I filled out my 2026 softball bracket, and it was not fun or easy this year. I picked the winners of each regional, eight picks for Oklahoma City, and a champion to win it all. Here are my picks:
👉 Click here for the complete bracket
Starting on the top left — Bama got a sneaky tough regional for the 1-seed with one of the best pitchers in the country, Maya Johnson, in their regional. BUT, I am still going with the Tide. This pitching staff is so deep, and I think they make it through based on that.
I have an upset next with Virginia Tech making it out of LSU’s regional, facing off against Bama in a super. I picked Florida State to match up with UCLA in a super regional, one of my favorite hypothetical matchups. UCLA has a rematch with South Carolina — last year’s super matchup. South Carolina could be a tough one, but I think the bats of UCLA are just too strong. Hard to beat when you have Megan Grant and Jordan Woolery. I have Arkansas making it out of their regional, facing Duke. And then Oklahoma State, I have coming out of their regional with Ruby Meylan on a roll, and the Cowgirls are hot at the right time. Facing Nebraska in what could be an epic super regional with two of the best pitchers in the country.
The 2026 National Seeds! 👀
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball)
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Top right of the bracket, I have Oklahoma vs. Mississippi State in a super. Picking Mississippi State to upset Oregon with what I think is a dangerous pitching duo of Peja Goold and Alyssa Faircloth. I then have Texas Tech vs. Florida and Tennessee vs. Georgia. And another upset pick I have is Arizona State, led by Kenzie Brown, making it out of Texas A&M’s regional to face Texas in the supers.
Let bracket reveal begin ⏰ x 🎥 ESPN2
— NCAA Softball (@NCAASoftball)
Okay, now here are my 8 picks for OKC. I have Alabama making it past Virginia Tech, again, deep pitching staff, a lot of bats in the lineup. Great coaching with Patrick Murphy.
FSU vs. UCLA was my toughest pick, and I went back and forth a million times. I can see it going either way. Ultimately, I went with the Bruins because I just think the lineup is too hard to slow down. Megan and Jordan end their senior year on a mission. Next, I have Arkansas, the Razorbacks go under the radar with how good they are. A stacked lineup led by Dakota Kennedy and then a deep pitching staff. I have a huge upset pick here with Oklahoma State taking down Nebraska to head to OKC. The Cowgirls have shown they can beat some of the best teams in the country, and they are doing it at the right time. Plus, we know Ruby Meylan can go the distance and will look to do so in her last season. Going to be tough, though, with Jordy Frahm leading the way. This was my biggest and riskiest upset pick.
I have Oklahoma making it back to OKC. Despite the lower seeding for Texas Tech, I think NiJaree Canady and the Red Raider offense make it through Florida and back to OKC. They have TOO much talent.
Another upset pick — and it could go either way. Georgia over Tennessee to OKC. The Dawgs, again, are hot at the right time. And sometimes that is what matters at the end of the season. Georgia took down Oklahoma in the SEC tournament, a team they had been swept by earlier this year. The Dawgs and Vols haven't played this year, so they are going in with an open mind and on a mission. The bats are hot, led by Jadyn Goodwin, and the pitching was impressive at the SEC tournament. Bold pick but going with the Dawgs.
And then I have Texas over Arizona State, making it back to OKC.
Now for champ pick. Literally, I could pick any of these teams to win it all, but I narrowed it down to Bama, Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma. Could Bama win as the one-seed, absolutely. OU could make it back to the top with freshman slugger Kendall Wells. And Texas could repeat. Texas Tech is arguably the deepest team when it all comes together, plus they will be motivated to prove everyone wrong.
I changed my mind 80 times, and I will 100 more, but I am going with the Red Raiders. Ninja, in her last season, has helped in the circle. And a lineup that can go toe to toe with anyone when they put it all together.
Let’s go, Texas Tech.
