It's never too early to start thinking about the postseason.
TheClearwater Invitationalforcollege softballis as close as possible to the NCAA Tournament Women's College World Series feel one can get in mid-February.
Ten teams ranked inside the2026 NFCA/GoRout Division I Top 25 Coaches Pollwill compete in the four-day tournament.
REQUIRED READING:USA TODAY Sports' 2026 college softball preseason power rankings
Across the 40 games at the Eddie C. Moore Complex in Clearwater, Florida, 14 games will be ranked vs. ranked in the tournament that usually sets the tone for the season for many of the top teams in the nation.
This year's field features three of the eight teams that reached the 2025 WCWS ― Tennessee, Texas Tech and UCLA, and seven of the top 16 seeded teams in the NCAA Tournament. The Red Raiders finished as the 2025 runner-ups to Texas.
Here's what you need to know about the 2026 Clearwater Invitational, including top games to watch and a full schedule:
Top games to watch in 2026 Clearwater Invitational
No. 11 Nebraska vs No. 12 LSU
Date: Thursday, Feb. 12
Time: 10 a.m. ET
TV channel/Streaming: ESPN2 (Fubo)
The Clearwater Invitational kicks off with an exciting matchup between two top-12-ranked teams. LSU is off to a 6-0 start, while Nebraska is 3-2 with losses to Texas and Washington in the opening weekend.
No. 7 Florida State vs. No. 1 Texas Tech
Date: Thursday, Feb. 12
Time: 1 p.m. ET
TV channel/Streaming: ESPN2 (Fubo)
The third game of the invitational sets up a rematch from the Lubbock Super Regional, where FSU was stifled by NiJaree Canady. FSU would love to get early revenge for the Super Regional loss.
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No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Nebraska
Date: Friday, Feb. 13
Time: Noon ET
TV channel/Streaming: ESPN2 (Fubo)
Jordy Frahm (nee Bahl) vs. Karlyn Pickens. Pitching matchups don't get more exciting than watching one of the top throwers in the sport against the fastest.
No. 6 UCLA vs. No. 3 Tennessee
Date: Saturday, Feb. 14
Time: 4 p.m. ET
TV channel/Streaming: ESPNU (Fubo)
The matchup between the Vols and Bruins in the 2025 WCWS ended with controversy, with UCLA eliminating Tennessee on a walk-off home run that was almost not to be. However, "Appendix G" saved the Bruins.
No. 6 UCLA vs. No. 7 Florida State
Date: Saturday, Feb. 14
Time: 7 p.m. ET
Streaming: ESPN+
How can you not be romantic about softball? The nightcap of the Valentine's Day slate concludes with a top-10 matchup between UCLA and FSU. The last time these programs faced off was a 14-10 slugfest on Feb. 16, 2024, in Clearwater.
No. 12 LSU vs. No. 6 UCLA
Date: Sunday, Feb. 15
Time: 10 a.m. ET
TV channel/Streaming: ESPN2 (Fubo)
Another top-12 matchup in the Clearwater Invitational, this one serves as the final test of the weekend for the highly-ranked foes. Both teams are major threats to return to Oklahoma City for the WCWS, maybe an early preview?
No. 1 Texas Tech vs. No. 11 Nebraska
Date: Sunday, Feb. 15
Time: 6 p.m. ET
TV channel/Streaming: ESPN (Fubo)
If Frahm vs. Pickens was not enough of a treat as a pitching matchup, may I offer you Frahm vs. Canady? The pitching duel between the two biggest pitching names in softball will draw plenty of attention in the penultimate game of the invitational.
No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 7 Florida State
Date: Sunday, Feb. 15
Time: 8 p.m. ET
TV channel/Streaming: ESPN (Fubo)
The 2026 Clearwater Invitational concludes with a matchup between Tennessee and FSU, in a battle of two top-10 teams. It'll be interesting to see what both teams have left following a long four-day tournament against tough competition.
2026 Clearwater Invitational schedule
Here's a look at the full schedule for the 2026 Clearwater Invitational:
All times ET
Thursday, Feb. 12
No. 11 Nebraska vs. No. 12 LSU | 10 a.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Oklahoma State vs. No. 20 Georgia | 11 a.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
No. 7 Florida State vs. No. 1 Texas Tech | 1 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
No. 12 LSU vs. Oklahoma State | 3 p.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
No. 11 Nebraska vs. No. 20 Georgia | 4 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 1 Texas Tech vs. Northwestern | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
Friday, Feb. 13
NC State at No. 20 Georgia | 9 a.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Oklahoma State vs. No. 8 Texas A&M | 10 a.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Northwestern vs. UCF | 10 a.m. | ESPN+
No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 11 Nebraska | Noon | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Missouri vs. NC State | 12:30 p.m. | ACC Network (Fubo)
No. 22 Duke vs. No. 8 Texas A&M | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 20 Georgia vs. UCF | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 6 UCLA vs. Oklahoma State | 3 p.m. | ESPNU (Fubo)
No. 1 Texas Tech vs. No. 23 Florida Atlantic | 4 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 22 Duke vs. No. 12 LSU | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 3 Tennessee vs. James Madison | 5 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 6 UCLA vs. Missouri | 6 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 7 Florida State vs. No. 23 Florida Atlantic | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Saturday, Feb. 14
No. 8 Texas A&M vs. NC State | 9 a.m. | ACC Network (Fubo)
Oklahoma State vs. No. 22 Duke | 10 a.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
UCF vs. No. 12 LSU | 10 a.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Missouri vs. Northwestern | 10 a.m. | ESPN+
No. 23 Florida Atlantic vs. No. 3 Tennessee | Noon | ESPN+
NC State vs. No. 1 Texas Tech | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 20 Georgia vs. Northwestern | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 11 Nebraska vs. UCF | 1:30 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 23 Florida Atlantic vs. Missouri | 3 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 6 UCLA vs. No. 3 Tennessee | 4 p.m. | ESPNU (Fubo)
No. 20 Georgia vs. Duke | 4 p.m. | ESPN+
James Madison vs. No. 1 Texas Tech | 4:30 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 6 UCLA vs. No. 7 Florida State | 7 p.m. | ESPN+
Sunday, Feb. 15
James Madison vs. No. 8 Texas A&M | 9 a.m. | SEC Network (Fubo)
Missouri vs. Duke | 9 a.m. | ACC Network (Fubo)
No. 12 LSU vs. No. 6 UCLA | 10 a.m. | ESPN2 (Fubo)
Northwestern vs. No. 8 Texas A&M | Noon | ESPN2 (Fubo)
UCF vs. NC State | Noon | ESPN+
No. 23 Florida Atlantic vs. James Madison | 1 p.m. | ESPN+
No. 1 Texas Tech vs. No. 11 Nebraska | 6 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
No. 3 Tennessee vs. No. 7 Florida State | 8 p.m. | ESPN (Fubo)
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Clearwater Invitational college softball tourney: Top games, schedule
