The BIG EAST may be small, but it sure is mighty, and the conference is looking to have as big an impact in softball as it does in other sports, such as women’s basketball, where the UConn Huskies own the most national championships by one program (11).

In recent years, the only representation the BIG EAST has had in in the NCAA Division I Softball Championship has been through the automatic bid given to the winner of the conference tournament. 

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

Of the nine teams that will call the BIG EAST home in 2025, DePaul has the most postseason experience with 21 trips to the national tournament since 1994. 

Creighton has advanced 12 times, and UConn has made the big bracket eight times. None of the other teams have more than four tournament appearances.

Perhaps 2025 is the year the BIG EAST breaks through in softball.

Last season, Villanova had a milestone season, advancing further into the tournament than it ever has. The Wildcats made it to the final of the NCAA Fayetteville Regional, where they fell to Arizona, 9-4, to see their season come to an end.

VU’s two NCAA Regional wins in 2024 was one more than in the previous 48 seasons combined. 

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.

The BIG EAST In The NFCA/GoRout Division I Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll

The ESPN.com/USA Softball Collegiate Top 25 was released at the end of January, but there weren’t any BIG EAST teams on the list or receiving votes.

There are 31 NCAA Division I conferences represented in the voting process, with one voting coach hailing from each. 

The top 25 included 11 teams from the Southeastern Conference, five teams from the ACC, five from the Big Ten and four Big 12 schools, so all of the real estate is accounted for – for now. 

That's just one of the major polls across the collegiate softball landscape. 

Read more: College Softball Rankings – Here’s The NFCA Preseason Coaches Poll

The BIG EAST also did not land any teams on the 2025 D1Softball Preseason Top 25.

A Closer Look At BIG EAST Softball

Along with the national analysts and voters, the BIG EAST softball coaches also have been taking a closer look at the level of talent within the conference and trying to predict who’s going to shine in 2025.

The consensus among the BIG EAST coaches was that Villanova again would rise to the top of the conference standings. They were right last year, as the Wildcats cruised to the regular-season title – the first in program history – and parlayed that into their third BIG EAST Tournament win in four years (2021, 2022, 2024).

The Villanova momentum carried into the NCAA Division I Softball Championship, where the Wildcats picked up the second and third tournament-game wins in program history and advanced to a regional final for the first time. 

Though the run ended there, the bar has been raised after four consecutive 30-win seasons (33-24 in 2024), and the Wildcats are expected to continue their upward trajectory. 

Villanova earned 61 points and six first-place votes in the 2025 BIG EAST Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll, while basketball powerhouse, UConn, landed in the No. 2 spot with 57 points and two first-place votes. 

Here’s a look at the rankings:

2025 BIG EAST Softball Preseason Poll

1. Villanova – 61 (6)
2. UConn – 57 (2)
3. St. John’s – 46
4. Creighton – 43 (1)
5. Seton Hall – 39
6. Butler – 28
7. Providence – 27
8. DePaul – 14
9. Georgetown – 9 

The 2025 BIG EAST Softball Championship will take place May 7-10 at the Villanova Softball Complex in Villanova, Pennsylvania. 

No BIG EAST Teams Will Compete At 2025 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge

The BIG EAST teams will be as busy and any others when the 2025 collegiate softball season kicks off during the first week of February, but none of the conference’s nine teams will be venturing out of the cold and down to Mexico for the 2025 Puerto Vallarta College Challenge.

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.

The complete schedule for the PVCC is listed below.

BIG EAST Teams Also Skipping 2025 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic 

There will be more than 30 collegiate softball teams headed west for the prestigious Mary Nutter College Classic in Cathedral City, California, in 2025, but the field won’t include any BIG EAST teams. 

The programs that do converge on the Big League Dreams Complex for the Mary Nutter 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.

But if the schools of the BIG EAST aren’t going to be in Mexico OR California, where are they going to be when the 2025 season gets underway during the first week of February?

The complete Mary Nutter schedule is listed below.

Where Are The Top BIG EAST Teams Starting The 2025 Season?

Along with the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge and 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.

Villanova Softball

Villanova’s quest for a fifth consecutive 30-win season will begin Feb. 6 at the Aggie Classic in College Station, Texas (Feb. 6-8). 

The Wildcats then will hit the Joan Joyce Classic in Boca Raton, Florida (Feb. 14-16), the Clemson Classic in Clemson, South Carolina (Feb. 21-23), and the Hokie Invite in Salem, Virginia (Feb. 28-March 2), before returning home to face UConn for the start of conference play.

UConn Softball

UConn softball also will head south to start the 2025 campaign, with the Huskies kicking things off Feb. 7 at the Elon Softball Classic in Elon, North Carolina.

Their travels then will take them to the JU/UNF Invitational in Jacksonville, Florida (Feb. 14-16), Rawlings Classic in Charlottesville, Virginia (Feb. 21-23), and the Chanticleer Showdown in Conway, South Carolina (Feb. 28-March 2), before headed up to meet Villanova in Pennsylvania.

St. John’s Softball

St. John’s will begin the season with a tour of Texas that starts Feb. 7. The Red Storm will face Houston Christian, Houston, No. 1-ranked Texas, Lamar and New Mexico, before heading to the USF Softball Tournament in Tampa, Florida (Feb. 14-16).

The Garnet and Gold Tournament in Rock Hill, South Carolina (Feb. 21-Feb. 23), will be up next, followed by the Kennesaw State Tournament in Kennesaw, Georgia (Feb. 28-March 2).

More About BIG EAST Softball In 2025

In 2025, the BIG EAST softball standings will include Butler, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Providence, Seton Hall, St. John’s, UConn and Villanova.

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

How To Watch The 2025 Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic

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

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

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.

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