Razorbacks Debut at No. 8 in D1Softball Preseason Top 25 Poll

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas softball debuted at No. 8 in the D1Softball Preseason Top 25 Poll that was released on Tuesday morning.

The No. 8 ranking ties the highest in program history and marks the fourth time that the Hogs have earned a Top 10 ranking in the D1Softball Preseason Top 25. Arkansas was previously ranked 10th a year ago and garnered No. 8 rankings in the 2022 and 2023 preseason polls.  The Razorbacks have appeared in every D1Softball Preseason Top 25 since the poll’s inception in 2020.

The Razorbacks were one of 12 SEC programs to earn a spot in the poll, the most by any conference, followed by the ACC and Big Ten, which had six and four teams, respectively.

Arkansas opens its 30th season of play and 11th season under the direction of head coach Courtney Deifel in Conway, S.C., at the Kickin’ Chicken Classic (Feb. 6-8). The Razorbacks will commence the season by facing Virginia (9 a.m.) and Akron (11:30 a.m.) on Friday, Feb. 6. The Hogs are coming off a 44-14 mark in 2025, which featured their eighth-consecutive NCAA Tournament berth and fourth NCAA Super Regional appearance in program history, all of which have come under Deifel’s guidance

The Hogs return 349 total starts and 99.7 percent of innings pitched from a year ago, headlined by sophomore infielder Ella McDowell (58 starts, .352 avg., 10 2B, 7 HR, 54 RBI, .425 OBP), senior left-handed pitcher Robyn Herron (24 starts, 2.72 ERA, 18-7, 160 K), sophomore right-handed pitcher Payton Burnham (20 starts, 2.62 ERA, 16-2, 94 K) and senior center fielder Reagan Johnson (58 starts, .351 avg., 72 H, 20 SB, 53 R, .427 OBP). The Razorbacks also added a pair of transfers in two-time third-team NFCA All-America Dakota Kennedy in left field and two-time all-conference selection Tianna Bell at first base.

The D1Softball Poll is among four nationally recognized polls in Division I College Softball. Arkansas previously checked in at No. 7 in the Softball America Preseason Poll last week. The USA Softball/ESPN (Jan. 20) and NFCA/GoRout D1 Coaches (Jan. 27) preseason polls have yet to be unveiled.

For schedule updates and other news, go to ArkansasRazorbacks.com, or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram and Facebook.

2026 D1Softball Preseason Top 25 Poll

1. Texas
2. Texas Tech
3. Oklahoma
4. Tennessee
5. Florida
6. Oregon
7. Florida State
8. Arkansas
9. Nebraska
10. UCLA
11. Texas A&M
12. LSU
13. South Carolina
14. Alabama
15. Clemson
16. Duke
17. Georgia
18. Stanford
19. Oklahoma State
20. Virginia Tech
21. Arizona
22. Washington
23. Mississippi State
24. Ole Miss
25. Virginia

Receiving Votes: Florida Atlantic, Grand Canyon, UCF, Liberty, Ohio State, Arizona State, Auburn, Michigan, North Carolina, BYU, San Diego State