Arkansas Razorbacks softball has been ranked No. 9 in the NFCA/GoRout Division I Preseason Top 25 Poll, which was released on Tuesday. This marks the program’s fourth top-15 preseason ranking in the last five years and its eighth consecutive appearance in the poll.
The team was previously ranked 14th in 2025, 16th in 2024, seventh in 2023, and eighth in 2022. Arkansas will begin its 30th season of play and its 11th under head coach Courtney Deifel at the Kickin’ Chicken Classic in Conway, South Carolina from February 6 to February 8. The Razorbacks are scheduled to face Virginia and Akron on Friday, February 6.
Last season, Arkansas finished with a record of 44-14. The team made its eighth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance and reached an NCAA Super Regional for the fourth time—all under Deifel’s leadership.
Returning players account for nearly all starts and innings pitched from last year. Key returners include sophomore infielder Ella McDowell (58 starts), senior pitcher Robyn Herron (24 starts), sophomore pitcher Payton Burnham (20 starts), and senior center fielder Reagan Johnson (58 starts). The roster also features new additions Dakota Kennedy, a two-time third-team NFCA All-America selection, and Tianna Bell, a two-time all-conference first baseman.
The NFCA/GoRout DI Preseason Poll is one of four major national polls for Division I college softball teams. Arkansas also holds high positions in other preseason rankings: No. 7 by Softball America and No. 8 by both USA Softball/ESPN and D1Softball.
For more information about schedules or updates on the team, fans can visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com or follow @RazorbackSB on X, Instagram, or Facebook.
The top five teams listed in this year’s poll are Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Oregon.
