OKLAHOMA CITY – Unsurprisingly, Oklahoma City University softball received the No. 2 ranking in the NAIA Preseason Coaches' Poll released Wednesday morning.
 
The Stars finished the 2025 season as the NAIA runner-up and though they graduated two All-Americans, OCU returns NAIA Player of the Year Analise Rayburn and All-American outfielder Tara Hoehner.
 
OCU finished 53-11 last season.
 
The Stars open the season at the Southern Collegiate Sports Festival in Mesquite, Texas, Feb. 6-7 where head coach Phil McSpadden should pick up his 2,000^th career win. He will begin the season at 1,998. OCU treats fans to a NAIA championship rematch when Southern Oregon visits Ann Lacy Stadium Feb. 19.
 
Southern Oregon is No. 1 in the preseason poll. OCU plays at least eight regular-season games against teams in the preseason Top 25 and another three against teams receiving votes. In addition to the SOU doubleheader, the Stars play No. 8 USAO in a four-game Sooner Athletic Conference series and No. 25 Evangel in separate February tournaments. OCU also plays Baker, Morningside and Baker before March.
 
The schedule for the first tournament has not yet been announced but includes USAO, No. 16 Missouri Baptist, No. 22 Texas A&M-Texarkana and vote-getter British Columbia.