Tennessee softball is the consensus No. 1-ranked team in the country across the major polls after a 23-0 (3-0 SEC) start to the season. Analytics agree.
In the first release of the RPI rankings for NCAA Division I softball, the Lady Vols clock in at the top spot, as well. This is a tool used by the selection committee to determine the field for the NCAA Tournament.
Tennessee is trailed by SEC foe Alabama in the rankings. The Tide are one of three teams that remain undefeated, joining the Lady Vols and Grand Canyon.
Third place goes to Nebraska, which Tennessee already handled in Clearwater. Then, it’s Texas, Florida and Arkansas. Seventh place goes to UCLA, another team that the Lady Vols flew past in Clearwater earlier this season. LSU, which UT just swept at home, clocks in at eighth.
The remaining top-10 is Mississippi State and Virginia Tech. The top-15 includes Florida State, Georgia, Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Stanford.
More From RTI: The Weekly Weekly: No. 1 Tennessee Softball Stays Perfect, Sweeps LSU in SEC Opener
This week, Tennessee will play on the road against Austin Peay on Tuesday and Lipscomb on Wednesday. So far, the Lady Vols are 1-0 in true road games, beating UAB earlier in the year.
Then, Tennessee hits the road to play Mississippi State in Starkville over the weekend. The Bulldogs are No. 9 in the RPI rankings.
The other SEC series and their RPI rankings are at No. 5 Florida, vs. No. 22 Ole Miss, vs. No. 28 South Carolina, at No. 29 Kentucky, vs. No. 2 Alabama and at No. 67 Missouri. UT is also scheduled to play at No. 52 Duke.
As the season rages on, Tennessee is now awaiting updates on the status of star pitcher Karlyn Pickens. Arguably the best player in the country, Pickens suffered an injury last Tuesday, early in her outing against Belmont. She was diagnosed with arm soreness and is listed as day-to-day. She did not pitch at all in the sweep over LSU the ensuing weekend.
More to follow: Kentucky derby betting
