After a 56-11 record and Women's College World Series appearance last season, the Auburn Tigers softball team will start the 2016 season ranked No. 4 in the USA Today/NFCA National Division I Top 25 poll. The No. 4 ranking is the highest preseason ranking in program history.
Auburn, which received a No. 1 vote, returns most of the lineup from the greatest season in program history, a season that saw the Tigers break the SEC single-season records for runs (526) and on-base percentage (.460).
The defending national champion Florida Gators, who defeated Auburn in the Women's College World Series semifinals, start the season ranked No. 1 with 26 first-place votes. Michigan, the team Florida beat in the National Championship series, is ranked No. 2.
LSU is ranked third, while Alabama is one spot below Auburn at No. 5, giving the SEC four of the nation's top five teams to start the season.
In total, eight SEC teams are ranked, including Tennessee (No. 8), Georgia (No. 12), Missouri (No. 15) and Kentucky (No. 18), while Texas A&M and Mississippi State received votes.
No. 4 Auburn begins the season at home against Appalachian State on Feb. 11 at 6 p.m.
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