The NCAA Division I Softball Championship Sport Committee revealed its second top 10 ranking of the season on Saturday during the Auburn vs. Alabama game.
For the second time this season, the committee selected Florida as the No. 1 team in the nation. The Gators are 46-5 overall and 20-3 in SEC action with games played through May 3.
Take a look at the second Top 10 ranking by the NCAA DI Softball Committee! #NCAASoftball pic.twitter.com/tuDAf1F8t4
— NCAA Softball (@NCAAsoftball) May 7, 2017
“There have been many competitive games since our last top-10 ranking two weeks ago,” said Keisha Dunlap, chair of the committee and Senior Associate Commissioner at Conference USA. “This ranking provided another chance for the committee to engage with the eight regional advisory committees and discuss the top teams. It reinforces how exciting this last week of the regular season and upcoming conference tournaments will be.”
Florida State earned the second spot with a 48-3-1 overall record and unblemished 24-0 mark in ACC play. Arizona is ranked No. 3 at 47-5, including a 17-4 record in Pac-12 competition. Washington follows at No. 4 with a 38-10 record and 11-7 mark in Pac-12 play. The Huskies are 9-1 in their last 10 games, with a lone 4-1 loss to Oregon.
Auburn rounds out the top five with a 43-8 record and a 15-6 record against its SEC opponents. The remainder of the top 10 includes Oregon, Minnesota, Tennessee, Texas A&M and UCLA.
This ranking announcement will have no bearing on the final bracket, which will be revealed at 10 p.m. ET Sunday, May 14, on the NCAA Division I Softball Selection Show, on ESPN2.
The ranking is based on the criteria used to select and seed the 64 teams for the Division I Softball Championship and include strength of schedule, Rating Percentage Index, head-to-head competition, results versus common opponents, significant wins and losses and locations of contests. Additionally, input is provided by the regional advisory committees for consideration by the Division I Softball Committee.
Top 10 ranking (record as of games played through May 3):
1. Florida (46-5)
2. Florida St. (48-3-1)
3. Arizona (47-5)
4. Washington (38-10)
5. Auburn (43-8)
6. Oregon (41-6)
7. Minnesota (48-3)
8. Tennessee (42-8)
9. Texas A&M (41-7)
10. UCLA (37-12)
