I’m not convinced UCLA is that great, but it’ll still be a tall order for UCF. As the years go by and the former PAC softball powers (UCLA/Oregon/Washington) spend more time in the frigid BIG, their national prestige will continue to decay. They’ll probably be able to maintain solid OOC schedule metrics, but their conference slates will tank their overall SOS and prevent them from being tested late in the regular season (when you really want your team to show what they got to prep for the postseason). I hope my theory is correct and this continues to happen - especially to these schools. Nebraska will take care of itself. When their once-in-a-century star graduates, they will return to the middle of the pack. Unless they start shelling out money like Texas Tech, they’re destined to fade into oblivion. Such a shame.

. . . and Happy Valley can't sound to appealing to those Laguna Beach kids.

Go - Any SEC team - UCLA Stay - Nebraska - Arizona State I don;t need Texas Tech to continue to be successful@ ** Edited by VAHokie89 at 5/21/2026, 12:43:22 PM ** Edited by VAHokie89 at 5/21/2026, 4:44:33 PM

I generally love seeing the big teams (this year its mostly big teams as UCF appears to be the biggest underdog) make it to WCWS as it sets up incredible match-ups. My hopes this weekend: Ala over LSU OU over Miss State UCF over UCLA Texas Tech over Florida Duke over Arkansas Georgia over Tenn Nebraska over Okie State ASU (2nd home state, although Arizona Wildcat fan) over Texas ** Edited by hokietony at 5/21/2026, 9:02:52 AM

Because back in the day I always thought Peyton Manning and other Vols athletes were class acts, Pat Summitt was a legend and Pickens and other current players represent their university well on camera and seem to play the game the right way. Like we do. But the reality is I’m much more of a Hokies softball fan than a general softball fan. We had a blast traveling to South Carolina, Salem, Blacksburg and Charlottesville to watch our team compete! But now very sad that it’s over. At least for now. Look forward to being back up there for fall ball.

But my uncle and his family are all UT grads and when I was a kid he took me to several football games (in the ‘80s). I would ride the greyhound bus from Kingsport to Knoxville and he would pick me and my cousin up at the Cherry St. terminal. Great fun!