BRISTOL, Conn. — ESPN, which continues its long-standing commitment to softball, announced its television schedule for the 2017 season. Beginning in February, ESPN will offer over 600 college softball games across its variety of networks.
The industry-leading slate features unanimous preseason No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 Auburn, No. 3 Florida State, t-No. 4 Florida, and t-No.4 LSU in more than 100 games and nearly every team in the USA Today/NFCA preseason top 25. More than 65 games airing on television has a ranked team, including at least 35 games with ranked teams facing one another.
ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, Longhorn Network, SEC Network, ACC Network Extra, ESPN3, and SEC Network + will all carry games.
Best of the Best
- No. 19 Missouri at No. 3 Florida (March 11-13)
- No. 2 Auburn at No. 3 Florida (March 25-27)
- No. 2 Auburn at No. 10 Georgia (April 1-2)
- No. 5 LSU at No. 7 Alabama (April 8-9)
- No. 9 Oregon at No. 8 UCLA (April 9)
- No. 9 Oregon at No. 12 Arizona (April 22-23)
- No. 21 Baylor at No. 1 Oklahoma (April 22-23)
- National Champion and No. 1 Ranked Sooners: The defending Women’s College World Series champions air seven time. In addition to the before mentioned series with Baylor, the Sooners will be at Texas (April 7-9) and at Oklahoma State (May 3 & 6).
- No. 2 Auburn Tigers:Last season’s WCWS runner-up and preseason No. 2 will be shown more than 30 times this season, including during SEC Network’s opening weekend when the Tigers host t-No. 4 LSU (March 11-12).
- SEC Network: Begins its more than 50-game schedule with an “All Softball Weekend” (March 11-12), airing eight games which showcases every SEC conference matchup that weekend.
- Longhorn Network: Features nearly every Texas home game and airs 35 games in total this season. The network’s schedule begins with the Texas Classic (Feb 10-12), which also features No. 16 Minnesota.
- ACC Network Extra: All 11 ACC schools will be featured multiple times throughout the season, with more than 100 games streaming on WatchESPN and the ESPN app. The schedule is highlighted with 40 games featuring a ranked matchup, including No. 3 Florida State vs. No. 22 Notre Dame (March 17-19). ACC Network Extra’s schedule will continuously be updated here as additional games are added.
- SEC Network +: Streams more than 250 games this season featuring contests from every SEC school, which in addition to Auburn, Florida and LSU, includes No. 7 Alabama, No. 12 Georgia, No. 15 Tennessee, No. 17 Missouri, No. 19 Texas A&M and No. 20 Kentucky.
- ESPN3: Expected to stream more than 200 games from more than 10 conferences, which is likely to include Atlantic Sun, Big East, Big South, Big West, Horizon League, Ivy, Metro Atlantic, Missouri Valley, Southland, Sun Belt, and Western Athletic. No. 11 11 Louisiana is expected to be featured. More information on the network’s schedule will be updated here.
- Conference Championships: The regular season slate concludes with a triple header of conference championship games aired on ESPN (May 13) – American, ACC and SEC. ESPNU and SEC Network will televise the earlier rounds of the SEC Championship, while ACC Network Extra will carry the early rounds of the ACC tournament. ESPN3 is also expected to carry a number of conference championships with that schedule announced later.
- NCAA Division I Softball Championship: ESPN will once again be the home of the postseason beginning with the selection show (May 14 on ESPNU). Regional, Super Regional and Women’s College World Series coverage will follow with complete details announced in the coming months.
| Date |
Time (ET) |
Game |
Network |
| Feb 9 |
2 p.m. |
No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 2 Auburn |
ESPNU** |
| Feb 10 |
12:30 p.m. |
Maryland vs. No. 14 Minnesota |
Longhorn Network |
| |
3:00 p.m. |
Maryland vs. Colorado State |
Longhorn Network |
| |
5:30 p.m. |
Colorado State at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| |
8:00 p.m. |
No. 14 Minnesota at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| Feb 11 |
Noon |
Colorado State vs. Maryland |
Longhorn Network |
| |
5:00 p.m. |
No. 14 Minnesota at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| |
7:30 p.m. |
Maryland at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| |
9:30 p.m. |
Colorado State vs. No. 14 Minnesota |
Longhorn Network * |
| Feb 12 |
11:00 a.m. |
No. 14 Minnesota vs. Maryland |
Longhorn Network |
| |
1:30 p.m. |
Colorado State at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| Feb 16 |
7:00 p.m. |
Indiana vs. Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| Feb 17 |
11:00 a.m. |
Indiana vs Louisiana Tech |
Longhorn Network |
| |
1:30 p.m. |
Louisiana Tech vs. Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| |
4:00 p.m. |
South Carolina vs. Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| |
10:30 p.m. |
Indiana vs. South Carolina |
Longhorn Network * |
| Feb 18 |
11:00 a.m. |
Indiana at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| |
11 p.m. |
Louisiana Tech at Texas |
Longhorn Network* |
| Feb 19 |
1 a.m. |
Indiana vs. South Carolina |
Longhorn Network * |
| |
3 a.m. |
Louisiana Tech vs. South Carolina |
Longhorn Network* |
| |
Noon |
Louisiana Tech at South Carolina |
Longhorn Network |
| March 1 |
7 p.m. |
Texas State at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| March 7 |
7:30 p.m. |
Troy at Mississippi State |
SEC Network |
| March 8 |
5:00 P.M. |
UT San Antonio at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| March 11 |
11:30 a.m. |
No. 16 Missouri at t-No. 4 Florida |
ESPNU |
| |
1:00 p.m. |
South Carolina at No. 15 Tennessee |
SEC Network |
| |
3:30 p.m. |
Mississippi State at No. 19 Texas A&M |
SEC Network |
| |
6:00 p.m. |
Arkansas at No. 7 Alabama |
SEC Network |
| |
8:30 p.m. |
t-No. 4 LSU at No. 2 Auburn |
SEC Network |
| March 12 |
1:00 p.m. |
South Carolina at No. 15 Tennessee |
SEC Network |
| |
3:00 p.m. |
Mississippi State at No. 19 Texas A&M |
SEC Network |
| |
5:00 p.m. |
t-No. 4 LSU at No. 2 Auburn |
SEC Network |
| |
6:00 p.m. |
No. 16 Missouri at t-No. 4 Florida |
ESPNU |
| March 13 |
7:00 p.m. |
No. 16 Missouri at t-No. 4 Florida |
SEC Network |
| March 17 |
6:00 p.m. |
Southern at Mississippi Valley State |
ESPNU |
| March 18 |
Noon. |
No. 20 Kentucky at No. 12 Georgia |
SEC Network |
| March 19 |
7:00 p.m. |
No. 20 Kentucky at No. 12 Georgia |
SEC Network |
| March 20 |
7 p.m. |
No. 20 Kentucky at No. 12 Georgia |
SEC Network |
| March 22 |
5 p.m. |
McNeese State at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| |
7:30 p.m. |
North Carolina at No. 15 Tennessee |
SEC Network |
| March 25 |
6:00 p.m. |
Ole Miss at No. 15 Tennessee |
SEC Network |
| |
6:00 p.m. |
No. 2 Auburn at t-No. 4 Florida |
ESPN2 |
| March 26 |
1:00 p.m. |
No. 16 Missouri at No. 18 Texas A&M |
ESPNU |
| |
7:00 p.m. |
No. 2 Auburn at t-No. 4 Florida |
ESPN2 |
| March 27 |
7:00 p.m. |
No. 2 Auburn at t-No. 4 Florida |
SEC Network |
| March 29 |
7:00 p.m. |
Oklahoma State at Arkansas |
SEC Network |
| April 1 |
4:00 p.m. |
No. 20 Kentucky at Ole Miss |
ESPNU |
| |
4:00 p.m. |
No. 7 Alabama at No. 16 Missouri |
SEC Network |
| |
6:00 p.m. |
No. 19 Texas A&M at South Carolina |
SEC Network |
| |
7:00 p.m. |
No. 2 Auburn at No. 12 Georgia |
ESPN2 |
| April 2 |
2:00 p.m. |
Houston at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| |
4:30 p.m. |
Houston at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| |
Noon |
No. 2 Auburn at No. 12 Georgia |
SEC Network |
| |
2:00 p.m. |
No. 20 Kentucky at Ole Miss |
SEC Network |
| |
2:00 p.m. |
No. 22 Notre Dame at Louisville |
ESPNU |
| |
7:00 p.m. |
No. 19 Texas A&M at South Carolina |
SEC Network |
| April 3 |
7:00 p.m. |
No. 19 Texas A&M at South Carolina |
SEC Network |
| |
7:00 p.m. |
No. 22 Notre Dame at Louisville |
ESPNU |
| April 5 |
7 p.m. |
Western Kentucky at No. 20 Kentucky |
SEC Network |
| April 7 |
5:30 p.m. |
No. 1 Oklahoma at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| April 8 |
2 p.m. |
No. 1 Oklahoma at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| |
4 p.m. |
Ole Miss at No. 2 Auburn |
ESPNU |
| |
9 p.m. |
t-No. 4 LSU at No. 7 Alabama |
SEC Network |
| April 9 |
1 p.m. |
No. 1 Oklahoma at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| |
3:00 p.m. |
t-No. 4 LSU at No. 7 Alabama |
ESPN2 |
| |
5:00 p.m. |
No. 9 Oregon at No. 8 UCLA |
ESPNU |
| |
7:00 p.m. |
No. 12 Georgia at t-No. 4 Florida |
SEC Network |
| April 10 |
7:00 p.m. |
No. 12 Georgia at t-No. 4 Florida |
SEC Network |
| April 12 |
7:00 p.m. |
No. 4 Florida State at t-No. 4 Florida |
SEC Network |
| April 13 |
6:00 p.m. |
t-No. 24 South Florida at Central Florida |
ESPNU |
| April 14 |
6:00 p.m. |
No. 19 Texas A&M at Arkansas |
ESPNU |
| |
3:30 p.m. |
Savannah State at Florida A&M |
ESPNU |
| April 15 |
6:00 p.m. |
No. 7 Alabama at No. 15 Tennessee |
SEC Network |
| April 16 |
3:00 p.m. |
No. 16 Missouri at No. 2 Auburn |
ESPN2 |
| |
7 p.m. |
No. 7 Alabama at No. 15 Tennessee |
SEC Network |
| April 17 |
7 p.m. |
No. 7 Alabama at No. 15 Tennessee |
SEC Network |
| April 19 |
7 p.m. |
Louisiana-Monroe at Arkansas |
SEC Network |
| |
7 p.m. |
Texas Southern at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| April 21 |
5:30 p.m. |
Iowa State at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| April 22 |
2:00 p.m. |
Iowa State at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| |
3:00 p.m. |
No. 21 Baylor at No. 1 Oklahoma |
ESPN2 |
| |
5:00 p.m. |
No. 9 Oregon at No. 10 Arizona |
ESPN2 |
| |
6:00 p.m. |
No. 12 Georgia at No. 19 Texas A&M |
SEC Network |
| |
8:30 p.m. |
Arkansas at Mississippi State |
SEC Network |
| April 23 |
Noon |
Iowa State at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| |
Noon |
Ole Miss at No. 3 Florida |
SEC Network |
| |
Noon |
No. 3 Florida State at Louisville |
ESPNU |
| |
1:00 p.m. |
No. 21 Baylor at No. 1 Oklahoma |
ESPN2 |
| |
2:00 p.m. |
No. 15 Tennessee at t-No. 4 LSU |
SEC Network |
| |
3:00 p.m. |
No. 9 Oregon at No. 10 Arizona |
ESPN2 |
| |
7 p.m. |
Arkansas at Mississippi State |
SEC Network |
| April 24 |
7:00 p.m. |
Arkansas at Mississippi State |
SEC Network |
| |
7:00 p.m. |
No. 3 Florida State at Louisville |
ESPNU |
| April 26 |
7 p.m. |
North Texas at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| April 29 |
2:00 p.m. |
Longwood at Radford |
ESPNU |
| |
3:00 p.m. |
No. 19 Texas A&M at No. 20 Kentucky |
SEC Network |
| |
8:00 p.m. |
No. 16 Missouri at t-No. 4 LSU |
ESPN2 |
| April 30 |
1:00 p.m. |
t-No. 4 Florida at No. 15 Tennessee |
ESPN2 |
| |
3:00 p.m. |
No. 16 Missouri at t-No. 4 LSU |
ESPN2 |
| |
6:00 p.m. |
Cal State Fullerton |
ESPNU |
| |
7:00 p.m. |
No. 7 Alabama at Ole Miss |
SEC Network |
| May 1 |
7:00 p.m. |
No. 7 Alabama at Ole Miss |
SEC Network |
| May 3 |
5 p.m. |
No. 19 Texas A&M Corpus Christi at Texas |
Longhorn Network |
| |
7:00 p.m. |
Southern Miss at Ole Miss |
SEC Network |
| |
7:30 p.m. |
No. 1 Oklahoma at Oklahoma State |
ESPNU |
| May 5 |
7 p.m. |
Bases Loaded |
SEC Network |
| May 6 |
4:00 p.m. |
No. 20 Kentucky at Mississippi State |
SEC Network |
| |
5:00 p.m. |
No. 1 Oklahoma at Oklahoma State |
ESPNU |
| |
6:00 p.m. |
t-No. 4 LSU at South Carolina |
SEC Network |
| |
7:00 p.m. |
No. 2 Auburn at No. 7 Alabama |
ESPN2 |
| |
9:00 p.m. |
No. 10 Arizona at No. 8 UCLA |
ESPNU |
| May 7 |
Noon |
t-No. 4 LSU at South Carolina |
SEC Network |
| |
1:00 p.m. |
No. 2 Auburn at No. 7 Alabama |
ESPN2 |
| |
2:00 p.m. |
No. 21 Baylor at Texas |
LHN |
| |
4:00 p.m. |
No. 10 Arizona at No. 8 UCLA |
ESPN2 |
| May 10 |
Noon |
SEC Tournament – First Round |
SEC Network |
| |
2:30 p.m. |
SEC Tournament – First Round |
SEC Network |
| |
5:00 p.m. |
SEC Tournament – First Round |
SEC Network |
| |
7:30 p.m. |
SEC Tournament – First Round |
SEC Network |
| May 11 |
Noon |
SEC Tournament – Second Round |
SEC Network |
| |
2:30 p.m. |
SEC Tournament – Second Round |
SEC Network |
| |
5:00 p.m. |
SEC Tournament – Second Round |
SEC Network |
| |
7:30 p.m. |
SEC Tournament – Second Round |
SEC Network |
| May 12 |
3:00 p.m. |
SEC Tournament – Semifinal |
ESPNU |
| |
5:30 p.m. |
SEC Tournament – Semifinal |
ESPNU |
| May 13 |
Noon |
American Softball Championship |
ESPN |
| |
2:00 p.m. |
ACC Softball Championship |
ESPN |
| |
8:00 p.m. |
SEC Softball Tournament – Championship |
ESPN |
*Air time later than game time
**Game played in Mexico; Not produced by ESPN
Rankings are per USA Today/NFCA (January 31)
— Information and image courtesy of ESPN
