback Game 2 win
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; AlabamaĆ¢ā¬ā¢s Audrey Vandagriff and Gerritt Griggs embrace after Vandagriff drove Griggs home to win in the bottom of the 7th inning in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
9 / 10
Photos: Alabama softball walks-off Kentucky in comeback Game 2 win
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama shortstop Salen Hawkins catches a throw with her bare hand to force out Kentucky base runner Peyton Plotts in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
10 / 10
Photos: Alabama softball walks-off Kentucky in comeback Game 2 win
April 18, 2026; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama batter Alexis Pupillo celebrates her two-run homer in game 2 of the weekend series at Rhoads Stadium as the Crimson Tide hosted Kentucky.
SEC teams battle for top spot in D1Softball, ESPN.com top 25 polls
The Sooners edged the Crimson Tide for No. 1 in both rankings this week. Both teams have two weekend series remaining in conference play. After hosting Georgia, Oklahoma closes the regular season at Texas A&M (34-12). Alabama hosts South Carolina (26-21) in its regular-season finale.
Nebraska rose to No. 3 in the ESPN/USA Softball Poll while Texas Tech held the third spot in D1Softball's rankings.
Alabama softball schedule 2026
Alabama faces UAB (20-26) at Mary Bowers Field in Birmingham Tuesday in the Crimson Tide's final midweek game of 2026. First pitch for Alabama-UAB is 6 p.m. CT.Ā The game can be seen on ESPN+.
The Crimson Tide visit Tennessee beginning Saturday. First pitch for the series opener is 3 p.m. CT. Game 1 of the series will stream on SEC Network+. Game 2 will be televised on ESPN2, and Game 3 can be seen on SEC Network.
Here's a look at Alabama's 2026 SEC softball schedule with final scores and scheduled start times. All times Central.
March 6-8: at Ole Miss (W, 5-3; W, 13-2; W, 2-1)
March 13-15: vs. Arkansas (W, 4-1; L, 14-9; W, 4-1)
