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Oklahoma Softball Drops to No. 5 Despite Dominant Weekend
The Sooners beat UTEP 34-0 on Sunday but fell a spot in the rankings.
Published on Feb. 18, 2026
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Even after a dominant weekend where Oklahoma softball beat its opponents 91-9 in five games, the team fell a spot to No. 5 in the NFCA/GoRout Division I softball poll released Tuesday. The Sooners were previously tied for No. 4 with Florida, but the Gators broke the tie with a perfect 7-0 week. Tennessee moved to the top spot in the rankings after sweeping through the Clearwater Invitational with wins over several ranked opponents.
Why it matters
Oklahoma softball has been one of the top teams in the country, but the rankings shuffle shows how competitive the landscape is this season. Despite their impressive performance, the Sooners were unable to move up in the polls, highlighting the depth and parity in Division I softball.
The details
Oklahoma dominated its trip to New Mexico and El Paso, Texas, including winning its final game of the trip 34-0 over UTEP on Sunday. The Sooners' 38 home runs are the most in the country, with no other team having more than 30. However, Florida's perfect week and Tennessee's success against ranked opponents pushed Oklahoma down in the rankings.
- On Sunday, Oklahoma beat UTEP 34-0.
- The NFCA/GoRout Division I softball poll was released on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
The players
Oklahoma Sooners
The Oklahoma softball team, which is currently ranked No. 5 in the country.
Florida Gators
The Florida softball team, which was previously tied with Oklahoma at No. 4 but broke the tie with a perfect 7-0 week.
Tennessee Volunteers
The Tennessee softball team, which moved to the top spot in the rankings after sweeping through the Clearwater Invitational with wins over several ranked opponents.
What’s next
The Sooners return to action at 7:30 p.m. Thursday against Cal State Fullerton at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, California. The trip includes a ranked matchup against Duke at 3 p.m. Friday in the tournament.
The takeaway
Despite their dominant performance, Oklahoma's inability to move up in the rankings highlights the highly competitive nature of Division I softball this season. The Sooners will have opportunities to prove themselves against ranked opponents in the coming weeks, but the rankings shuffle shows how difficult it is to maintain a top spot in the crowded landscape of college softball.
