Results from the 2026 NFCA Leadoff Classic softball tournament

The wait is over. 

🗓️ CATCH UP: o-hitters, grandslams and statement wins headline opening day

The 2026 college softball season kicked at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater Fla. from Thursday, Feb. 5 through Sunday, Feb. 8. Eighteen of the nation's premier programs went head-to-head at the Eddie C. Moore complex, setting the tone for the year to come. 

Check out the schedule, storylines and history below. 

2026 NFCA Leadoff Classic Schedule

2026 NFCA Leadoff Classic at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla. 

• Thursday, Feb. 5
  • No. 12 Clemson 5, Southeastern La. 3 
  • No. 4 Tennessee 10, BYU 0
• Friday, Feb. 6
  • Boston College 8, Eastern Kentucky 4 
  • Pitt 11, North Carolina Central 3
  • Penn State 7, Missouri 4 
  • Penn State 7, Boston College 0
  • Rutgers 5, North Carolina Central 0
  • South Alabama 4, Eastern Kentucky 3
  • No. 5 Oregon 3, Missouri 0
  • No. 12 Clemson 6, No. 5 Oregon 5
  • Pitt 4, Longwood 0
  • Southeastern Louisiana 2, South Alabama  0
  • No. 4 Tennessee 6, No. 23 Liberty 1
  • Michigan State 8, BYU 4
  • Auburn 5, Notre Dame 4
  • No. 12 Clemson 9, No. 23 Liberty 4
  • Southeastern 9, Longwood 0
  • No. 4 Tennessee 9, Rutgers 1
  • BYU 8, Notre Dame 5 
  • Auburn 9, Michigan State 6
• Saturday, Feb. 7 
  • Penn State 4, Eastern Kentucky 2
  • Michigan State 4, Longwood 1
  • Rutgers 11, South Alabama 3
  • Missouri 13, No. 23 Liberty 2
  • No. 4 Tennessee 6, Boston College 0
  • Michigan State 9, Pitt 7
  • Rutgers 11, Southeastern La 3
  • Penn State 4, BYU 3 (8 innings)
  • Notre Dame 8, North Carolina Central 0 
  • Auburn 10, No. 12 Clemson 5 
  • No. 5 Oregon 10, No. 23 Liberty 2
  • No. 4 Tennessee 2, No. 5 Oregon 0
• Sunday, Feb. 8
  • Notre Dame 5, No. 23 Liberty 1 
  • Michigan State 5, No. 12 Clemson 2 
  • Auburn 4, Penn State 3 
  • Pitt 3, Eastern Kentucky 1
  • Southeastern Louisiana 4, No. 5 Oregon 2
  • South Alabama 5, North Carolina Central 0 
  • Rutgers 6, Notre Dame 4
  • Boston College 3, Longwood 1 
  • South Alabama 5, Missouri 4 

History of the NFCA Leadoff Classic

This year marks the 23rd installment of the showcase. In 1996, the Washington Huskies captured the inaugural tournament title in Columbus, Ga., where the event was held annually through 2010. After a brief pause in 2011, the NFCA Leadoff Classic relocated to Clearwater, Fla. in 2012, where it has been held ever since.

📝 WANT MORE? Here are five storylines entering the new season

The tournament saw a hiatus from 2016-2022 but resumed in 2023, inviting 16 teams at the forefront of college softball and acting as a staple to the start of the season. 

Last year’s 2025 NFCA Leadoff Classic saw Kentucky's squad claim the tournament title, finishing 4–1 and winning the tiebreaker with a dominant +28 run differential among the one-loss teams. The elite showcase featured five programs that landed in ESPN/USA Softball’s final Top 25 rankings for the 2025 season, including two Women’s College World Series qualifiers in Texas Tech and Tennessee.

Storylines to watch this year

This year, things will be no different with a star-studded lineup. 

In fact, the tournament will host four ranked teams this year: No. 4 Tennessee, No. 5 Oregon, No. 12 Clemson and No. 23 Liberty. Both the Vols and Ducks reached OKC last season, while Clemson and Liberty fell short in the Super Regionals. 

⭐️ WHO TO KNOW: 12 stars to watch in the 2026 season

But a new year, means new stories:

Tennessee brings back one of the top pitchers in the country in Karlyn Pickens along with a stacked transfer class in its arsenal to face the Ducks on Saturday, Feb. 7. 

But don't count Oregon out just yet. The Ducks will hold their own with Lyndsey Grein in the circle backed by power at the plate with ;Rylee McCoy and Stefini Ma'ake. Oregon may have the toughest schedule of the tournament, facing both Tennessee and Clemson in back-to-back days.

Can't Wait for ♾️

One of the most impressive performances of 2025.

All-American Lyndsey Grein's one-hitter vs. No. 8 Florida State!

— Oregon Softball (@OregonSB)

The Tigers were on the brink of glory last season, but fell short to the eventual national champions in Texas last season in the Austin Super Regional. They have reloaded in the portal after losing their best arm in Reese Basinger and are ready to roar. 

Liberty saw a harsh drop in the 2026 preseason rankings even after making upsetting the top-seeded Texas A&M Aggies in the 2025 NCAA softball tournament and making it to a Super. But that just means they have something to prove. Again, don't count them out. We saw how that turned out last year. 

5️⃣ takeaways from USA softball's preseason rankings

Championship History

Check out the winners from the previous years at the NFCA Leadoff Classic