Softball ranked in Top 25 in five different preseason polls ahead of season start

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas is less than two weeks out from it’s season opener in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and are tabbed in the top 25 in five different preseason polls.

Softball America: 17
FloSoftball: 17
USA Softball: 20
D1 Softball: 21
NFCA: 24

Earlier this month, the team was predicted to finish seventh in the SEC after a vote of the 13 head coaches in the league’s preseason poll.

Returning All-SEC selections, senior Autumn Storms and junior Hannah McEwen were also named to the 13th annual Southeastern Conference Preseason All-SEC Team last week.

According to the NFCA rankings, Arkansas will face ranked opponents in 15 games, six of which will take place in Bogle Park. The Razorbacks will also play in five games against opponents that are receiving votes in the preseason poll.

In the NFCA poll, the Southeastern Conference led the way with ten ranked programs, while three leagues — Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-12 — boasted four teams apiece.

Three of the Pac-12’s teams were in the top five. The Atlantic Coast Conference, Colonial Athletic Association and Sun Belt Conference each saw a single program among the top 25.

The 2020 USA Today-NFCA Division I Top 25 Poll is voted on by 32 NCAA Division I head coaches, one representing each conference.

Final 2019 records are shown with first-place votes in parentheses. The first regular season poll will be published on Feb. 11.

Information from Razorback Sports Information is included in this story.

RAZORBACK FOOTBALL

Sat, Sep 5vs North AlabamaW 31-14
Sat, Sep 12@ UtahL, 43-10
Sat, Sep 19GeorgiaL, 45-17
Sat, Sep 26TulsaW 34-6
Sat, Oct 3@ Texas A&ML, 34-7
Sat, Oct 10TennesseeL, 24-17
Sat, Oct 17@ VanderbiltW 31-21
Sat, Oct 31vs MissouriL, 34-10
Sat, Nov 7@ Auburn11:45 AM
SEC Network
Sat, Nov 14South Carolina6:45 PM
SEC Network
Sat, Nov 21@ TexasAfternoon
2:30-3:30 PM
Sat, Nov 28vs LSUEarly Kickoff
11:00 AM-Noon

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL

OVERALLRecordPts
1.Conway (13)8-11801
2.Shiloh Christian (4)8-11542
3.Bentonville (2)8-11383
4.Joe T. Robinson9-01205
5.North Little Rock8-11096
6.Sheridan9-0807t
7.Bentonville West7-2737t
8.Springdale Har-Ber6-3664
9.Greenwood7-2519
10Van Buren8-119—
Others receiving votes: Bryant 17, Benton 8, LR Christian 8, Mountain Home 6, Stuttgart 5, Searcy 4, LR Mills 2, Nashville 2, Rogers 2, Farmington 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Conway (13)8-1851
2.Shiloh Christian (4)8-1692
3.Bentonville (2)8-1554
4.North Little Rock8-1395
5.Springdale Har-Ber6-3183
Others receiving votes: Bentonville West 15, Bryant 4.
CLASS 6A
1.Sheridan (19)9-0951
2.Benton6-3563
3.Van Buren8-1544t
4.Searcy7-2394t
5.Mountain Home (2)7-2381
Others receiving votes: Sylvan Hills 2, Lake Hamilton 1.
CLASS 5A

1.
Joe T. Robinson (18)9-0941
2.Greenwood (1)7-2762
3.Little Rock Mills8-140
—
4.Farmington8-1294
5.Jacksonville7-2233
Others receiving votes: LR Mills 8, HS Lakeside 4, Greenbrier 1.
CLASS 4A
1.Stuttgart (17)8-0771
2.Nashville (2)8-0642
3.Ozark8-0373
4.Elkins7-1194
5.Lonoke7-114—
Others receiving votes: Southside Batesville 9, Fountain Lake 9, Gravette 5, Highland 4, Arkadelphia 1.

CLASS 3A
1.Mansfield (11)8-2771
2.Prescott (3)8-1664
3.Fordyce (2)6-232—
4.Atkins (1)8-128—
5.Smackover7-2233
Bismarck7-2235
Others receiving votes: Walnut Ridge 19, Newport (2) 14, Rivercrest 2, Lake Village 1.
CLASS 2A
1.Baptist Prep (9)9-0832
2.Mount Ida (10)9-0801
3.Earle8-1503
4.Gurdon7-2404
5.Marked Tree7-2265
Others receiving votes: Magnet Cove 2, Des Arc 2, Hazen 2.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Corning (7)7-0291
Cedar Ridge (4)8-0292
3.Magazine (3)8-0223
Others receiving votes: Izard County 3.