The Road to OKC: 2026 NCAA Softball Automatic Qualifiers Tracker

There are 31 automatic qualifiers for the 2026 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament, and the Road to Oklahoma City begins Thursday, April 30.

Only one conference does not have a tournament, the West Coast Conference, and the automatic qualifier will belong to the regular-season champion.

All conference tournaments will conclude on Saturday, May 9, and Selection Sunday will be May 10.

The selection show will air at 7 p.m. ET on Sunday, May 10 on ESPN2.

Track all of the automatic bids with Softball On SI.

America East: Binghamton Bearcats

American: USF Bulls

The USF Bulls repeat as American champs.

ASUN: Stetson Hatters

With a 4-0 shutout of Central Arkansas, the Stetson Hatters are ASUN champs.

Atlantic 10: Fordham Rams

ACC: Florida State Seminoles

Florida State won its 20th ACC title in a 2-1 win over Virginia Tech.

Big 12: Arizona State Sun Devils

Arizona State hit three home runs and Kenzie Brown struck out nine to give the Sun Devils their first Big 12 Tournament title.

Big EAST: UConn Huskies

The Huskies won their second straight conference title after taking down Creighton in a decisive game two.

Big Sky: Idaho State Bengals

Idaho State was the first program to punch its ticket to the NCAA Tournament. This also marks the first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.

Big South: USC Upstate Spartans

Big Ten: Nebraska Cornhuskers

With a 7-2 win over UCLA, Nebraska clinched the Big Ten crowd.

Big West: Cal State Fullerton Titans

CAA: College of Charleston Cougars

The College of Charleston Cougars will return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2005.

Conference USA: Jax State Gamecocks

The Jax State Gamecocks came from behind to beat Liberty and earn an NCAA Tournament bid.

Horizon: Northern Kentucky Norse

Ivy: May 7-9 at No. 1 seed

MAAC: May 6-9 at No. 1 seed

MAC: Akron Zips

MEAC: Howard Bison

Missouri Valley: Belmont Bruins

Mountain West: Grand Canyon Lopes

In the greatest comeback in GCU softball history, the Lopes managed to take down Nevada 11-10. They were down 9-0 after a disastrous first inning, but marched back with a three-run fifth inning and a four-run seventh inning. 

NEC: Wagner Seahawks

For the first time in program history, the Wagner Seahawks are NEC champs.

Ohio Valley: Eastern Illinois Panthers

Patriot League: Boston University Terriers

The BU Terriers and danvcing for a fourth consecutive year.

SEC: Texas Longhorns

The Longhorns won their first conference tournament title since 2005 and first under Mike White after combining for 13 hits. 

Katie Stewart led the offense, going 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a solo home run. Ace Tegan Kavan struck out 12 in the complete game victory. 

SoCon: May 6-9 at Chattanooga

Southland: April 30 - May 9 at No. 1-2 seeds, high seed

SWAC: May 5-8/9 at Gulfport, Miss.

Summit League: South Dakota Coyotes

Sun Belt: May 6-9 at Louisiana

WCC: Saint Mary's Gaels

For the second time in three years, the Saint Mary's Gaels are NCAA Tournament bound.

WAC: California Baptist Lancers

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