It’s likely that the teams playing softball in the Big 12 Conference were excited to see Oklahoma and Texas depart for the Southeastern Conference after the 2024 season, but before the doors on their U-Hauls were even shut, four new schools – three of which play softball – became members of the Big 12.

Will one of the remaining members of the Big 12 finally get a chance to shine in softball, or will one of the newcomers swoop in and steal the spotlight?

• Subscribe To FloSoftball To Watch The 2025 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic
• College Softball Preseason All-Americans 2025. Here's Both Lists

The Big 12 had 10 teams in 2024, with Texas winning the regular-season title and Oklahoma winning the conference tournament. And OU went on to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive national title.

Those results shouldn’t be shocking, considering that Oklahoma won the regular-season title 15 times since 1996, including 11 straight from 2012-2023, along with nine of the 21 tournaments that were held in the same time frame. Texas won five and four, respectively, with no other team winning more than three of either.

Of the remaining teams – Baylor, BYU, Central Florida, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Oklahoma State and Texas Tech – OSU probably could’ve been considered the heir to the Big 12 throne, having become a perennial contender for the No. 2 or No. 3 spot in the standings and as the only team other than the Sooners to win the conference tournament in its last seven editions. 

Also, though Oklahoma State made a quick exit, the Cowgirls were one of the eight teams to advance to the NCAA Women’s College World Series in 2024.

Now, enter Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah to the Big 12, and all but Colorado into the softball mix.

How To Watch The Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic 2025

Watch the 2025 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic on FloSoftball and the FloSports App.

Replays of the games, highlights and more breaking news will be on both platforms.

A Look At The ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25

The ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 was released at the end of January, and it was not surprising that the first two teams on the list were the ones that bullied the Big 12 for decades and then played each other for the national title in 2024.

That’s right, Texas and Oklahoma landed among the top three places, though OU did slide to No. 3 (behind Florida) after losing quite a few seniors.

The poll definitely was SEC-heavy, with 11 schools making the top 25, but the new-look Big 12 held its own in the voting, too.

Oklahoma State, as it emerges from the OU/Texas shadows, landed at No. 4, Texas Tech earned the No. 10 spot, newcomer Arizona came in at No. 17 and Baylor was No. 19. 

Utah also received votes.

Having nearly half the conference recognized nationally is a big deal, but it will take a lot of hard work for the Big 12 to continue the run of success it has seen on the backs of Oklahoma and Texas. 

That's not the only major poll in town, though. 

A New Era In Big 12 Softball

Along with the national analysts and voters, the Big 12 softball coaches also have been busy measuring the talent in the conference heading into the 2025 season.

The Big 12 coaches saw the promise in the Oklahoma State program, as well, and voted the Cowgirls as the No. 1 team in the 2025 Big 12 Softball Preseason Poll, with OSU securing nine of the 11 first-place votes.

Here’s a look at the rankings, along with the Big 12 Softball Preseason Team:

2025 Big 12 Softball Preseason Poll

1.         Oklahoma State – 99 (9)
 2.        Texas Tech – 90 (2)
 3.        Arizona – 81
 4.        Baylor – 75
 5.        BYU – 54
 6.        Utah – 52
 7.        UCF – 51
 8.        Arizona State – 36
 9.        Kansas – 34
 10.      Iowa State – 23
 11.      Houston – 10

2025 Big 12 Softball Preseason Team

• Dakota Kennedy, Arizona, Jr., OF*
• Regan Shockey, Arizona, So., UTL*
• Kelsey Hall, Arizona State, Gr., OF
• Turiya Coleman, Baylor, Sr., C/INF
• Shaylon Govan, Baylor, Sr., INF*
• Lily Owens, BYU, Jr., UTL*
• Angelina Allen, Iowa State, Sr., OF
• Katie Brooks, Kansas, Sr., P/UTL
• Presley Limbaugh, Kansas, Jr., OF
• RyLee Crandall, Oklahoma State, Jr., P
• Megan Delgadillo, Oklahoma State, Gr., OF
• Tallen Edwards, Oklahoma State, Jr., UTL
• Karli Godwin, Oklahoma State, So., INF
• Ruby Meylan, Oklahoma State, Jr., P
• Claire Timm, Oklahoma State, Jr., OF
• NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech, Jr., P*
• Mihyia Davis, Texas Tech, Jr., OF
• Kaylah Nelsen, Utah, Sr., OF

The 2025 Phillips 66 Big 12 Softball Championship will take place May 7-10 at OGE Energy Field at Devon Park in Oklahoma City. 

Two Big 12 Teams Will Compete In 2025 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge

Oklahoma State and BYU will representing the Big 12 at the 2025 Puerto Vallarta Challenge, which will feature 10 talented programs from across the country. 

The event will take place across two weekends – Feb. 6-9 and Feb. 13-16 – with all games being played at the famed Nancy Almaraz Stadium in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. All of the games will be broadcast live on FloSoftball.

The first session of the 2025 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge will include Florida State, Louisiana Tech, Northern Colorado and Oklahoma State.

The second week of action will feature Boise State, BYU, Florida International, Illinois State, Indiana and North Dakota State.

Read more: BYU Softball At Puerto Vallarta College Challenge: What To Know

Read more: Oklahoma State At Puerto Vallarta College Challenge: What To Know

The complete schedule for the PVCC is listed below.

Three Big 12 Teams Will Compete At 2025 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic 

BYU will be pulling double duty when it comes to the big events that will help kick off the 2025 collegiate softball season, and it makes sense, as there probably isn’t a lot of softball being played in Provo, Utah, in the winter. 

So, the Cougars will be on the move in February, hitting both the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge in Mexico and the prestigious Mary Nutter College Classic in Cathedral City, California. 

BYU will be joined on the West Coast by fellow Big 12 teams, Baylor and Utah, but they’ll just be a small part of the of the 31-team field headed to the Big League Dreams Complex for the Mary Nutter.

Each team at the event will play five or six games from Feb. 20-23, and it will give them a chance to see top talent from all over the country. 

The complete Mary Nutter schedule is below.

Read more: How To Watch Baylor At The 2025 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

Read more: How To Watch BYU At The 2025 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

Where Are The Other Top Big 12 Teams Starting The 2025 Season?

Along with the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, there are many other early-season tournaments and invitationals that allow teams to see parts of the country and opposition they won’t face during the regular season.

Texas Tech Softball

No. 13 Texas Tech will start the season by bouncing around the country for four events.

The Red Raiders will start things off at the NFCA Leadoff Classic presented by MaxBP in Clearwater, Florida (Feb. 6-9), then head to Austin, Texas, for the University of Texas Tournament (Feb. 14-16).

A one-off contest with North Texas on Feb. 18 will precede the Jeannine McHaney Memorial Classic in Lubbock, Texas (Feb. 20-23), and the Texas A&M Tournament in College Station, Texas (Feb. 28-March 2).

Arizona Softball

The No. 16 Arizona Wildcats will spend almost the entire first month of the season at home at Hillenbrand Stadium for a series of events that will bring some of the best teams in the nation to Tucson, Arizona.

Up first will be the Candrea Classic (Feb. 6-9), which will be followed by the Bear Down Fiesta (Feb. 13-16) and the Hillenbrand Invitational (Feb. 20-23).

The first road game for Arizona will be a meeting with Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles on Feb. 26.

More About Big 12 Softball In 2025

In 2025, the Big 12 softball standings will include Arizona, Arizona State, Baylor, BYU, Central Florida, Houston, Iowa State, Kansas, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Utah.

How To Watch the 2025 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge

Watch the 2025 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge on FloSoftball and the FloSports App.

Replays of the games, highlights and breaking news will be on both platforms. 

FloSoftball will be streaming several other NCAA Division I College Softball tournaments, including the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic, Rocket City Softball Showcase, FAU Paradise Classic and the FAU Joan Joyce Classic.

2025 PVCC Team List - Session 1:

• Florida State
• Louisiana Tech
• Northern Colorado
• Oklahoma State

2025 PVCC Team List - Session 2:

• Boise State
• BYU
• Florida International
• Illinois State
• Indiana
• North Dakota State

When Is The Puerto Vallarta Softball Tournament?

Session 1 for PVCC will take place Feb. 6-9, followed by Session 2 from Feb. 13-16.

Where Is The Puerto Vallarta Softball Tournament?  

The Puerto Vallarta College Challenge is being held at Nancy Almaraz Stadium in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.

Puerto Vallarta College Challenge 2025 Schedule

All Times Central

PVCC Session 1

Feb. 6

• 10 a.m. – Florida State vs. Oklahoma State
• 1 p.m. – Florida State vs. Northern Colorado
• 4 p.m. – Northern Colorado vs. LA Tech

Feb. 7

• 1 p.m. – Florida State vs. LA Tech
• 4 p.m. – Oklahoma State vs. LA Tech
• 7 p.m. – Northern Colorado vs. Oklahoma State

Feb. 8

• 1 p.m. – LA Tech vs. Northern Colorado
• 4 p.m. – LA Tech vs. Florida State
• 7 p.m. – Oklahoma State vs. Florida State

PVCC Session 2 

Feb. 12

• Noon – North Dakota State vs. BYU

Feb. 13

• 10 a.m. – Florida International vs. Boise State
• 1 p.m. – Florida International vs. North Dakota State
• 4 p.m. – BYU vs. Illinois State
• 7 p.m. – Indiana vs. North Dakota State

Feb. 14

• 10 a.m. – Florida International vs. Illinois State
• 12:30 p.m. – Florida International vs. North Dakota State
• 3 p.m. – Illinois State vs. Indiana
• 6 p.m. – Boise State vs. Indiana
• 8:30 p.m. – Boise State vs. BYU

Feb. 15

• 10 a.m. – Illinois State vs. North Dakota State
• 1 p.m. – Indiana vs. BYU
• 4 p.m. – BYU vs. Florida International
• 7 p.m. – Boise State vs. Florida International

2025 Mary Nutter Team List

As of Sept. 4, 2024

• Arkansas
• Baylor
• Bethune Cookman
• BYU
• Cal-Berkeley
• Cal State Fullerton
• CSUN
• Duke
• Fresno State
• Hawai’i
• Howard University
• Long Beach State
• Loyola Marymount University
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• Northwestern
• Oregon
• Oregon State
• Rutgers
• Saint Mary’s College
• San Diego State
• San Jose State
• Seattle
• Tennessee
• UC Santa Barbara
• UCLA
• UC Riverside
• Utah
• Washington

When Is The 2025 Mary Nutter Softball Tournament?

The 2025 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic will take place Feb. 20-23.

Games begin Thursday and culminate with the final games on Sunday. 

Where Is The 2025 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic?  

The Mary Nutter Classic returns to the Big League Dreams Complex in Cathedral City, California. The complex has five fields available. 

Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic 2025 Schedule

All Times Eastern

Thursday, Feb. 20

Wrigley Field

• 12:30 p.m. – Rutgers vs. Arkansas
• 3 p.m. – Cal State Fullerton vs. Arkansas
• 5:30 p.m. – Nebraska vs. Baylor
• 8 p.m. – Missouri vs. UCLA
• 10:30 p.m. – Nebraska vs. UCLA

Yankee Stadium

• 1 p.m. – California vs. Oregon
• 3:30 p.m. – Tennessee vs. Oregon 
• 6 p.m. – Tennessee vs. Oregon State
• 8:30 p.m. – Washington vs. BYU
• 11 p.m. – Washington vs. UC Riverside

Fenway Park

• 1 p.m. – Nevada vs. Baylor
• 3:30 p.m. – Rutgers vs. Missouri
• 6 p.m. – Bethune-Cookman vs. Nevada
• 8:30 p.m. – Bethune-Cookman vs. UC Riverside
• 11 p.m. – CSUN vs. BYU

Des Moines Field

• 6 p.m. – California vs. Cal State Fullerton
• 8:30 p.m. – CSUN vs. Oregon State

Friday, Feb. 21

Wrigley Field

• 1:30 p.m. – Rutgers vs. Tennessee
• 4 p.m. – Duke vs. Nebraska
• 6:30 p.m. – Tennessee vs. UCLA
• 9 p.m. – Arkansas vs. Loyola Marymount
• 11:30 p.m. – California vs. Washington

Yankee Stadium

• 1 p.m. – Missouri vs. Baylor
• 3:30 p.m. – Missouri vs. Minnesota
• 6 p.m. – BYU vs. Hawai'i
• 8:30 p.m. – BYU vs. UC Santa Barbara
• 11 p.m. – Oregon State vs. UC Santa Barbara

Fenway Park

• 1:30 p.m. – Oregon vs. Utah
• 4 p.m. – Oregon vs. San Diego State
• 6:30 p.m. – Howard vs. Duke
• 9 p.m. – Northwestern vs. Seattle
• 11:30 p.m. – Howard vs. San Jose State

Des Moines Field

• 1 p.m. – Fresno State vs. Minnesota
• 3:30 p.m. – Fresno State vs. Seattle
• 6 p.m. – Long Beach State vs. Utah
• 8:30 p.m. – Nevada vs. UC Riverside
• 11 p.m. – Nevada vs. Hawai'i

Pawtucket Field

• 1 p.m. – Cal State Fullerton vs. Bethune-Cookman
• 3:30 p.m. – Rutgers vs. Bethune-Cookman
• 6 p.m. – Cal State Fullerton vs. Saint Mary’s
• 8:30 p.m. – San Jose State vs. CSUN
• 11 p.m. – Saint Mary’s vs. CSUN

Saturday, Feb. 22

Wrigley Field

• 1 p.m. – Baylor vs. Arkansas
• 3:30 p.m. – Baylor vs. UCLA
• 6 p.m. – Arkansas vs. UCLA
• 8:30 p.m. – San Jose State vs. Nebraska
• 11 p.m. – Howard vs. Nebraska

Yankee Stadium

• 12:30 p.m. – Oregon vs. Missouri
• 3 p.m. – Utah vs. Cal State Fullerton
• 5:30 p.m. – Utah vs. Northwestern 
• 8 p.m. – Saint Mary’s vs. Northwestern
• 10:30 p.m. – Saint Mary’s vs. Hawai'i

Fenway Park

• 12:30 p.m. – BYU vs. Duke
• 3 p.m. – Minnesota vs. Duke
• 5:30 p.m. – Minnesota vs. Tennessee
• 8 p.m. – UC Riverside vs. Rutgers
• 10:30 p.m. – UC Santa Barbara vs. Washington

Des Moines Field

• 12:30 p.m. – Seattle vs. Long Beach State
• 3 p.m. – Oregon State vs. Long Beach State
• 5:30 p.m. – Oregon State vs. Rutgers
• 8 p.m. – UC Santa Barbara vs. San Diego State
• 10:30 p.m. – UC Riverside vs. San Diego State

Pawtucket Field

• 12:30 p.m. – Bethune-Cookman vs. Fresno State
• 3 p.m. – CSU vs. Nevada
• 5:30 p.m. – Seattle vs. California
• 8 p.m. – Loyola Marymount vs. California
• 10:30 p.m. – Loyola Marymount vs. San Jose State

Sunday, Feb. 23

Wrigley Field

• Noon – Duke vs. UCLA
• 2 p.m. – Nebraska vs. Utah
• 4 p.m. – San Diego State vs. Hawai'i

Yankee Stadium

• 12:30 p.m. – Washington vs. Fresno State
• 2:30 p.m. – Hawai'i vs. Loyola Marymount
• 4:30 p.m. – Howard vs. Loyola Marymount

Fenway Park

• Noon – Northwestern vs. California
• 2 p.m. – San Diego State vs. Saint Mary’s

Des Moines Field

• 12:30 p.m. – Long Beach State vs. Minnesota
• 2:30 p.m. – Long Beach State vs. Howard

Pawtucket Field

• Noon – Seattle vs. Oregon State
• 2 p.m. – San Jose State vs. UC Santa Barbara

FloSoftball Archived Footage

Video footage from the event will be archived and stored in a video library for FloSoftball subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.

Join The Conversation On Social

• Follow us on Twitter @FloCollegeSB
• Follow us on Instagram @flosoftball
• Like us on Facebook
• Watch us on YouTube @FloCollegeSoftball