IRVING, Texas – The team at the top of the standings following an abbreviated 2020 American Athletic Conference softball season remained there heading into the new campaign. UCF was selected as the predicted league favorite in the 2021 American Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll that featured votes from all seven of the conference’s softball head coaches.
UCF was atop the conference standings when the remainder of the 2020 season was cancelled on the eve of the start of league play due to COVID-19, as the Knights compiled a 21-5-1 (.796) nonconference mark. UCF received all six possible first-place votes and 36 points in the 2021 preseason order of finish. The Knights previously claimed the 2015 American tournament title and automatic berth into NCAA Regionals.
The conference regular-season champion in 2019, USF was slotted second in the preseason coaches’ poll with 31 points and a first-place vote following a 16-9 (.640) showing last season that included four wins over ranked opponents. Houston, which finished third in the final 2020 season standings (16-7, .696), earned 23 points to remain third in the predicted order of finish.
Three-time American tournament champion Tulsa (13-11 in 2020) was slotted fourth with 20 voting points, followed by Wichita State (11-16 in 2020) in fifth place with 18 points. East Carolina (14-9 in 2020, 11 voting points) and Memphis (16-9 in 2020, eight voting points) rounded out the predicted order of finish.
2021 American Athletic Conference Preseason Softball Coaches’ Poll
| Team (First-Place Votes) |
Pts. |
| 1. UCF (6) |
36 |
| 2. USF (1) |
31 |
| 3. Houston |
23 |
| 4. Tulsa |
20 |
| 5. Wichita State |
18 |
| 6. East Carolina |
11 |
| 7. Memphis |
8 |