I count 12 games against top 50 teams...

Posted on: September 23, 2023 at 12:47:02 CT

In the first 4 weeks of the season, 6 in the 1-25 range and 6 more in the 26-50 range. Using the final RPI ranks from last year. Now, that is usually a useful general guide for toughness of a schedule, but there are exceptions, and of course we have to see how each win or loss over an opponent in 2024 will age as the season progresses. And look at what each team has returning in 2024, and what they lost from last year. And that works both ways, for example, Nebraska, who finished with an RPI of 36. Most all softball followers believe that if Bahl stays healthy, NU is very likely (if not certainly) a top 25 team in 2024.

Here are those 12 games in the first 4 weeks of the season:

14 Clemson
15 Utah
22 Baylor
23 Wichita St (2)
25 Liberty
27 San Diego St
36 Nebraska (2)
40 South Alabama
41 UCF
43 CSF

Plus we have 6 more games against teams in the 51-75 range from last year. That’s a tough schedule, and I’m missing a few of the 32 non conference games. No, not a ton of sure fire top 10 teams, although one could argue that Clemson and Utah could be in that category or close to it. But playing so many games against top 25, top 50, top 75 type teams is fine, when you consider we will be playing a top 25-30 type team literally every weekend in SEC play.

LA seems to have put together a potentially very challenging schedule, one that will prepare the team well for the rigors of SEC play.