OKLAHOMA CITY – Science & Arts of Oklahoma boasts of the favorite role among Sooner Athletic Conference softball teams entering the 2021 season according to the league preseason coaches poll.

USAO racked up 59 points and six of the nine available top votes in the poll. The Drovers (25-2, 10-0 SAC last year) captured the last league regular-season crown by going undefeated in SAC play in 2019. In 2020, USAO held the No. 2 spot in both sets of national rankings.

Oklahoma City University garnered the No. 2 spot in the preseason poll with 59 points and three No. 1 nods. The Stars have won the past three SAC Tournament championships. Oklahoma City (18-3, 3-2 SAC in 2020) upended USAO for the conference tournament title and knocked the Drovers out of the NAIA Softball World Series en route to a national runner-up finish in 2019.

The SAC owns three of the last four national championships and 12 national titles all-time among NAIA softball.

With 48 points, Mid-America Christian came in third in the preseason poll. Two league coaches named the Evangels second on their ballots. The fourth slot went to Texas Wesleyan (34 points), while Southwestern Assemblies of God took the fifth spot with 32 points.

SAC coaches have projected Panhandle State in sixth with 31 points, and Central Christian picked up seventh with 28 points. Langston and Southwestern Christian finished out the poll.

The conference will contest its postseason tournament May 6-8. The SAC Tournament champion reaches the NAIA Championships.
 

2021 Sooner Athletic Conference Preseason Softball Poll
No.	Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	Pts.
1.	USAO	6	2							62
2.	Oklahoma City	3	5							59
3.	Mid-America Christian		2	4	2					48
4.	Texas Wesleyan			2	1	3	1	1		34
5.	SW Assemblies of God			2	1	2	2		1	32
6.	Panhandle State				3	2	2	1		31
7.	Central Christian			1	1	2	2	1	1	28
8.	Langston				1		1	6		20
9.	Southwestern Christian						1		7	10