SEC softball power rankings: Two teams emerge as frontrunners for regular-season title

Two teams are emerging as the frontrunners for the SEC softball title – the only shame is we won't get to see them square off this season.

Tennessee, which swept the SEC titles last season, leads the pack at 10-2, and Florida is right behind at 9-3. The next closest team is Texas A&M at 10-5, but it's looking more and more like a two-team race for the regular-season championship. Unfortunately, Florida and Tennessee do not play each other – we can only hope for an SEC Tournament title game matchup.

Here's where teams stack up in this week's SEC softball power rankings with a month left in the regular season.

1. Tennessee

Very few teams can go without their star player, but Tennessee is one of them. The No. 4 Lady Vols overcame the absence of Kiki Milloy due to injury and won the series against then-No. 3 Georgia. The reigning champs continue to dominate and time is ticking for everyone else to catch up.

Last week: 1

Record: 30-6

2. Florida

The Gators flipped the script last week with a comeback walk-off win to clinch the LSU series. No. 9 Florida was just a victim to an epic comeback the week before, but it turned the tables last week and won a thriller after trailing 5-1 in the sixth inning. Talk about comeback kids.

Last week: 2

Record: 34-6

3. Arkansas

No. 17 Arkansas got a series win against then-No. 11 Missouri for the first time since 2018. Arkansas has flown a bit under the radar as one of the stronger teams in the SEC, which feels strange to say considering it swept the SEC titles two years ago.

Last week: 4

Record: 28-10

4. Georgia

The Bulldogs had only been held to one run in one game before last week, and then they ran into Tennessee's pitching. No. 7 Georgia scored just one run in its two losses and only scored three runs across in its win. Georgia's bats will be fine, but everyone should be scared of UT's pitching.

Last week: 5

Record: 31-8

5. LSU

The Tigers were so close to a massive series win over Florida, but it only came out on top in one of the two extra-inning thrillers. This isn't the first time No. 6 LSU has been hurt by errors, though, and giving up a walk-off win from an error is concerning.

Last week: 3

Record: 31-6

6. Texas A&M

Barely going 2-1 against Kentucky isn't an impressive outing, especially when the Aggies lost 1-0 to miss out on the sweep. But No. 11 Texas A&M is the only team besides Tennessee to have 10 wins in the SEC – its only problem is it has five losses, too.

Last week: 7

Record: 31-8

7. Mississippi State

Shutting out No. 23 South Carolina twice would be more impressive if the Gamecocks had more than two players hitting above .300. But shutouts are still notable, and Mississippi State's pitching dominated in Columbia to bring home the series win for the No. 16 Bulldogs.

Last week: 9

Record: 28-10

8. Alabama

No. 12 Alabama took care of business with the only sweep last week. Sure, it was against Ole Miss, which has suffered three straight sweeps. But the Tide couldn't be trusted to beat Kentucky, which is 3-9 in the SEC. So let's celebrate the wins for Alabama when they come.

Last week: 10

Record: 26-8

9. Missouri

Missouri has had two SEC road series so far, and it has lost them both – at least this time the No. 14 Tigers didn't get swept, snagging a run-rule win at No. 19 Arkansas last Saturday. The good news for the Tigers: They play Florida at home this week, so they might have a shot.

Last week: 6

Record: 30-10

10. South Carolina

The No. 23 Gamecocks got shut out in three of their last four games, including against in-state rival Clemson, which didn't even have Valerie Cagle available. South Carolina's hitting is getting worse as the season wears on, and it's to the point I almost feel bad for them.

Last week: 10

Record: 26-10

11. Kentucky

Now, I actually feel bad for Kentucky, which was infuriatingly close to a series win in College Station last week. The Wildcats lost the first game 5-4 and the second 10-9. They won the series finale 1-0, but what a brutal way to lose a series.

Last week: 11

Record: 24-14

12. Auburn

Auburn played a nonconference home invitational, which are usually to add some wins to your resume. But it ended up losing a game to Georgia Tech, which isn't a great sign going into its series with LSU in Baton Rouge.

Last week: 12

Record: 21-12-1

13. Ole Miss

I think we can officially say Ole Miss peaked too early this season with its series win over LSU in Baton Rouge. The Rebs have lost 10 of the 11 games since then, dropping three straight SEC series and even went 1-1 against UT Martin. Woof.

Last week: 13

Record: 21-18