Texas Tech, after its 6-0 start to the season, is the new undisputed No. 1 softball team in the country this week.
LUBBOCK, Texas - There is a new undisputed No. 1 team in the country.
Texas Tech has swept through the McNeese Tournament, scraped through a ranked game on the road, and added a pair more run-rules to begin the 2026 softball season a perfect 6-0.
As a result, the Red Raiders are officially the top-ranked team in the land, according to each of the reputable top-25 polls (NFCA, D1 Softball, USA Softball, Softball America).
Texas Tech maintained it's top positioning after beating No. 11 Texas A&M, and run-ruling Providence and Bryant over the weekend in College Station.
In the USA Softball rankings, the Texas Longhorns were the top team (while technically in a tie with Texas Tech), but a loss to No. 9 Nebraska in the UTSA Invitational will drop the one-loss Horns below the undefeated Red Raiders, whom they beat in the WCWS Finals last year.
Texas had beaten Nebraska on Friday, but the Cornhuskers split the series with a win on Saturday. It came just after the Longhorns had beaten No. 25 Washington in the front half of a back-to-back.
Texas Tech is one of just two undefeated programs left in the Big 12, joining Houston (4-0), though all of the Cougars games have been at home and the Red Raiders have yet to have their home-opener.
No player in the conference - or arguably the country - is off to a better start at the plate than Red Raiders second baseman Mia Williams.
She has 11 hits in her first 16 plate appearances for a .688 batting average, while also leading the team with three home runs and 13 runs driven in. Her team-high four walks also give her an incredible .714 on-base percentage on the young season.
Williams is powering a Texas Tech offense that has taken a strong lead in many statistics across the Big 12. The Red Raiders have the best average (.451) in the conference, along with the most hits (65), runs (64) and home runs (12).
The staff has been just as dynamic in the circle.
NiJaree Canady leads a pitching rotation that has allowed a .184 opponent hitting percentage, a .97 WHIP and struck out 38 batters in 32.0 innings.
Up next for the Red Raiders is a trip to the Sunshine State to compete in the Shriner's Children's Clearwater Invitational in Clearwater, Florida. On Thursday, Texas Tech will have a double-header against Florida State and Northwestern, followed by games agaisnt Florida Atlantic (Feb. 13), NC State, James Madison (both Feb. 14), and Nebraska (Feb. 15).
The team's home debut isn't until Feb. 26 in the annual Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic, coming after a six-game slate in California next weekend.