The eyes of the softball world will be affixed to Gainesville this weekend.
Florida softball will host the 2026 NCAA Gainesville Super Regional. It’s the 16th under coach Tim Walton’s tenure the Gators have hosted a super regional, but this one’s different from the others.
Because big, bad Texas Tech is coming to Alachua County.
The Red Raiders are perhaps the most polarizing team in college softball. Under first year head coach Gerry Glasco and transfer NiJaree Canady, TTU took the softball world by storm and advanced all the way to the championship series of the 2025 Women’s College World Series.
Texas Tech lost in three to in-state rival Texas, so the Red Raiders reloaded and got the transfer of many top players from signature programs – like Florida second baseman Mia Williams – thanks to large NIL money invested in the program.
However, some losses near the end of the season – such as to Arizona State in the Big 12 Championship – and a weak strength of schedule cost the Red Raiders a top eight seed.
Now, they visit a Florida team that recovered in a big way from the frustrating loss in the SEC Tournament. The Gators swept through the Gainesville Regional by a combined score of 25-2 with a win over Florida A&M and two over Georgia Tech.
Walton and Co. haven’t lost a super regional to a team not named Georgia since 2007 and are looking to reach the WCWS for the 14th time in program history.
TTU, meanwhile, is looking for its second trip to OKC. The Red Raiders ventured to the Sunshine State last season for super regionals as the No. 12 seed and sweep No. 5 Florida State in Tallahassee.
Here’s the schedule for the 2026 NCAA Gainesville Super Regional this weekend.
Full 2026 Florida softball NCAA Gainesville Super Regional schedule
*All times eastern
Friday, May 22
No. 6 (No. 2) Florida vs. No. 11 (No. 3) Texas Tech — 11 a.m.; ESPN2
Saturday, May 23
No. 6 (No. 2) Florida vs. No. 11 (No. 3) Texas Tech — 12:30 p.m.; ABC
Sunday, May 24 (if necessary)
No. 6 (No. 2) Florida vs. No. 11 (No. 3) Texas Tech — Time TBD; TV TBD
*All games will be played at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium
Noah Ram covers Florida Gators athletics and Gainesville-area high school sports for The Gainesville Sun, GatorSports.com and the USA TODAY Network. Contact him at nram@usatodayco.com. Follow him on X @Noah_ram1 and on Instagram @Ramreporter.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida softball: 2026 NCAA Gainesville Super Regional schedule, game times