Welcome to the SEC: Target as big as ever on OU softball

The celebration is in the books as OU is officially in the Southeastern Conference. OK, now it’s time to get to work.

For a lot of the OU programs, it’s about making a jump in competition and being able to handle it. But for softball? Umm, the Sooners know.

When you’re the four-time defending national champions, conference affiliation doesn’t play nearly as much into things.

But indeed, here comes the SEC gauntlet.

State of the OU program

Seven losses, definitely going downhill, no question. OK, all kidding aside, OU is like a machine. Across the board. From the administration to the coaching to the players to the resources, it’s amazing to see and great to see. And, duh, Love’s Field.

However, 2025 will be a new day, new era. So many familiar names have said farewell, hopefully leading to the next set of names OU fans will remember for years to come.

Perhaps anchoring that will be a couple of freshmen from 2024 in Ella Parker and Kasidi Pickering.

“There’s a maturity,” said head coach Patty Gasso during the postseason. “In the locker room, they don’t say a whole lot. They do listen. They’re hard workers and they’re smart players. What a group of young freshmen to build a foundation off of as we go into the SEC so I’m really looking forward to that.”

And you have a steady hand like Kierston Deal in the circle. Look, OU won’t be hurting for talent. Whether it’s the eight freshmen coming in or the big-time transfer portal additions, that won’t be a problem.

Just trying to get them all to gel together. It took a while for the 2024 team to find its stride. Imagine that will be the same sort of issue, but for different reasons, in 2025.

Of course, we’re all wondering about NiJaree Canady, too. The National Player of the Year has not made a decision. Should Canady pick OU and become the ace? Well, time will tell.

State of the SEC

Loaded. Like ridiculously loaded. All participating schools made the NCAA regional field in May. Now you’re adding No. 1 Texas and No. 2 OU, ha.

“Going into the SEC is just a different animal,” Gasso said. “I’m really excited. I think everyone here at Oklahoma is excited, but we love competition. We’re never afraid of it. We face it in the eye. That’s why our team has been so successful. It’s going to make us better.”

It will be another case where you can expect more losses, like football, and be perfectly OK with that. Scheduling is going to be so interesting. You could see the likes of a Tennessee or Alabama instead of like Texas Tech and Iowa State.

It’s going to an eye opener. But as Gasso said, that’s OK. OU is never going to be running away from the fight.

Think about the semifinals of the Women’s College World Series. OU, Texas and Florida. Bama made the WCWS, only by upsetting No. 3 Tennessee. Georgia and LSU were serious threats for most of the season, as was Missouri.

Each week in the SEC will feel like a Super Regional. And that’s OK, let’s go.

Biggest challenges facing OU

Tough to answer just yet because you know OU’s 2025 roster isn’t set at the moment. Life with Canady compared to life without Canady – pretty big difference.

Because every week is going to feel like the postseason, recovery is going to be key. Physically and mentally. It’s why Gasso has been trying so hard in recent years to have such a deep pitching staff. You’re going to need it in this league.

For once, Gasso won’t have to worry about quality of schedule. The common complaint for some was that OU’s schedule just wasn’t tough enough.

It doesn’t get any tougher than what the Sooners are about to embark on in the SEC on a week-to-week basis.

But then again, they’re the back-to-back-to-back-to-back champs for a reason. Let’s play some ball.