The below illustrates how closely the Softball Top 8 seeds as selected by the Softball Selection Committee matches the RPI Top 8. In 2011 and 2012, all of the Top 8 RPI were Top 8 seed selections. In 2013, #5 RPI Alabama and #6 RPI LSU missed out on national seeds due to their 5th and 4th place respective conference finishes. Also note that Alabama was a poor 8-11 vs. the RPI Top 25. Whereas Tennessee (#9 RPI) finished 3rd in the SEC and was selected as a Top 8 seed ... and Arizona State tied for 2nd in the Pac-12 and was the conference's second Top 8 seed selection. The Sun Devils were also 13-5 vs. the RPI Top 25.
2013
#1 Oklahoma (#1 RPI) ... 1st place in #3 RPI Conference (Big 12) 10-3 vs. T25, 25-4 vs. T50
#2 Florida (#2 RPI) ... 1st place in #1 RPI Conference (SEC) 14-3 vs. T25, 25-6 vs. T50
#3 Oregon (#4 RPI) ... 1st place in #2 RPI Conference (Pac-12) 13-8 vs. T25, 22-8 vs. T50
#4 Texas (#3 RPI) ... 2nd place in #3 RPI Conference (Big 12) 6-4 vs. T25, 20-5 vs. T50
#5 Arizona State (#11 RPI) ... T2nd in #2 RPI Conference (Pac-12) 13-5 vs. T25, 21-8 vs. T50
#6 Missouri (#7 RPI) ... 3rd place in #1 RPI Conference (SEC) 12-9 vs. T25, 17-10 vs. T50
#7 Tennessee (#9 RPI) ... 2nd place in #1 RPI Conference (SEC) 8-8 vs. T25, 16-9 vs. T50
#8 Michigan (#8 RPI) ... 1st place in #4 RPI Conference (Big Ten) 6-6 vs. T25, 17-9 vs. T50
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#9 LSU (#6 RPI) ... 4th place in #1 RPI Conference (SEC) 13-8 vs. T25, 20-14 vs. T50
#10 Alabama (#5 RPI) 5th place in #1 RPI Conference (SEC) 8-11 vs. T25, 18-12 vs. T50
All national seeds in 2013 came from the Top 4 RPI Conferences. The Sun Belt has displaced the Big Ten in 2014 as the #4 RPI Conference.
2012
#1 California (#1 RPI)
#2 Alabama (#2 RPI)
#3 Arizona State (#3 RPI)
#4 Oklahoma (#6 RPI)
#5 Florida (#7 RPI)
#6 Texas (#5 RPI)
#7 Tennessee (#4 RPI)
#8 Texas A&M (#8 RPI)
All national seeds in 2012 came from the Top 3 RPI Conferences.
2011
#1 Arizona State (#1 RPI)
#2 Alabama (#4 RPI)
#3 Texas (#3 RPI)
#4 Florida (#6 RPI)
#5 Missouri (#5 RPI)
#6 Georgia (#2 RPI)
#7 California (#7 RPI)
#8 Arizona (#8 RPI)
All national seeds in 2011 came from the Top 3 RPI Conferences.
Brian