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Texas State softball'srun in the Sun Belt tournament came to an end Saturday, as it fell to South Alabama 3-2 in the finals. Without one of the 31 automatic bids into the NCAA tournament, the Bobcats will watch Sunday, anxiously waiting to hear their name called for a regional.
It wasn't Texas State's (38-20, 16-8 in conference) best regular season, as it finished third in the Sun Belt. But coach Ricci Woodard scheduled tough non-conference opponents for the Bobcats to face, and her belief paid off. Wins over Texas A&M,Texas Tech and Clemson have bolstered Texas State's resume, which should be enough to earn them a spot in a regional.
MORE: How Texas State softball stunned NiJaree Canady and Texas Tech for upset win
The 2026 NCAA DI softball selection show will begin at 6 p.m. CT. Here are the Bobcats' odds to make the tournament.
Texas State is ranked 31st in RPI, which is calculated using a team's winning percentage, its opponent's winning percentage and its opponent's opponents' winning percentage. Considering Texas State's ranking and its second-place finish in the Sun Belt tournament, it'll likely earn one of the 33 available at-large bids.
So, where could the Bobcats end up? In 2023, Texas State (35-25-1) ended up in the Austin regional hosted by No. 13 Texas. As the third seed, Texas A&M eliminated them in the regional 4-2. The Bobcats (39-14) again landed the Austin regional in 2021, hosted by No. 12 Texas.
Texas State Bobcats utility Katarina Zarate (28) huddles with teammates ahead of the second inning as the Bobcats take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Bobcat Softball Stadium in San Marcos, April 15, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
The 2024 Bobcats (47-15) were 2nd in the Sun Belt and won the conference tournament. They earned a trip to College Station as the second seed in the region. Although it defeated Penn State, Texas State would fall to Texas A&M twice, failing to make the super regionals.
Texas State has left the state twice for a regional in 2016 and 2018, but it seems more likely it'll stay in the Lone Star State. With the Aggies currently outside the top 16 of RPI rankings, and the Longhorns fourth in RPI, a visit to Lubbock could be in the Bobcats' future.
The Red Raiders are 13th in RPI, putting them in position to be a potential regional host. Texas State defeated Texas Tech 3-0 in April, its highest-ranking win in program history. Considering the Bobcats' history with the NCAA tournament, they're unlikely to be grouped with a top-eight seed. If it were to venture outside the state, Georgia, Duke, LSU, or Oregon could be regional hosts.
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It wasn't Texas State's (38-20, 16-8 in conference) best regular season, as it finished third in the Sun Belt. But coach Ricci Woodard scheduled tough non-conference opponents for the Bobcats to face, and her belief paid off. Wins over Texas A&M,Texas Tech and Clemson have bolstered Texas State's resume, which should be enough to earn them a spot in a regional.
MORE: How Texas State softball stunned NiJaree Canady and Texas Tech for upset win
The 2026 NCAA DI softball selection show will begin at 6 p.m. CT. Here are the Bobcats' odds to make the tournament.
Will Texas State make the NCAA tournament?
Texas State is ranked 31st in RPI, which is calculated using a team's winning percentage, its opponent's winning percentage and its opponent's opponents' winning percentage. Considering Texas State's ranking and its second-place finish in the Sun Belt tournament, it'll likely earn one of the 33 available at-large bids.
So, where could the Bobcats end up? In 2023, Texas State (35-25-1) ended up in the Austin regional hosted by No. 13 Texas. As the third seed, Texas A&M eliminated them in the regional 4-2. The Bobcats (39-14) again landed the Austin regional in 2021, hosted by No. 12 Texas.
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Texas State Bobcats utility Katarina Zarate (28) huddles with teammates ahead of the second inning as the Bobcats take on the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Bobcat Softball Stadium in San Marcos, April 15, 2026. (Sara Diggins/Austin American-Statesman)
The 2024 Bobcats (47-15) were 2nd in the Sun Belt and won the conference tournament. They earned a trip to College Station as the second seed in the region. Although it defeated Penn State, Texas State would fall to Texas A&M twice, failing to make the super regionals.
Texas State has left the state twice for a regional in 2016 and 2018, but it seems more likely it'll stay in the Lone Star State. With the Aggies currently outside the top 16 of RPI rankings, and the Longhorns fourth in RPI, a visit to Lubbock could be in the Bobcats' future.
The Red Raiders are 13th in RPI, putting them in position to be a potential regional host. Texas State defeated Texas Tech 3-0 in April, its highest-ranking win in program history. Considering the Bobcats' history with the NCAA tournament, they're unlikely to be grouped with a top-eight seed. If it were to venture outside the state, Georgia, Duke, LSU, or Oregon could be regional hosts.
Continue reading...
