A new team has taken the No. 1 spot in the NCAA softball rankings after a tumultuous Week 11, where the top three teams lost midweek games. Alabama and Oklahoma both secured series wins over the weekend to maintain their rankings.
Key points
New team at No. 1 in NCAA softball rankings
Top three teams lost midweek games
Alabama lost to Samford 3-2
Oklahoma lost to Oklahoma State
Alabama swept Kentucky and Oklahoma won two of three against Arkansas
New team at No. 1 in NCAA softball top 25 rankings after wild week
Week 11 of the 2026 NCAA softball season was a wild one.
Each of the top three teams in the NFCA/GoRout Division I Top 25 Coaches Poll lost nonconference games in midweek action. The second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide suffered a bizarre 3-2 loss to the Samford Bulldogs on Tuesday in Birmingham.
One night later, the top-ranked Oklahoma Sooners fell to Oklahoma State, and No. 3 Texas Tech suffered a 3-0 shutout loss at Texas State. Both Alabama and Oklahoma rallied for series wins in SEC play over the weekend. The Crimson Tideswept last-place Kentucky on Sunday, and the Sooners took two of three from No. 8 Arkansas.
Alabama (42-4 overall, 15-3 conference) tied Oklahoma (42-6, 15-3) atop the SEC standings with two weekend series remaining for each team before the conference tournament begins on May 5 in Lexington, Kentucky.
The Tide and Sooners won't meet in the regular season, but Alabama visits Tennessee beginning Saturday while Oklahoma hosts Georgia starting Friday in separate top-25 series.
It's shaping up to be a memorable race for both the SEC regular-season title and conference tournament championship, as well as seeding for NCAA Tournament regionals and Super Regionals.
Yet with Oklahoma's 2-2 week, which included losing three of four games before Sunday's 11-1 win over Arkansas, coupled with Alabama's first loss in midweek play, there's a new No. 1 team Softball America top 25 rankings for the fourth consecutive week.
Q&A
Which team is currently ranked No. 1 in NCAA softball?
The current No. 1 team in NCAA softball is now different after Week 11's results, though the article does not specify which team it is.
What happened to Alabama and Oklahoma in the latest NCAA softball rankings?
Both Alabama and Oklahoma lost midweek games, but they managed to secure series wins over the weekend, impacting their rankings.
What were the results of the top three teams in NCAA softball last week?
The top three teams, Alabama, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech, all lost nonconference games during the week, with Alabama losing to Samford, Oklahoma falling to Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech shut out by Texas State.
How did Alabama and Oklahoma perform in their weekend series?
Alabama swept last-place Kentucky, while Oklahoma won two out of three games against No. 8 Arkansas.
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Softball America top 25 rankings: New No. 1 team after wild week in SEC
One team that was immune to any wackiness was in the Big Ten, where the Nebraska Cornhuskers swept Minnesota over the weekend for their 11th straight win and third straight sweep in conference play. Nebraska (36-6 overall, 17-1 conference) rose two spots to No. 1 after outscoring the Gophers, 32-4, in Minneapolis.
As for Alabama and Oklahoma, the SEC's top two teams in the standings each fell one spot apiece. The Sooners dropped to No. 2 with the Crimson Tide at No. 3. Texas Tech stayed at No. 4, and UCLA rose one spot to round out the top five.
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
Photos: Alabama softball walks-off Kentucky in comeback Game 2 win
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.
Alabama softball schedule 2026: Who do Crimson Tide play next?
Alabama will face UAB (20-26) at Mary Bowers Field in Birmingham on Tuesday in midweek play. First pitch for Alabama-UAB is 6 p.m. CT.Ā The game can be seen on ESPN+.
The Crimson Tide then visit the Lady Vols (37-7) for their next three-game series in SEC play. First pitch for Saturday's 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 will broadcast 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)
