Maybe SEC softball coaches aren't yet familiar with Patty Gasso's Oklahoma Sooners.
Entering their first season in the conference, the Sooners were picked to finish third in the 2025 SEC Softball Coaches Preseason Poll, which is voted on by coaches in the league.
OU was behind Texas and Florida, respectively. Texas and Florida were also ranked ahead of the Sooners in every national preseason poll.
🥎 @TexasSoftball named 2025 preseason favorite by @SEC softball coaches!https://t.co/FjbudQ7Gyb | #SECSB pic.twitter.com/G2pctX8eJU
— Southeastern Conference (@SEC) January 30, 2025
If the SEC coaches' predictions come true, it would be the first season since 2011 that the Sooners wouldn't win a conference championship, other than 2020 when the season was canceled early because of COVID-19.
The Sooners have won four national titles in a row. They swept Texas last season in the Women's College World Series Championship Series. OU also beat Florida to get to the finals.
Despite the recent success, the lack of preseason hype for the Sooners comes after losing a legendary senior class and returning only eight players from last season. Between transfer portal additions and incoming freshmen, 13 players wear crimson and cream for the first time in 2025.
OU's 2025 season will start with a weekend trip to California. The Sooners will open the season against California State Northridge on Thursday in San Diego. OU will then play San Diego State that same day.
The Sooners will get preseason favorites Texas and Florida in back-to-back weekend series late in the season right before the SEC Tournament. First, OU will host the Longhorns for the Red River Rivalry on April 25-27.
OU will then travel to Gainesville, Florida, to play the Gators on May 1-3. Florida will also host Texas early in the season on March 15-17.
With seeding likely not being decided until days before, the SEC Tournament will start May 6 in Athens, Georgia.