2021 Southeastern Conference softball season explained

2021 SEC Softball Season
Color:	193980
Color Text:	white
League:	NCAA Division I
Sport:	Softball
Pixels:	125px
No Of Teams:	13
Season:	Regular Season
Season Champs:	Florida
Season Champ Name:	Champions
Finals:	Tournament
Finals Link:	2021 Southeastern Conference softball tournament
Finals Champ:	Alabama
Finals Runner-Up:	Florida
Seasonslistnames:	Softball
Prevseason Link:	2020 Southeastern Conference softball season
Prevseason Year:	2020
Nextseason Link:	2022 Southeastern Conference softball season
Nextseason Year:	2022

The 2021 SEC softball season began play Thursday, February 11, and conference play began on Thursday, March 11. The 2021 Southeastern Conference softball tournament was May 11–13 at Rhoads Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Alabama played Florida in the tournament final, winning by a score of 4–0. Vanderbilt University is the only full member of the Southeastern Conference to not sponsor a softball program.

SEC preseason poll

The head coaches SEC preseason poll was released on January 28, 2021. Each head coach votes on a scale of 12 points for first place down to 1 point for last place, 12th. Each coach only votes for 12 teams, since they can not vote for their own team. Alabama was picked to finish 1st, with nine 1st place votes. LSU was 2nd with two 1st place votes, Florida 3rd with one, and Tennessee 4th with the remaining one 1st place vote.^[1]

Preseason poll
1	Alabama
2	LSU
3	Florida
4	Tennessee
5	Kentucky
6	Arkansas
7	Georgia
8	Missouri
9	South Carolina
10	Mississippi State
11	Auburn
12	Texas A&M
13	Ole Miss

Record vs. conference opponents

Tiebrkrs: FLA>ARK ALA common. LSU>KEN hd–hd. UGA>AUB MIZZ common.

National rankings

At some time during the season, all thirteen SEC softball teams were ranked in the top 25 of two of the three major polls. The final rankings had 7 or 8 teams in the top 25. Twelve teams made the NCAA Tournament.

• Alabama, for 15 weeks straight was, and finished, in the top 5, having won the SEC softball tournament and made the semifinals of the Women's College World Series (WCWS).
• Georgia was unranked and rose to 8th, being the only other SEC team to make the WCWS. Only eight teams nationwide made the WCWS.
• Florida was in the top ten of every poll throughout the 2021 campaign. They made the championship game of the SEC tournament, losing to Alabama, and lost in their Super Regional to Georgia, just missing making the WCWS.
• Arkansas also lost their Super Regional, also just missing out on the WCWS.
• Missouri lost their Super Regional.
• LSU lost their Super Regional.
• Kentucky lost to Alabama in Alabama's Super Regional.
• Tennessee lost their Regional 1–2.
• South Carolina went 0–1 in the SEC tournament.
• Mississippi State went 1–1 in the SEC tournament and went 2–2 losing in the finals of a Regional.
• Ole Miss went 0–1 in the SEC tournament and also went 2–2 losing in the finals of a Regional.
• Texas A&M went 0–1 in the SEC tournament and went 1–2 losing in the finals of a Regional.

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NFCA/USA Today

See 2021 NCAA Division I softball rankings#NFCA/USA Today also.

Week	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	class=unsortable
ALA	8	5	4	3	4	3	4	4	4	3	5	4	3	3	3	3	ALA
data-sort-value=G	UGA	14	16	19	19	18	19	17	20	20	20	21	21	22	data-sort-value=26	–	data-sort-value=26	–	8	UGA
FLA	7	6	6	5	6	5	5	5	5	5	3	3	4	4	4	9	FLA
ARK	18	20	21	20	19	17	15	13	10	10	8	10	8	6	5	11	ARK
data-sort-value=MO	MIZZ	23	21	20	18	17	16	18	17	19	18	18	15	15	15	14	13	MIZZ
LSU	5	8	11	13	12	12	13	15	17	16	17	16	16	16	16	15	LSU
KEN	13	12	12	10	9	9	7	8	11	12	14	17	18	17	19	16	KEN
TENN	data-sort-value=27	–	data-sort-value=27	–	data-sort-value=27	–	25	22	21	21	21	21	19	19	18	17	19	18	23	TENN
SCAR	19	19	18	17	20	24	23	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	SCAR
AUB	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	24	21	22	24	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	AUB
MSU	20	22	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	MSU
data-sort-value=O	MISS	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	MISS
data-sort-value=TEX	TAMU	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	TAMU

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D1Softball

See 2021 NCAA Division I softball rankings#D1Softball also.

Week	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	class=unsortable
ALA	8	5	3	3	6	4	5	4	4	3	5	4	3	4	3	3	ALA
data-sort-value=G	UGA	13	18	data-sort-value=26	–	24	19	19	17	data-sort-value=26	–	25	24	data-sort-value=26	–	data-sort-value=26	–	data-sort-value=26	–	data-sort-value=26	–	data-sort-value=26	–	8	UGA
FLA	6	6	6	7	8	8	6	5	5	4	3	3	4	3	4	10	FLA
ARK	16	17	16	15	12	13	12	9	8	9	7	8	8	7	6	11	ARK
data-sort-value=MO	MIZZ	23	15	17	17	18	18	19	18	17	17	16	12	12	12	12	13	MIZZ
LSU	5	7	12	11	10	10	9	12	15	13	12	11	11	9	9	14	LSU
KEN	24	20	15	14	13	14	11	10	11	12	17	17	16	15	16	15	KEN
TENN	21	23	data-sort-value=27	–	data-sort-value=27	–	23	23	22	24	19	18	19	18	17	22	21	22	TENN
data-sort-value=O	MISS	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	24	23	22	21	21	data-sort-value=28	–	MISS
data-sort-value=TEX	TAMU	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	25	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	TAMU
MSU	15	16	18	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	MSU
SCAR	25	24	25	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	SCAR
AUB	data-sort-value=32	–	data-sort-value=32	–	data-sort-value=32	–	data-sort-value=32	–	data-sort-value=32	–	data-sort-value=32	–	data-sort-value=32	–	data-sort-value=32	–	data-sort-value=32	–	data-sort-value=32	–	data-sort-value=32	–	data-sort-value=32	–	data-sort-value=32	–	data-sort-value=32	–	data-sort-value=32	–	data-sort-value=32	–	AUB

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ESPN/USA Softball Collegiate

See 2021 NCAA Division I softball rankings#ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 also.

Week	0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	class=unsortable
ALA	8	6	3	2	4	2	3	4	3	3	5	4	3	3	3	3	ALA
data-sort-value=G	UGA	14	16	20	21	21	20	18	23	22	20	22	22	24	data-sort-value=26	–	data-sort-value=26	–	8	UGA
FLA	6	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	4	3	3	4	4	4	9	FLA
ARK	21	25	24	20	19	17	15	11	8	10	6	7	6	6	6	11	ARK
data-sort-value=MO	MIZZ	24	21	19	17	18	18	20	20	19	19	19	15	16	15	14	14	MIZZ
LSU	5	9	13	12	12	12	11	15	15	15	15	14	13	14	15	15	LSU
KEN	13	12	12	11	10	10	7	7	11	12	14	17	17	16	16	16	KEN
TENN	23	23	23	19	17	19	19	18	16	16	17	16	15	17	19	24	TENN
data-sort-value=O	MISS	data-sort-value=27	–	data-sort-value=27	–	data-sort-value=27	–	data-sort-value=27	–	data-sort-value=27	–	data-sort-value=27	–	data-sort-value=27	–	data-sort-value=27	–	data-sort-value=27	–	data-sort-value=27	–	data-sort-value=27	–	data-sort-value=27	–	25	24	25	data-sort-value=27	–	MISS
data-sort-value=TEX	TAMU	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	24	25	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	data-sort-value=28	–	TAMU
AUB	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	23	22	23	25	25	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	data-sort-value=29	–	AUB
SCAR	19	20	18	18	20	24	23	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	data-sort-value=30	–	SCAR
MSU	22	24	25	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	data-sort-value=31	–	MSU

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Notes and References

1. Web site: Alabama preseason favorite for 2021 softball season. January 28, 2022 . SEC Sports . March 24, 2023.
2. Web site: 2021 SEC Softball Tournament. May 15, 2021. April 9, 2023. SECSports.
3. Web site: 2021 DI Women's College World Series Official Bracket. Jun 10, 2021. April 9, 2023. NCAA.
4. Web site: USA TODAY/NFCA DIVISION I TOP 25 COACHES POLL (PRESEASON) . NFCA . January 26, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
5. Web site: USA TODAY/NFCA DIVISION I TOP 25 COACHES POLL (WEEK 1) . NFCA. February 16, 2021. April 9, 2023.
6. Web site: USA TODAY/NFCA DIVISION I TOP 25 COACHES POLL (WEEK 2) . NFCA . February 23, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
7. Web site: USA TODAY/NFCA DIVISION I TOP 25 COACHES POLL (WEEK 3) . NFCA . March 2, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
8. Web site: Oklahoma nearly unanimous, Clemson debuts in 2021 USA Today/NFCA DI Top 25 Poll . NFCA . March 9, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
9. Web site: Oklahoma unanimous No. 1 in 2021 USA Today/NFCA DI Top 25 Poll . NFCA . March 16, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
10. Web site: Oklahoma unanimous; Duke, Clemson continue rise in USA Today/NFCA DI Top 25 Poll . NFCA . March 23, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
11. Web site: Florida State joins top 10 in 2021 USA Today/NFCA DI Top 25 Poll . NFCA . March 30, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
12. Web site: Oklahoma tops rankings for sixth straight week in 2021 USA Today/NFCA DI Top 25 Poll . NFCA . April 6, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
13. Web site: Oklahoma continues to roll as No. 1 in 2021 USA Today/NFCA DI Top 25 Poll . NFCA . April 13, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
14. Web site: No. 1 Oklahoma runs undefeated start to 33 games . NFCA . April 20, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
15. Web site: No. 1 Oklahoma remains unanimous in USA Today/NFCA DI Top 25 Coaches Poll . NFCA . April 27, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
16. Web site: Oklahoma enters 10th straight week at No. 1 in USA Today DI Top 25 Coaches Poll . NFCA . May 4, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
17. Web site: Oklahoma keeps hold on No. 1 in USA Today/NFCA DI Top 25 Coaches Poll . NFCA . May 11, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
18. Web site: Oklahoma heads into postseason No. 1 in USA Today/NFCA DI Top 25 Coaches Poll . NFCA . May 18, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
19. Web site: 2021 D1Softball Preseason Top 25 Rankings . D1Softball . January 18, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
20. Web site: 2021 D1Softball Top 25 Rankings: Oklahoma Makes Noise, Alabama and Oregon Gain Ground . D1Softball . February 15, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
21. Web site: 2021 D1Softball Top 25 Rankings: Kentucky On The Rise, UCF, Iowa State Enter . D1Softball . February 22, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
22. Web site: 2021 Top 25 Rankings: Oklahoma Vaults To No. 1 . D1Softball . March 1, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
23. Web site: D1Softball Top 25: Kentucky, Arkansas Continue to Climb . D1Softball . March 7, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
24. Web site: D1Softball Top 25 Rankings: Alabama Joins Top Five, FSU Makes Statement . D1Softball . March 15, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
25. Web site: D1Softball's Top 25 Rankings: Washington, Florida move up; Arkansas, others, steady • D1Softball . D1Softball . 22 March 2021 . April 9, 2023.
26. Web site: D1Softball Top 25 Rankings: Gators Gain Ground and Aggies Enter the Mix . D1Softball . March 29, 2021 . April 9, 2023.
27. Web site: D1Softball's Top 25 Rankings: Wichita State Enters, Arkansas Continues Climb • D1Softball . D1Softball . 5 April 2021 . April 9, 2023.
28. Web site: D1Softball's Top 25: Minnesota Enters, Alabama & Florida Jump Oregon . D1Softball . 12 April 2021 . 9 April 2023.
29. Web site: D1Softball's Top 25 Rankings: Michigan and Ole Miss Enter, Washington Climbs . D1Softball . April 19, 2021 . 9 April 2023.
30. Web site: D1Softball Top 25 Rankings: Notre Dame Enters, Missouri Climbs . D1Softball . April 26, 2021 . 9 April 2023.
31. Web site: D1Softball Top 25 Rankings: James Madison Enters, Oklahoma State Climbs • D1Softball . D1Softball . May 4, 2021 . 9 April 2023.
32. Web site: D1Softball's Top 25: Oklahoma Remains No. 1, Michigan On The Rise . D1Softball . May 10, 2021 . 9 April 2023.
33. Web site: D1Softball Top 25: Wichita State Reenters Poll . D1Softball . May 18, 2021 . 9 April 2023.
34. Web site: D1Softball's Top 25: WCWS Champion Oklahoma Is The One . D1Softball . June 14, 2021 . 9 April 2023.
35. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210203141422/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls . dead . February 3, 2021 . USA Softball. January 26, 2021. April 9, 2023.
36. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210216205238/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-1 . dead . February 16, 2021 . USA Softball. February 16, 2021. April 9, 2023.
37. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210223213631/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-2 . dead . February 23, 2021 . USA Softball. February 23, 2021. April 9, 2023.
38. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210414074434/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-3 . dead . April 14, 2021 . USA Softball. March 2, 2021. April 9, 2023.
39. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210414081107/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-4 . dead . April 14, 2021 . USA Softball. March 9, 2021. April 9, 2023.
40. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210316185511/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-5 . dead . March 16, 2021 . USA Softball. March 16, 2021. April 9, 2023.
41. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210323180906/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-6 . dead . March 23, 2021 . USA Softball. March 23, 2021. April 9, 2023.
42. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210330190843/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-7 . dead . March 30, 2021 . USA Softball. March 30, 2021. April 9, 2023.
43. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210414072806/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-8 . dead . April 14, 2021 . USA Softball. April 6, 2021. April 9, 2023.
44. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210413185255/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-9 . dead . April 13, 2021 . USA Softball. April 13, 2021. April 9, 2023.
45. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210420174656/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-10 . dead . April 20, 2021 . USA Softball. April 20, 2021. April 9, 2023.
46. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210427172732/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-11 . dead . April 27, 2021 . USA Softball. April 27, 2021. April 9, 2023.
47. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210513125304/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-12 . dead . May 13, 2021 . USA Softball. May 4, 2021. April 9, 2023.
48. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210512150224/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-13 . dead . May 12, 2021 . USA Softball. May 11, 2021. April 9, 2023.
49. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210518173500/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Week-14 . dead . May 18, 2021 . USA Softball. May 18, 2021. April 9, 2023.
50. Web site: ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25. https://web.archive.org/web/20210920104852/https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Softball/College-Corner/2021-College-Corner/Top-25-Polls/Final. dead. September 20, 2021. USA Softball. June 10, 2021. April 9, 2023.