Big 12 Softball Power Rankings: 2025 Preview – Underdogs Making Moves

Top Tier: The Favorites

1. Oklahoma State Cowgirls
   • **Why They’re Here:**Tabbed as the 2025 Big 12 Preseason Poll favorite with 9 of 10 first-place votes, OSU boasts six players on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, including pitcher Ruby Meylan and outfielder Claire Timm. After a 49-12 season in 2024 and a Super Regional appearance, Kenny Gajewski’s squad is the team to beat.
   • Underdog Angle: Not an underdog, but their consistency sets the bar others aim to topple.
2. Texas Tech Red Raiders
   • Why They’re Here: With two first-place votes in the preseason poll, Texas Tech features NiJaree Canady, arguably the best pitcher in softball (2024 Pac-12 Pitcher of the Year), and a revamped roster under Gerry Glasco. Their No. 2 ranking in the poll (9 points behind OSU) signals high expectations.
   • Underdog Angle: Not a classic underdog, but as a program historically overshadowed by OU and Texas (now in the SEC), their rise is notable.
3. Arizona Wildcats
   • Why They’re Here: In their first Big 12 season, Arizona was picked third in the preseason poll with 81 points. With stars like Dakota Kennedy and Regan Shockey, plus a legacy of seven national titles (last in 2007), they’re a powerhouse adapting to a new conference.
   • Underdog Angle: New to the Big 12, they’re underestimated relative to their historical pedigree.

Underdog Climbers: Teams on the Rise

4. Kansas Jayhawks
   • Why They’re Climbing: Picked 6th in the preseason poll (46 points), Kansas returns pitcher Katie Brooks and outfielder Presley Limbaugh, both Preseason All-Big 12 selections. Their 3-0 weekend in 2024 against NCAA Tournament teams (Southern Illinois, Texas State) showed grit, and coach Jennifer McFalls has them trending up after a 25-25-1 finish last year.
   • Underdog Edge: Historically a mid-tier team, their scrappy play and key returners could surprise in a wide-open middle pack.
5. Iowa State Cyclones
   • Why They’re Climbing: Voted 8th (33 points), Iowa State upset No. 2 Oklahoma State in a 2024 series, their highest-ranked win ever. Senior outfielder Angelina Allen, a Preseason All-Big 12 pick, leads an offense that’s finding its stride. Freshman Jessie Clemons emerged early in 2025 previews as a contributor.
   • Underdog Edge: Perennial bottom-dwellers (17-35 in 2024), their upset potential and young talent signal a ladder climb.
6. Houston Cougars
   • Why They’re Climbing: Picked 9th (25 points), Houston’s 2024 struggles (25-29) belie their offensive potential. They scored 20 runs against Baylor last year, and while pitching remains a question, new coach Kyla Holas could spark a turnaround in Year 2 of Big 12 play.
   • Underdog Edge: After a 3-15 Big 12 record in 2024, any improvement would defy expectations—early 2025 chatter on X suggests sleeper potential if pitching stabilizes.

Middle Tier: Steady but Not Surging

7. Baylor Bears
   • Why They’re Here: Fourth in the poll (75 points), Baylor has Preseason All-Big 12 players Turiya Coleman and Shaylon Govan, but a 0-7 record against ranked foes in 2025’s early polls (per Heartland) tempers hype after a 28-23 season.
   • Underdog Angle: Not climbing yet—too much talent to be a true underdog, too inconsistent to lead.
8. BYU Cougars
   • Why They’re Here: Fifth (54 points), BYU’s Lily Owens made the Preseason All-Big 12 Team, and their .326 team batting average in 2024 (third in the league) is a strength. Losses to Boise State and Indiana early in 2025 previews cap their ceiling for now.
   • Underdog Angle: Middle-of-the-pack stability, not a breakout story yet.

Lower Tier: Work in Progress

9. Utah Utes
   • Why They’re Here: Seventh (38 points), Utah’s Big 12 debut features senior outfielder Kaylah Nelsen (Preseason All-Big 12), but a 19-33 record in 2024 as a Pac-12 team suggests a steep adjustment.
   • Underdog Angle: Newcomers with upside, but not climbing ladders until proven.
10. Arizona State Sun Devils
    • Why They’re Here: Tenth (18 points), ASU’s Kelsey Hall (Preseason All-Big 12) is a bright spot, but a 9-1 loss to Florida in 2025’s early slate exposed weaknesses. Their 23-27 record last year doesn’t inspire confidence yet.
    • Underdog Angle: Potential to rise, but inconsistent play holds them back.
11. UCF Knights
    • Why They’re Here: Eleventh (14 points), UCF’s 3.06 ERA in 2024 was solid among non-elite Big 12 teams, but a 9-game win streak late last season (31-24 overall) hasn’t carried over to 2025 hype. Pitcher Kaitlyn Felton (0.79 ERA early) is a name to watch.
    • Underdog Angle: Last-place pick with sneaky potential if offense clicks.

Underdog Narrative

• Kansas, Iowa State, and Houston stand out as the ladder-climbers. Kansas has the roster depth and coaching to jump into the top half, Iowa State’s upset pedigree hints at chaos potential, and Houston’s offensive flashes could make them a spoiler if pitching improves. These teams, all picked outside the top five, embody the underdog spirit in a conference where Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, and Arizona dominate preseason chatter.
• Why They’re Rising: The departure of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC has leveled the Big 12 playing field. With Arizona, Arizona State, and Utah joining, the middle and lower tiers are chaotic, giving underdogs a chance to exploit early stumbles from favorites. X posts highlight Iowa State’s upset win and Kansas’s scrappiness as early indicators of 2025 potential.