Seven Big Ten Softball Teams Selected to NCAA Tournament
Nebraska, UCLA receive top eight seeds, Oregon selected as top 16 seed
ROSEMONT, Ill. - The Big Ten has qualified seven teams for the 2026 NCAA Division I Softball Tournament. Nebraska received the conference’s automatic bid, while UCLA, Oregon, Indiana, Michigan, Washington and Wisconsin earned at-large bids into this year’s tournament.
Nebraska (No. 4 seed), UCLA (No. 8 seed) and Oregon (No. 14 seed) will each host a regional, with Nebraska and UCLA hosting a super regional if they were to win this weekend’s regional.
The NCAA field includes 64 teams taking part in 16 on-campus regionals in a double-elimination format, May 15-17. Sixteen winners will advance to eight on-campus super regionals on May 21-24, with eight teams advancing to the NCAA Women’s College World Series (WCWS), held May 28-June 4/5, at Devon Park in Oklahoma City, Okla. The WCWS is double elimination during bracket play and best-of-three for the championship series.
No. 4 Nebraska (46-6) was selected for the tournament for the 28th time in program history and 24th time in the last 31 seasons. The Huskers, who are hosting a regional for the first time since 2013, will begin tournament play against South Dakota at 6:30 p.m. ET on Friday, May 15.
No. 8 seed UCLA (47-8) is making its record 41st NCAA Tournament appearance and will host a regional for the 12th straight season, welcoming Cal Baptist to Easton Stadium on Friday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPN2. South Carolina and Cal State Fullerton are also in the Los Angeles Regional.
No. 14 seed Oregon (40-12) will begin the postseason at Jane Sanders Stadium, hosting Idaho State on Friday at 10 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The Ducks will be making their sixth-straight NCAA tournament appearance and 26th overall.
Indiana (42-14) begins its postseason run in Knoxville against Virginia on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The Hoosiers have advanced to the NCAA Tournament in four consecutive seasons and 11 times overall.
Michigan (34-20) earned its 32nd selection to the NCAA Tournament and will head to the Norman Regional to open play against Kansas on Friday at 6 p.m. ET on ESPNU. The Wolverines have advanced to the NCAA postseason 30 times in the last 31 seasons.
Washington (36-18) will make its 32nd consecutive NCAA Regional appearance, heading to the Fayetteville Regional to face South Florida on Friday at 8 p.m. ET on ESPNU.
Wisconsin (32-19) earned its first berth to the NCAA Tournament since 2022 and will begin the postseason at the Austin Regional against Baylor on Friday at 1:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+. The Badgers will make their 10th NCAA Tournament appearance and their eighth under head coach Yvette Healy.
Austin Regional
Baylor vs. Wisconsin – Friday, May 15, 1:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Other regional teams: No. 2 Texas, Wagner
Eugene Regional
Idaho State vs. No. 14 Oregon – Friday, May 15, 10 p.m. ET, ESPNU
Other regional teams: Saint Mary’s, Mississippi State
Fayetteville Regional
South Florida vs. Washington – Friday, May 15, 8 p.m. ET, ESPNU
Other regional teams: No. 5 Arkansas, Fordham
Knoxville Regional
Indiana vs. Virginia – Friday, May 15, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Other regional teams: No. 7 Tennessee, Northern Kentucky
Lincoln Regional
South Dakota vs. No. 4 Nebraska – Friday, May 15, 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN+
Other regional teams: Grand Canyon, Louisville
Los Angeles Regional
Cal Baptist vs. No. 8 UCLA – Friday, May 15, 10 p.m. ET, ESPN2
Other regional teams: Cal State Fullerton, South Carolina
Norman Regional
Michigan vs. Kansas – Friday, May 15, 6 p.m. ET, ESPNU
Other regional teams: No. 3 Oklahoma, Binghamton