Softball Opens Season Ranked 22nd Nationally in Coaches’ Poll
November 5, 2025
KANSAS CITY, Mo. -After a stellar performance to come back through the elimination bracket at the 2025 NAIA Softball World Series, Southern Oregon will step to the plate ranked No. 1 as the Raiders defend their title, receiving 17 first-place votes. Oklahoma City, Eastern Oregon, and Georgia Gwinnett will begin the year ranked second through fourth, respectively.
Reinhardt (Ga.), who was the first ever five seed to win their opening round pod, will begin the season at No. 18.
The regular season will get underway on January 22, 2026, when the first countable games can be played.
| Rank | Institution [First-Place Votes] | 2025 Record | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Southern Oregon [17] | 55-9 | 450 |
| 2 | Oklahoma City | 53-11 | 435 |
| 3 | Eastern Oregon | 38-11 | 418 |
| 4 | Georgia Gwinnett | 48-10 | 398 |
| 5 | Marian (Ind.) | 48-9 | 375 |
| 6 | Grand View (Iowa) | 42-16 | 373 |
| 7 | Cumberlands (Ky.) | 40-9 | 357 |
| 8 | Central Methodist (Mo.) | 42-11 | 343 |
| 9 | Science & Arts (Okla.) | 50-9 | 340 |
| 10 | Oregon Tech | 45-11 | 321 |
| 11 | Midland (Neb.) | 40-18 | 282 |
| 12 | Our Lady of the Lake (Texas) | 47-9 | 280 |
| 13 | LSU Alexandria (La.) | 47-9 | 273 |
| 14 | Madonna (Mich.) | 45-10 | 247 |
| 15 | Reinhardt (Ga.) | 32-12 | 238 |
| 16 | Missouri Baptist | 46-8 | 235 |
| 17 | Northwestern (Iowa) | 48-13 | 207 |
| 18 | St. Thomas (Fla.) | 46-8 | 199 |
| 19 | Southeastern (Fla.) | 42-11 | 184 |
| 20 | Indiana Wesleyan | 44-11 | 162 |
| 21 | Hope International (Calif.) | 37-15 | 149 |
| 22 | Texas A&M University - Texarkana | 41-12 | 121 |
| 23 | Saint Xavier (Ill.) | 37-8 | 119 |
| 24 | Rio Grande (Ohio) | 46-11 | 90 |
| 25 | Evangel (Mo.) | 42-12 | 75 |
| Receiving Votes: Mobile (Ala.) 50; Friends (Kan.) 44; College of Idaho 39; William Carey (Miss.) 18; Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) 16; Baker (Kan.) 13; Campbellsville (Ky.) 11; Morningside (Iowa) 9; Tennessee Southern 8; Benedictine (Kan.) 6; Keiser (Fla.) 5; British Columbia 5; Indiana Tech 3; Coastal Georgia (Ga.) 2 |
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