It is officially rivalry week for Florida softball.
The Gators saved some of their fiercest fierce opponents for the end of the season, and wrap up the regular portion of it this week with matchups vs. Florida State and Georgia.
Not only are bragging rights on the line, but the games hold big implications for national seedings, rankings and the SEC Tournament.
The Gators already completed three of the four steps on their top 25 Florida tour last week. UF swept UCF in dominant fashion by a combined 14-0 over the weekend. Olivia Miller was the star. The Orlando native shined in Orange County Saturday with a one hit, complete game shutout.
The Knights remain ranked in the NFCA and USA Softball Polls at No. 22 and 23, respectively.
Unfortunately for Florida, the 3-1 loss in Tallahassee on Wednesday dropped them in most national rankings. In all four polls, the Gators are right on the Super Regional hosting line. However, the all-important RPI still has the Orange and Blue at No. 5, where they’ve sat steady for over a week.
Anything but an 0-4 week should lock up a top eight seed for the Gators heading into the SEC Tournament.
As for that, UF can still win the regular season crown…or finish as low as No. 7 in the conference.
Here’s the complete scenarios, plus a full rankings update.
How can Florida softball win the SEC?
With No. 4/3 Alabama losing two of out of three to No. 8/9 Tennessee, No. 6/8 Florida moved into a tie for second place in the conference with the Crimson Tide. The two didn’t play this season, so the next tiebreaker is record vs. the highest seeded common opponent. That would be the Volunteers. UF won two of three from the Vols, giving the Gators the tiebreaker.
No. 1/1 Oklahoma, though, still leads the conference and can still win the conference with just one win this weekend. The Sooners travel to No. 14/12 Texas A&M. OU holds the tiebreaker over Florida.
A sweep over No. 17/14 Georgia locks up the second seed at worst for the Gators, while a Bulldogs sweep can send the squad to as low as a seven seed. Alabama hosts RV/No. 21 South Carolina, No. 10/7 Arkansas visits No. 7/5 Texas and Tennessee travels to Missouri.
Florida softball ranking update — Post FSU/UCF April 28
National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NCFA): No. 6 (-1)
ESPN.com/USA Softball: No. 8 (No change)
D1 Softball: No. 9 (-2)
Softball America: No. 9 (-2)
USA Today Network Super 16: No. 8 (-1)
RPI: No. 5
The week ahead for the Gators
Home
No. 9/10 Florida State: Tuesday, April 28 (7 p.m., SEC Network)
Away
No. 17/14 Georgia: Thursday, April 30 (6 p.m., SEC Network+); Friday, May 1 (6 p.m., SEC Network+); Saturday, May 2 (12 p.m., ESPN)
Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1 and on Instagram @Ramreporter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: How can Florida softball win the SEC? Plus national rankings update
Reporting by Noah Ram, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
