Texas softball is projected as the No. 3 overall NCAA seed as the Longhorns prepare for the SEC and NCAA postseason.
Texas softball is almost certainly staying home to begin its national title defense.
The defending national champion Longhorns are projected as the No. 3 overall seed in USA TODAY Sports’ latest NCAA softball bracketology, putting Texas in a strong position to host a regional when the tournament field is revealed.
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Texas enters the final regular-season weekend at 38-8 overall and 15-6 in SEC play. The Longhorns are ranked No. 6 nationally by Softball America and sit No. 2 in RPI, a major metric used by the NCAA selection committee.
That resume should make Texas one of the safest bets to host a regional, even before the SEC Tournament begins May 5 in Lexington, Kentucky.
The bigger question is whether the Longhorns can climb even higher.
The SEC is dominating the top of the projected bracket. Oklahoma is listed as the projected No. 1 overall seed after a 46-6 start, followed by Alabama at No. 2, Texas at No. 3, Tennessee at No. 4 and Arkansas at No. 5. Florida also gives the league another projected top-eight seed at No. 7.
That means the SEC Tournament could still carry major seeding consequences, especially with Oklahoma, Alabama, Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas and Florida all positioned near the top of the national picture.
For Texas, the path is clear. A strong finish in the regular season and a deep run in Lexington could strengthen its argument for a top-two seed or even keep the Longhorns in the No. 1 overall seed conversation.
Selection Sunday is set for May 10, one day after the SEC Tournament concludes. The top 16 national seeds will host regionals, and Texas appears safely inside that group.
Now comes the real test. The Longhorns already have the championship pedigree. The next two weeks will determine how favorable their road back to Oklahoma City becomes.
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