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ESPN
Feb 18, 2025, 12:40 PM ET
Welcome to Week 3 of the 2025 college softball season. Over the weekend, we saw a few notable upsets and excellent play from the Clearwater Invitational. So how do the best programs in softball stack up now after all the action?
There has been movement in the top 10 after Florida, UCLA and Texas A&M suffered losses. San Diego State and Liberty made debuts into the rankings after impressive performances down in Clearwater. And tough losses for Alabama, Missouri and Oklahoma State have those programs sliding.
Here’s the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 ranking, plus our play of the week and what to watch for in Week 3.
Play of the week
How about a triple play to seal the deal? After losing to Pitt earlier in the weekend, Houston sought revenge and ultimately came out on top. The Cougars’ triple play to win it was the first of the 2025 season. Houston sits at 8-2 on the season and will ride into this week on a three-game win streak.
A TRIPLE PLAY TO END IT‼️@NCAASoftball x #SCTop10 x @ESPNAssignDesk pic.twitter.com/L0zi9jMk7J
— Houston Softball (@UHCougarSB) February 16, 2025
Player to watch
Michaela Edenfield, C, Florida State. All eyes were on the Seminoles at the Clearwater Invitational, thanks partly to Edenfield. She had nine RBIs, including three home runs, for a .700 batting average over the weekend. She is known to many as “Area 51” because of her jersey number and her home run-hitting ability (she ranks fourth in FSU history with 46 career homers). Edenfield is an X factor to watch for FSU throughout this season.
What to watch
No. 6 Tennessee vs. No. 4 UCLA (Friday at 6:30 p.m.)
Who doesn’t love an early-season top-10 matchup? This year’s Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic is sure to bring a lot of fun and it’s highlighted by this game. UCLA is looking to get back on track after losing a heartbreaker to Virginia in the Clearwater Invitational, while Tennessee glided through its weekend unscathed. The Vols’ top hitter, Taylor Pannell — who looks to keep her eight-game hit streak going — facing off against UCLA’s elite pitching staff will be must-see TV.
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Here is the ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 ranking, plus each team’s next game.
All times Eastern.
1. Texas (25 first-place votes)
Previous rank: 1
2025 record: 11-0
Next game: vs. Akron (Wednesday), 7 p.m. on SECN+
2. Oklahoma
Previous rank: 3
2025 record: 10-0
Next game: vs. Abilene Christian (Saturday), 1 p.m. on SECN+
3. Florida
Previous rank: 2
2025 record: 13-1
Next game: at North Florida (Wednesday), 6 p.m.
4. UCLA
Previous rank: 4
2025 record: 9-1
Next game: vs. Missouri (Thursday), 8 p.m.
5. LSU
Previous rank: 7
2025 record: 10-0
Next game: vs. Penn State (Friday), 4:30 p.m. on SECN+
6. Texas A&M
Previous rank: 5
2025 record: 10-1
Next game: vs. Florida A&M (Friday), 10 a.m.
7. Tennessee
Previous rank: 6
2025 record: 10-1
Next game: vs. Oregon (Thursday), 3:30 p.m.
8. Florida State
Previous rank: 9
2025 record: 8-1
Next game: vs. Florida A&M (Thursday), 3:30 p.m. on ACCN Extra
9. Georgia
Previous rank: 11
2025 record: 9-0
Next game: vs. Buffalo (Thursday), 3 p.m. on SECN+
10. Arkansas
Previous rank: 13
2025 record: 10-0
Next game: vs. Rutgers (Thursday), 12:30 p.m.
11. Arizona
Previous rank: 15
2025 record: 10-1
Next game: vs. Stanford (Thursday), 7 p.m. on ESPN+
12. Texas Tech
Previous rank: 8
2025 record: 8-3
Next game: vs. UTEP (Thursday), 6 p.m. on ESPN+
13. Oklahoma State
Previous rank: 10
2025 record: 5-4
Next game: at SIU Edwardsville (Friday), 1 p.m.
14. Duke
Previous rank: 14
2025 record: 7-3
Next game: vs. Nebraska (Friday), 4 p.m.
15. Nebraska
Previous rank: 17
2025 record: 8-2
Next game: vs. Baylor (Thursday), 5:30 p.m.
16. Mississippi State
Previous rank: 19
2025 record: 9-1
Next game: vs. Samford (Tuesday), 5 p.m. on ESPN+
17. Virginia Tech
Previous rank: 18
2025 record: 8-2
Next game: vs. Drake (Friday), 2:30 p.m.
18. Auburn
Previous rank: Unranked
2025 record: 11-0
19. Oregon
Previous rank: 20
2025 record: 10-1
Next game: vs. California (Thursday), 1 p.m.
20. Stanford
Previous rank: 22
2025 record: 9-0
Next game: vs. UC Davis (Thursday), 4:30 p.m.
21. Alabama
Previous rank: 12
2025 record: 5-5
Next game: vs. Jacksonville State (Tuesday), 7:30 p.m.
22. Missouri
Previous rank: 16
2025 record: 6-5
Next game: vs. Rutgers (Thursday), 3:30 p.m.
23. San Diego State
Previous rank: Unranked
2025 record: 8-2
Next game: vs. Oregon (Friday), 4 p.m.
24. South Carolina
Previous rank: Unranked
2025 record: 10-0
Next game: vs. North Carolina (Tuesday), 6 p.m. on ESPN+
25. Liberty
Previous rank: Unranked
2025 record: 10-0
Next game: vs. Hofstra (Friday), 12 p.m.
