CHARLOTTE, N.C. (theACC.com) - Florida State has been voted the preseason favorite to win the 2026 ACC softball title by the league’s 15 head coaches, the conference announced on Thursday.
Coming off their 37th Women’s College World Series appearance in 2025, the Seminoles received 12 first-place votes for a total of 179 points.
Clemson earned one first-place vote and came in second in the preseason poll with 173 points. Stanford claimed a pair of first-place votes and was tabbed third with 170 points, Virginia Tech was fourth with 160 points and Duke received 151 points to round out the top five.
Florida State leads the ACC with five representatives apiece on the Preseason All-ACC team, followed by Duke with three, Stanford and Virginia each with two and Clemson and North Carolina with one apiece.
Eleven of the 14 members of the preseason squad were named to the 2025 All-ACC Softball team, headlined by the 2025 ACC Freshman of the Year, Clemson’s Macey Cintron. Seven members were selected 2025 First-Team All-ACC, while three were named to the second team and one was tabbed third team.
The Preseason All-ACC Softball Team is voted on by the league's head coaches and consists of 14 players. Each ballot was comprised of five infielders, four outfielders, three pitchers, a catcher and either a designated player or utility player.
Seven members of the Preseason All-ACC softball team were named to the USA Softball Top 50 Watch List for the 2026 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year, USA Softball announced on Wednesday, January 21. Among the list are: Jaysoni Beachum (Florida State), Macey Cintron (Clemson), Jazzy Francik (Florida State), Kennedy Harp (Florida State), River Mahler (Stanford), Aminah Vega (Duke) and Isa Torres (Florida State).
The top-10 finalists will be announced on Wednesday, May 13, while the top-3 finalists will be released on Monday, May 18. The Player of the Year will then be announced by USA Softball prior to the 2026 WCWS.
Five ACC softball teams are ranked among the top 25 of the ESPN.com/USA Softball Preseason Poll. Florida State leads the group at No. 7 followed by No. 12 Clemson, No. 17 Stanford, No. 19 Duke and No. 21 Virginia Tech.
Virginia will host the 2026 ACC Softball Championship from Wednesday, May 6, to Saturday, May 9, at Palmer Park in Charlottesville, Virginia.
The 2026 campaign begins Thursday, February 5, with seven of the league’s teams in action, while the remaining eight ACC teams open the season on Friday, February 6.
2026 ACC Softball Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Florida State, 179 (12)
2. Clemson, 173 (1)
3. Stanford, 170 (2)
4. Virginia Tech, 160
5. Duke, 151
6. Virginia, 133
7. North Carolina, 120
8. Georgia Tech, 101
9. California, 88
10. Louisville, 83
11. Notre Dame, 66
12. NC State, 59
13. Pitt, 37
14. Syracuse, 36
15. Boston College, 19
(first-place votes)
2026 Softball Preseason All-ACC Team
Infielders
Aminah Vega, Duke
Jaysoni Beachum, Florida State
Isa Torres, Florida State
Jade Hylton, Virginia
River Mahler, Stanford
Outfielders:
D'Auna Jennings, Duke
Kennedy Harp, Florida State
Sanaa Thompson, North Carolina
Emily Jones, Stanford
Pitchers:
Ashtyn Danley, Florida State
Jazzy Francik, Florida State
Eden Bigham, Virginia
Catcher:
Kairi Rodriguez, Duke
DP/UTL:
Macey Cintron, Clemson