LSU softball is ranked No. 20 in the 2023 ESPN.com/USA Softball preseason poll that was released this week.
The Tigers, 34-23 last season, is ranked for the 17th consecutive season in the poll.
LSU is one of nine teams from the Southeastern Conference ranked in the Top 25, including three in the Top 10. Florida, Arkansas and Alabama are ranked Nos. 5-6-7 and the Tigers host No. 1 and reigning national champion Oklahoma on April 11 at 6 p.m.
LSU returns 13 letter winners from last year and seven starters. Among those starters are five All-SEC and NFCA All-Region selections in Ciara Briggs, Georgia Clark, Danieca Coffey, Ali Kilponen and Taylor Pleasants.
LSU opens the season with its own LSU Invitational New Mexico, No. 25 Oregon State and Nicholls State on Feb. 10-12.
Rank, School (First-Place Votes), Points, 2021 Record, Final 2021 Ranking
- Oklahoma (25), 625 pts, 59-3, No. 1
- UCLA, 596 pts, 51-10, No. 3
- Oklahoma State, 559 pts, 48-14, No. 4
- Florida State, 497 pts, 54-7, No. 13
- Florida, 481 pts, 49-19, No. 5
- Arkansas, 464 pts, 48-11, No. 8
- Alabama, 437 pts, 44-13, No. 17
- Northwestern, 429 pts, 45-13, No. 6
- Texas, 411 pts, 47-22-1, No. 2
- Clemson, 410 pts, 42-17, No. 14
- Virginia Tech, 357 pts, 46-10, No. 9
- Tennessee, 346 pts, 41-18, No. 19
- Georgia, 291 pts, 43-18, No. 23
- Stanford, 286 pts, 39-22, T-No. 15
- Arizona, 249 pts, 39-22, No. 7
- Washington, 239 pts, 38-17, No. 18
- Kentucky, 223 pts, 37-19, No. 21
- UCF, 216 pts, 49-14, T-No. 15
- Duke, 193 pts, 44-11, No. 12
- LSU, 179 pts, 34-23, RV
- Auburn, 124 pts, 40-17, RV
- Oregon, 103 pts, 33-19, No. 25
- Missouri, 88 pts, 38-22, No. 22
- UL-Lafayette, 68 pts, 47-13, RV
- Oregon State, 65 pts, 39-22, No. 10
Others receiving votes: Ole Miss (51), Mississippi State (43), North Texas (13), Arizona State (12), Notre Dame (12), San Diego State (11), Michigan (9), Wichita State (9), Nebraska (7), Baylor (5), Louisville (5), Ohio State (4), Cal State Fullerton (2), LMU (2), Minnesota (2), Boise State (1), BYU (1).
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