It's Week 12 of college softball Power 10, and another week of wild shakeups means a new No. 1 team.
1. Oklahoma (Prev. 4)
Oklahoma is back on top of my Power 10 after a statement sweep over Texas at home. Junior shortstop Ailana Agbayani hit a grand slam in Game 1 and hit .750 in the series.
2. Arkansas (Prev. 7)
This could be considered a little bold, but I have Arkansas all the way up at No. 2. The Razorbacks won their series over Texas A&M to earn this spot and Oklahoma is its only series loss. They continue to rack up big ranked wins.
3. Tennessee (Prev. 2)
Tennessee comes in at No. 3. The Volunteers lost a midweek contest to Clemson, but then they won their series over Ole Miss. Plus, Clemson is on the rise. I'm not dropping them too much for this.
4. Oregon (Prev. 5)
I gave Oregon a boost up to No. 4. The Ducks have certainly proved themselves, sweeping Indiana last week to move to 44-5 on the season, and don't forget their big ranked wins earlier in the year, too.
5. Texas A&M (Prev. 1)
Texas A&M drops to No. 5 after losing its series to Arkansas. Graduate Mac Barbara hit three bombs during the week.
6. Texas (Prev. 3)
The Longhorns drop to No. 6 after getting swept by Oklahoma. I know it feels like a big drop, but I couldn’t justify putting any of the No. 1 through No. 5 teams below them right now. Keep in mind they are still a national title contender.
Oklahoma-Texas softball: Sooners sweep Longhorns in Red River Rivalry series
7. Florida State (Prev. 6)
Florida State is at No. 7. Some people might argue the Seminoles should be higher, but all the teams above them have more ranked wins.
8. UCLA (Prev. 8)
At No. 8 is UCLA. The Bruins swept Michigan last weekend as freshman right-hander Addisen Fisher looked really good in the circle — and the bats were hot as well.
9 & 10. Texas Tech and Clemson (Prev. NR)
Some changes at No. 9 and No. 10. With LSU winning its series over Florida on Monday night, I wanted to move the Gators down a few spots, but I don’t have LSU moving back in the Power 10 just yet.
Instead, welcome in Texas Tech at 9 and Clemson at 10.
The Red Raiders have been on the verge for a few weeks but behind South Carolina. With the Gamecocks losing their series to Auburn, Texas Tech moves in after winning the series over Arizona State.
And Clemson is making big-time waves and moves. The Tigers beat Tennessee and now have a few ranked wins under their belt — enough to slide them right in the top 10. Right-handed senior Brooke McCubbin was lights out in the circle last week with a 0.00 ERA and three wins, including one against then-No.1 Tennessee.
LSU and Florida are my first two teams out.
