LSU softball neared the top 10 on two major pre-season polls ahead of the regular season opener next month.
The Tigers were ranked No. 12 in Softball America’s poll and No. 13 in USA Softball’s poll for the 2026 season. LSU has consistently ranked in the top-25 pre-season polls under head coach Beth Torina’s leadership.
Last season, LSU ranked at No. 9 in USA Softball’s pre-season poll, marking the first time they had ranked in the top 10 since 2020, where they came in at No. 5.
While the post-season end result hasn’t always been what Tiger fans want to see in recent years, the consistency and development of this team are often reflected by these polls.
Softball America’s polls have Texas Tech at No. 1 and Texas at No. 2 to kickstart the pre-season ranks. Texas is the reigning NCAA Women’s College World Series champion and is projected to be just as groundbreaking as they were last season.
In regards to LSU, the Tigers are 7-5 against the Longhorns with a 3-2 record at home in Tiger Park. While Texas won its last series in 2025 against LSU after a surprising walk-off in late innings, the Tigers had been able to keep pace with the No. 3 team at the time.
Historically, the Tigers hold a 6-1 record in all-time matchups against Texas Tech, but will not play them during this 2026 regular season.
Four additional SEC teams that are ahead of LSU in Softball America’s polls include No. 3 Oklahoma, No. 4 Tennessee, No. 6 Florida and No. 8 Arkansas.
Against the No. 3 and No. 4 teams, the Tigers have had their fair share of work. LSU is 8-12 against the Sooners and 31-40 against the Lady Vols in every meetup.
As for the No. 6 and No. 8 team, LSU looks to potentially influence the rankings and climb their way to the top with an advantage. The Tigers record a 34-7 all-time advantage over Arkansas while having a pretty split record against the Gators, sitting at 39-40 all time.
On USA Softball’s pre-season poll, with LSU being ranked one position lower than Softball America, there are six SEC teams above LSU with the addition of Texas A&M. Facing the Aggies, the Tigers have a 21-16 record.
A few other SEC teams also join the top 25 rankings on the two major polls: South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Ole Miss and Mississippi State.
The SEC looks to remain a vigorous conference in terms of pre-season evaluations and performance. Good thing for the Tigers, Torina knows how to handle that competition.
With key field returners like catcher Maci Bergeron and first baseman Tori Edwards, along with a solid pitching rotation in Jayden Heavener and Taum Clopton, LSU’s roster is certainly prepared to compete for another season. With notable portal pickups and newcomer additions on top of that, the Tigers won’t be backing down from competition any time soon.
The pre-season polls can allude to a few things about a team, and for the Tigers, it’s that the start of the 2026 season looks hopeful. Only time will tell when LSU hosts its first matchup against North Carolina State in the Tiger Classic on Feb. 5.
