NFCA Leadoff Classic 2026: Schedule, Teams, Location, and How to Watch

The wait is almost over.

The 2026 college softball season is almost here, and it begins on Thursday, February 5, through Sunday, February 8, at the NFCA Leadoff Classic in Clearwater, Florida. The Eddie C. Moore building will host 18 of the top programs in the country, establishing the tone for the upcoming year.

View the history, stories, and schedule below.

2026 NFCA Leadoff Classic Schedule

2026 NFCA Leadoff Classic at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Fla. 

See the must-watch games in bold

• Thursday, Feb. 5
  • No. 12 Clemson vs. Southeastern La. | 7 p.m
  • No. 4 Tennessee vs. BYU | 7 p.m.
• Friday, Feb. 6
  • Boston College vs. Eastern Kentucky | 10 a.m.
  • Pitt vs. North Carolina Central | 10 a.m.
  • Penn State vs. Missouri | 10 a.m.
  • Penn State vs. Boston College | 1 p.m.
  • Rutgers vs. North Carolina Central | 1 p.m.
  • South Alabama vs. Eastern Kentucky | 1 p.m.
  • No. 5 Oregon vs. Missouri | 1 p.m. ET
  • No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 12 Clemson | 4 p.m. 
  • Longwood vs. Pitt | 4 p.m.
  • South Alabama vs. Saint Louis | 4 p.m.
  • No. 4 Tennessee vs. No. 23 Liberty | 4 p.m. 
  • Michigan State vs. BYU | 5 p.m.
  • Auburn vs. Notre Dame | 5 p.m.
  • No. 12 Clemson vs. No. 23 Liberty | 7 p.m. 
  • Longwood vs. Southeastern Louisiana | 7 p.m.
  • No. 4 Tennessee vs. Rutgers | 7 p.m.
  • Notre Dame vs. BYU | 8 p.m.
  • Auburn vs. Michigan State | 8 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 7
  • Michigan State vs. Longwood | 12 p.m.
  • South Alabama vs. Rutgers | 12 p.m.
  • Eastern Kentucky vs. Penn State | 12 p.m.
  • No. 23 Liberty vs. Missouri | 1 p.m.
  • No. 4 Tennessee vs. Boston College | 1 p.m.
  • Michigan State vs. Pitt | 3 p.m.
  • Southeastern La vs. Rutgers | 3 p.m.
  • BYU vs. Penn State | 3 p.m.
  • North Carolina Central vs. Notre Dame | 3 p.m.
  • No. 12 Clemson vs. Auburn | 4 p.m.
  • No. 5 Oregon vs. No. 23 Liberty | 4 p.m. 
  • No. 4 Tennessee vs. No. 5 Oregon | 7 p.m. 
• Sunday, Feb. 8
  • No. 23 Liberty vs. Notre Dame | 9:30 a.m.
  • No. 12 Clemson vs. Michigan State | 10 a.m.
  • Penn State vs. Auburn | 10 a.m.
  • Eastern Kentucky vs. Pitt | 10 a.m.
  • No. 5 Oregon vs. Southeastern Louisiana | 10 a.m.
  • North Carolina Central vs. South Alabama | 10 a.m.
  • Rutgers vs. Notre Dame | 12:15 p.m.
  • Longwood vs. Boston College | 1 p.m.
  • Missouri vs. South Alabama | 1 p.m.

All times are ET

The NFCA Leadoff Classic’s History

The showcase is in its 23rd year this year. The Washington Huskies won the first tournament title in Columbus, Georgia, in 1996. The event was held there every year until 2010. The NFCA Leadoff Classic has been hosted in Clearwater, Florida since 2012, following a brief hiatus in 2011.

After taking a break from 2016 to 2022, the tournament returned in 2023, bringing 16 of the best college softball teams together and acting as a staple at the beginning of the season.

Kentucky’s team won the 2025 NFCA Leadoff Classic last year after finishing 4-1 and winning the tiebreaker with a dominant +28 run differential over the one-loss teams. Five programs, including two Women’s College World Series qualifiers from Texas Tech and Tennessee, were included in ESPN/USA Softball’s final Top 25 rankings for the 2025 season.

This year’s must-see storylines

With a star-studded lineup, this year won’t be any different.

This year, four ranked teams—No. 4 Tennessee, No. 5 Oregon, No. 12 Clemson, and No. 23 Liberty—will compete in the tournament. Last season, Clemson and Liberty lost in the Super Regionals, but the Vols and Ducks both advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

However, a new year brings with it new stories:

On Saturday, February 7, Tennessee will take on the Ducks with a loaded transfer class and one of the nation’s best pitchers, Karlyn Pickens.

However, don’t rule out Oregon just yet. With Rylee McCoy and Stefini Ma’ake at the plate and Lyndsey Grein in the circle, the Ducks will be able to compete. With games against Tennessee and Clemson on consecutive days, Oregon might have the most difficult schedule of the tournament.

Last season, the Tigers were on the verge of winning the championship, but they lost to the eventual national champions in Texas in the Austin Super Regional. After losing Reese Basinger, their best arm, they have reloaded in the portal and are prepared to roar.

Despite beating the top-seeded Texas A&M Aggies in the 2025 NCAA softball tournament and reaching the Super Bowl, Liberty suffered a severe decline in the 2026 preseason rankings. However, that only indicates that they have a claim to make. Once more, don’t discount them. Last year, we saw the outcome of it.

Championship History

Check out the winners from the previous years at the NFCA Leadoff Classic

Year	team
2025	Kentucky
2024	Missouri
2023	Tennessee
2020	Mississippi State
2014	Hofstra
2013	Louisiana
2012	DePaul
2010	Illinois
2008	Michigan
2007	Georgia Tech & Michigan
2005	Oklahoma
2004	LSU
2003	UMass
2002	Nebraska
2001	Stanford
2000	Washington
1999	Louisana
1998	Michigan
1997	South Carolina
1996	Washington