With just some weeks left within the common season, the SEC softball standings don’t seem like what many anticipated again in February. The same old suspects are nonetheless within the combine, however the script has flipped: Texas and Oklahoma — the 2 latest additions — have dropped pivotal video games, whereas Tennessee and Texas A&M are surging on the excellent time. LSU and Florida are hanging round with lots left to play for. And the chaos? It is peaking.
In a convention recognized for its nationwide title contenders, the SEC race feels unusually open, and it might keep that approach by way of the match. Right here’s a take a look at how we obtained right here, who’s trending up and which numbers matter most down the stretch.
Texas is making an announcement — quick
The Longhorns (13-5 SEC, 41-6 general) didn’t waste time adjusting to their new convention. Actually, they’re practically main it. Texas took down LSU (2-1) in an exhilarating collection this previous weekend and enters the stretch with some momentum. The offense is clicking at an elite degree — the Longhorns lead the SEC in batting common (.361) and slugging (.601),
Texas has cooled off barely in SEC play, however Reese Atwood continues to be mashing. She leads the cost with 16 homers, a .417 common and 62 RBIs, however she’s removed from alone. 5 starters are hitting over .400, whereas Katie Stewart and Joley Mitchell have pushed in 40+ runs.
Nevertheless it received’t be straightforward from right here. Texas nonetheless has a highway collection at Oklahoma and a regular-season finale towards Kentucky, with the SEC match looming after that.
TOO FAST 🤘#HookEm pic.twitter.com/TRh9u7v4xd
— Texas Softball (@TexasSoftball) April 19, 2025
Tennessee’s pitching dominance has saved it shut
The Woman Vols have but to seem in a WCWS, however are proper behind Texas within the standings — and look each bit like a contender this time round.
Tennessee (12-6 SEC, 37-9 general) is driving a five-game win streak and at the moment leads the SEC in workforce ERA (1.73), because of the one-two punch of Karlyn Pickens and Sage Mardjetko. They’ve mixed for over 280 strikeouts and have held SEC opponents to .316 on the plate.
Regardless of a tricky midseason loss to Arkansas, the Woman Vols have bounced again with key collection wins over each different SEC opponent to date. They’ll end with a three-game collection towards Texas A&M, which has but to win an SEC match.
A take a look at the present prime contenders:
| Group | SEC File | General File | RPI (as of Apr. 20) | SEC Rank in ERA | SEC Rank in BA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas A&M | 13-4 | 39-6 | Prime 5 | fifth (2.60) | 4th (.344) |
| Oklahoma | 13-5 | 39-5 | Prime 10 | 4th (2.53) | sixth (.329) |
| Texas | 13-5 | 41-6 | Prime 10 | 2nd (2.12) | 1st (.361) |
| Tennessee | 12-6 | 37-9 | Prime 10 | 1st (1.73) | eleventh (.315) |
| Florida | 11-7 | 39-10 | Prime 5 | sixth (2.69) | third (.345) |
| Arkansas | 10-8 | 34-9 | Prime 10 | seventh (2.74) | fifth (.337) |
The center of the pack might be title-breakers
Texas was the most well liked workforce within the SEC by way of March, opening convention play 7-2, however has since cooled off with a collection loss to Tennessee. Nonetheless, the Longhorns (13-5 SEC) stay in putting distance and have one of many convention’s most full lineups, hitting .361 as a workforce.
Florida has quietly was one of many SEC’s most resilient and harmful groups. The Gators, now 39-10 general and 11-7 within the SEC, have taken collection towards Texas A&M and Auburn whereas lately bouncing again from a sweep by Texas with a pair of wins over Alabama. Their offense, led by Kendra Falby (.465 AVG, 33 stolen bases) and Taylor Shumaker (.380 AVG, 16 HR), is each fast and highly effective.
Pitching, too, has stabilized behind a dependable rotation that includes Ava Brown (10-1, 2.64 ERA) and Katelynn Oxley (2.13 ERA). Florida doesn’t boast the flashiest workers within the convention, however it’s one of many deepest — and it’s exhibiting late within the season. The Gators nonetheless face a difficult near their schedule, however they’ve confirmed they will win each slugfests and tight video games.
KORBE WALKOFF x @korbeotis
GATORS TAKE THE SERIES 🐊
📺 ESPN2 | #GoGators pic.twitter.com/m2etCmiNtQ
— Gators Softball (@GatorsSB) April 19, 2025
Oklahoma, in the meantime, continues to be firmly within the combine at 13-5 within the convention, regardless of some current turbulence. The Sooners — four-time defending nationwide champions — dropped back-to-back SEC collection to Tennessee and Alabama, however they’ve rebounded with a sweep of Mississippi State. Offensively, the Sooners stay elite, powered by Kasidi Pickering (.431 AVG, 13 HR) and Nelly McEnroe-Marinas (13 HR, 43 RBI). Their .330 workforce common is paired with 84 residence runs, tied with Florida for the SEC lead.
Pitching is just not as dominant as in previous years, however Sam Landry (15-3, 1.89 ERA) has anchored a workers with a 2.53 workforce ERA and a .205 opposing batting common. With upcoming collection towards Texas and Florida nonetheless on the docket, the Sooners have an opportunity to make a remaining assertion earlier than the SEC match.
The SEC’s depth is absurd — and it issues
This isn’t only a six-team race. The depth of the convention implies that groups like Arkansas, Alabama, Mississippi State and South Carolina can swing the title race at any second. Simply ask Oklahoma, who dropped a collection to the Tide, or LSU, who should end the season towards each Arkansas and Florida.
Right here’s a take a look at how every contender has fared towards ranked SEC opponents this 12 months:
| Group | Sequence Wins vs. Ranked SEC Groups | Notable SERIES Losses |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | vs. LSU (2-1), at Florida (2-1), Mississippi State (2-1) | vs. Tennessee (1-2) |
| Tennessee | vs. Oklahoma (2-1), at Texas (2-1) | vs. Arkansas (1-2) |
| Texas A&M | vs. LSU (3-0), at Auburn (3-0) | vs. Florida (1-2) |
| Oklahoma | vs. South Carolina (3-0), vs. Mississippi State (3-0) | vs. Tennessee (1-2), at Alabama (1-2) |
| Florida | at Texas A&M (2-1), Ole Miss (2-1) | vs. Texas (1-2), Arkansas (1-2) |
| LSU | vs. Kentucky (3-0), at Georgia (2-1) | vs. Texas A&M (0-3), at Texas (1-2) |
The chaos continues
The ultimate stretch of the season might shake up every part.
Texas faces its hardest take a look at but at Oklahoma this weekend. Tennessee takes on Clemson and Ole Miss, two top-25 groups. Texas A&M has Arkansas and the Vols forward. And don’t sleep on Oklahoma — the Sooners get a shot at Florida, the reigning SEC champs, of their remaining regular-season collection.
The SEC match begins Might 6 in Athens, Georgia, and by then, the race for the highest seed might come right down to the ultimate day of the common season.
In case you’re on the lookout for readability, good luck. In case you’re on the lookout for chaos, this SEC season has delivered.
