The quest to OKC takes flight in college softball Super Regional play

The GIST: Hope you’re dialed in because Super Regionals are already underway on ESPN and ESPN2. After the eight best-of-three series wrap by Sunday, the winners have a few short days to pack their bags for the peak of the softball season: the Women’s College World Series in Norman, OK. Preemptive chills.

• Last night’s two opening games were blowouts — No. 3 Florida State and No. 6 Oklahoma State both handed 8–1 beatdowns to No. 14 Georgia and Oregon, respectively. Only one more win, and they’re in. Here’s what to expect when the other six Supers start today.

The toughest matchups: We dare you to tear your eyes away from the No. 4 Tennessee Volunteers’ 4 p.m. ET game against the No. 13 Texas Longhorns. A rare matchup between two programs who launched themselves into the sport’s upper echelons in the 2000s — it might not look competitive on paper, but Texas is dangerously underseeded, and they know it.

• It’s also worth staying up late for No. 7 Washington’s 10 p.m. ET matchup with the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. Both are riding pure adrenaline from their wild regional wins, establishing themselves as the 2023 tourney’s resident chaos-makers.

The underdogs to watch: San Diego State and No. 15 Utah let other teams do their dirty work, advancing without facing the toughest opponents in their regionals (No. 2 UCLA and Baylor, respectively). Utah likely has the edge in tonight’s 10 p.m. ET game, but the untested San Diego State could make things interesting.

• And although we’d literally be shocked if No. 16 Clemson had a prayer against No. 1 Oklahoma, it’s still worth it to watch all four remaining finalists for Player of the Year, with first pitch set for 2 p.m. ET. Play ball.