The 2024 college softball season is the last with the current conference alignment. Soon, most of the Pac-12 will dissolve into the Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC while the SEC is adding the likes of Oklahoma and Texas — the No. 1 and No. 2 overall seeds in this year’s NCAA Tournament.
That adds to the depth of the conference, as the SEC has qualified seven teams into the Super Regional rounds of this year’s tournament. Ahead of Friday’s 6-5 upset win against the Longhorns, Texas A&M head coach Trisha Ford revealed her thoughts on the incoming talent coming to her conference next season.
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“You know I’m a straight shooter. OU and Texas are going to be fine in the SEC,” Ford said. “I think they’re going to only add to the level of play. I’m excited, to be honest with you. I think we’re all gonna go out there compete our tails off. We’ve been itching to get them in there because we all want to play them every single year and it’s just it’s great for us. And it’s great for the sport to be honest.”
Just as Ford said — her team came out and did something only three teams had done this season and defeated the top-ranked Longhorns on their home field.
Of course, the matchup was not without its controversy. Texas A&M-Texas is a long-standing rivalry, so there was no surprise when things got chippy in the sixth inning. To end the top of the 6th inning — with Texas A&M leading Texas 6-0 — Aggies infielder Kennedy Powell was thrown out at first base but appeared to step on Texas infielder Katie Stewart. Replay showed it was close but that Powell and Stewart made mostly shin-to-shin contact.
A coach from both dugouts were ejected from the game before the fiasco was over. Texas then poured on five runs during the sixth and seventh inning and were in threatening to tie the game before the Aggies finished the Longhorns off.
Game 2 is expected to be just as intense, as the top-ranked team in the NCAA Tournament has its back against the wall on their own home field. The first pitch between Texas and Texas A&M is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET and will air live on ESPN and on the ESPN app.
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