SBC Softball RPI through games of April 2

[VObserver]

SBC RPI as of 4/3/25

26 Coastal Carolina
43 Louisiana
49 Texas St.
72 ULM
74 Marshall
83 Troy
91 Southern Miss.
96 Ga. Southern
149 James Madison
152 App State
172 South Alabama
194 Georgia St.

[VObserver]

3 Top 50 RPI, 5 Top 75, 8 Top 100, 10 in Top 1/2 [1-154], 12 in Top 2/3.

The SBC is getting stronger.

Conference RPI as of 4/3/25

SEC 1
ACC 2
Big 12 3
Big 10 4
AAC 5
SBC 6
MWC 7
CUSA 8
SOCON 9
ASUN 10

The AAC is stronger at the top than the SBC. They have only 5 Top 100 RPI teams, but those 5 are all RPI 29-55.

[JMV JustMyView]

How are the quadrants divided in softball?

[VObserver]

I am not sure. I know there are RPI bonuses for Top 75 non-conference wins.

[VObserver]

The Nitty Gritty Team Sheet breaks games down as 1-25, 26-50, 51-100 and 101+.

[RaginScotsman]

Honestly it’s an interesting spot. If they go on a run we could have a shot right? Talking about enough of a rum to get into the 30s and finish top 1-3 in the league?

[VObserver]

Honestly it’s an interesting spot. If they go on a run we could have a shot right? Talking about enough of a rum to get into the 30s and finish top 1-3 in the league?

Technically, yes. However, aside from another game with LaTech, a game with aTm, and the series with Texas State, the rest of our schedule is pretty weak.

We must sweep USM, South Alabama and JMU and lose no more than 2 total games in the other 8 games [series with Troy and Texas State and single games with LaTech and aTm].

If we manage to do that, and make a deep run in the Conference Tournament, I believe we still have a shot at an at-large, especially if four of those wins are over Texas State and aTm.

Still, the only sure thing is to win the Conference Tournament. That is going to be a cluster, as everyone can hit and no one has any pitching depth.

[VObserver]

Looking at post # 7; after a little more research I do not believe that more than 2 schools outside the top 4 conferences [SEC, ACC, Big XII, Big X] will get an at large bid unless someone other than Coastal wins the SBC and/or someone other than FAU wins the AAC. Even if both those things happen, it is unlikely that anyone except Coastal and FAU would get an at large.

This is happening because of several factors.
First, not enough little guys are in the top 30 in RPI.
Second, it is impossible for the SEC bid to get stolen, barring a total collapse by Ole Miss, Missouri or Kentucky to drop them below an RPI of 33, followed by the 33+ RPI team winning the SEC Tournament.
Third, it is very unlikely that any team outside the top 33 RPI wins the Conference Tournament in the ACC, the Big XII or the Big X.

Assuming Conference Tournaments go chalk; based on today's RPI, there are 6 Champions in the Top 31. More importantly there are no non-P4, non-champions in the Top 31. Given those facts, the Top 31 includes 6 Champions and 25 at-large teams. ALL of those 25 are P4 teams. There are also non-P4 champions at 32 [Liberty] and 37 [Nevada].
That would make the last team in [assuming no committee shenanigans] RPI 41. 6 of the 8 non-champions from 31 down are P-4. I consider those slots as locked up by the P-4 teams. The two Non-P4 teams are San Diego State [39] and USF [41]. The next 4 non-champion teams are Louisiana [42], BYU [44], Northwestern [46] and Charlotte [47].

I believe that we have a shot at being in as an at large team if we can reach an RPI of 35 or better. Our record will almost certainly keep us out at any lower RPI.

[SlickRick]

Looking at post # 7; after a little more research I do not believe that more than 2 schools outside the top 4 conferences [SEC, ACC, Big XII, Big X] will get an at large bid unless someone other than Coastal wins the SBC and/or someone other than FAU wins the AAC. Even if both those things happen, it is unlikely that anyone except Coastal and FAU would get an at large.

This is happening because of several factors.
First, not enough little guys are in the top 30 in RPI.
Second, it is impossible for the SEC bid to get stolen, barring a total collapse by Ole Miss, Missouri or Kentucky to drop them below an RPI of 33, followed by the 33+ RPI team winning the SEC Tournament.
Third, it is very unlikely that any team outside the top 33 RPI wins the Conference Tournament in the ACC, the Big XII or the Big X.

Assuming Conference Tournaments go chalk; based on today's RPI, there are 6 Champions in the Top 31. More importantly there are no non-P4, non-champions in the Top 31. Given those facts, the Top 31 includes 6 Champions and 25 at-large teams. ALL of those 25 are P4 teams. There are also non-P4 champions at 32 [Liberty] and 37 [Nevada].
That would make the last team in [assuming no committee shenanigans] RPI 41. 6 of the 8 non-champions from 31 down are P-4. I consider those slots as locked up by the P-4 teams. The two Non-P4 teams are San Diego State [39] and USF [41]. The next 4 non-champion teams are Louisiana [42], BYU [44], Northwestern [46] and Charlotte [47].

I believe that we have a shot at being in as an at large team if we can reach an RPI of 35 or better. Our record will almost certainly keep us out at any lower RPI.

Thanks VB! That's gonna take a whole lot of winning!