The Oklahoma Sooners have proven time and time again under Patty Gasso that they belong among the best in college softball every season, but none of that proof has come in 2026 yet.
The Sooners continued their rare situation of being outside of the top 3 as national rankings were released after Week 4 of the college softball season. However, even at 20-2 and with a history like the Sooners, there's no need to argue that OU is underrated in 2026, at least not yet.
The ESPN / USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 Poll and D1Softball Top 25 both had the Sooners inside the top 5 this week at No. 4. Softball America and the NFCA Coaches Poll, however, were lower on OU, with the Sooners outside of the top 5 at No. 6, and although that seems extremely low for a Gasso-coached squad, it's really right where the Sooners belong based on what they've accomplished in 2026, not before.
OU softball outside of top 5 in national rankings
Ahead of the Sooners in the Softball America rankings were Tennessee, Texas Tech, Texas, Alabama and Arkansas, respectively. Every team above OU has less losses, with No. 1 Tennessee and No. 4 Bama still unbeaten at 19-0. Most to this point have gotten through schedules made up mostly of cupcakes, including the Sooners, so number of losses is the fairest way to gauge a team's success this early in the season while rewarding those who have sought more competition.
No. 1 Tennessee and No. 2 Texas Tech both went looking for a challenge in the Clearwater Classic. There, Tennessee notched ranked wins over then-No. 11 Nebraska, then-No. 23 Florida Atlantic, then-No. 6 UCLA and then-No. 7 Florida State. Tech went 5-1 while beating FSU, Northwestern, FAU, NC State and James Madison with a loss to Nebraska.
The Sooners' extra loss mixed with a lack of impressive wins to make up for it is what's weighing them down the most right now. OU's second loss came against Long Beach State in one of the biggest upsets in college softball history. Long Beach State is 12-8 overall this season and just 4-4 since taking down the Sooners. OU's other loss was to then-No. 17 Arizona in the second game of the season just a day after needing a late two-run homer to fend off Arizona State.
Meanwhile, every team ranked above OU has not only lost to only other Power Four programs, but to nothing but teams currently ranked. Nebraska was responsible for Texas Tech and Texas' only losses, while 19-1 Virginia beat Arkansas.
The argument for the Sooners, though, are some offensive stats that are on pace to shatter records. OU is averaging 14.0 runs through 21 games and leading the country in nearly every offensive category. The Sooners have been incredible at the plate no matter the opponent, but their numbers are still bolstered thanks to blowouts against the likes of UTEP, Alabama State, Montana and New Mexico State.
It's also no secret that OU pitching has struggled, especially when it's not ace Audrey Lowry in the circle.
Gasso also used a similar scheduling strategy last season as she knew her young team would have to eventually endure an SEC gauntlet for the first time. Loading the front half of the season with powder puffs tallied wins and got the Sooners in a groove, but it killed their RPI, and OU spent the entire SEC slate digging out of that hole.
By the end, though, the Sooners were fourth in RPI rankings and finished a game shy of returning to the Women's College World Series Championship Series. And the champion, Texas, was a team OU swept during the regular season.
So the Sooners are not underrated, yet. And voters can't be blamed for only taking into account what's happened the first four weeks and not what will likely happen based on history.
That means the number next to the OU logo this early in the season is not a big deal and no reason for OU fans to start counting out the dynasty. Gasso is not concerned about March, but June, and championships aren't voted on.