Alabama softball earns No. 1 overall seed in NCAA Tournament
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After making a run to the SEC Tournament Championship Game in Lexington, the Alabama softball team secured its spot as the top seed for the NCAA Tournament.
The Crimson Tide has qualified for the NCAA Tournament every season since 1999 and will host a regional for the 27th consecutive postseason. Here’s what you need to know before things get started in Tuscaloosa:
- What: Tuscaloosa Regional
- Who: Alabama | Southeastern Louisiana | Belmont | USC Upstate
- When: Starts Friday, May 15
- Where: Rhoads Stadium | 321 Peter Bryce Blvd, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401
- More info
Keep reading to see the full bracket + what other in-state teams are headed to the postseason.
2026 NCAA Softball Tournament
This is the second time in program history Alabama has received the No. 1 overall seed and first since 2010. The Crimson Tide has been a top 16 national seed every year since the current postseason format was adopted in 2005.
Alabama was just the start of the SEC’s dominance at the top of the bracket. The conference has the top three seeds + seven of the top 10 including:
- 1. Alabama
- 2. Texas
- 3. Oklahoma
- 5. Arkansas
- 6. Florida
- 7. Tennessee
- 10. Georgia
The Crimson Tide is searching for its first national title since 2012 and its first championship series appearance since 2014.
You can see the full bracket + the first round schedule on the NCAA website.
South Alabama, Jax State hit the road
Two other in-state teams are in the tournament after winning their respective conference tournaments.
South Alabama is headed to Baton Rouge as the three seed in the regional hosted by No. 16 LSU. It’s the programs second tourney appearance in the last three seasons. The Jaguars will play Virginia Tech in the first round Friday afternoon.
Jax State won the Conference USA tournament, securing their 10th NCAA Tournament appearance in program history. The Gamecocks will head to Tallahassee where they will begin play against No. 9 Florida State.
The regional round features a four-team, double elimination bracket in 16 different locations. The winner of each regional will advance to the best-of-3 super regional round.
