Texas Softball Ranked 10th in USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Preseason Poll

No. 10 ranking is tied with the 2004 squad for the third-highest preseason mark in program history.
No. 10 ranking is tied with the 2004 squad for the third-highest preseason mark in program history.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The University of Texas softball team is ranked No. 10 in the USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I Top 25 Preseason Poll announced Tuesday.

It is the 14th time in the 18 years of the program the Longhorns have been ranked in the preseason poll, and the 11th time in the last 12 campaigns. The No. 10 ranking is tied with the 2004 squad for the third-highest preseason mark in program history. In the last three years UT was tabbed No. 7 in 2013, No. 19 in 2012 and No. 15 in 2011 in the preseason rankings.

The Longhorns are one of three Big 12 Conference teams to appear in the Top 25. Defending national champion Oklahoma is ranked No. 2, while Baylor is No. 18. UT will face 12 opponents in the regular season who are ranked or receiving votes in the preseason Top 25: No. 2 Oklahoma (April 17-19 in Norman, Okla.), No. 3 Washington (Feb. 21 in Palm Springs, Calif. and March 8 in Fullerton, Calif.) No. 5 Michigan (March 8 in Fullerton, Calif), No. 12 Kentucky (Feb. 14 in Austin, Texas), No. 13 Louisiana Lafayette (Feb. 7-8 in Lafayette, La.), No. 17 LSU (Feb. 6 in Baton Rouge, La.), No. 18 Baylor (March 22-23 in Waco and May 11 in Austin), No. 24 California (Feb. 23 in Palm Springs, Calif.), Long Beach State (March 9 in Fullerton, Calif.), Houston (March 6 in Fullerton, Calif. and March 19 in Austin), and North Carolina (Feb. 7 in Lafayette, La.).

No. 10 Texas opens the season on Feb. 6 at No. 17 LSU before heading to Lafayette, La.to participate in the Louisiana Classic from Feb. 7-9).

For season ticket information, please call 512-232-3865 or click here. Three-game, five-game and 10-game Mini Plans for seats in the general admission sections are now on sale.

James Schleicher

James Schleicher is the publisher of Horns Illustrated magazine. He's also a fifth generation Texan and lifelong Austinite. Follow @HornsIllus twitter to keep up with all things Horns Illustrated.