School hasn’t started and the 2027 season is six months away, but Big 12 softball teams already know who they will face in conference play and where the games will be played this year. The league and its teams released the 2027 Big 12 slate on Thursday.
Arizona has reached its third year in the Big 12 and the point where some of the top teams disappear from the schedule. While that may provide opportunities to rack up wins, it also presents the risk of damaging the Wildcats’ RPI and postseason position.
The Wildcats will miss Oklahoma State this season. The two teams battled for second place last year with the Cowgirls winning the spot when Arizona took a downturn at the end of the regular season. UA finished second its first season in the league when OSU wound up in fourth.
The biggest series of the Big 12 season will be played in Tucson. Texas Tech will bring its top-ranked portal class to Hillenbrand Stadium for the second time in three years. The Red Raiders come to Arizona Apr. 16-18 for the Wildcats’ fifth conference series of the season.
TTU will be loaded again despite the loss of NiJaree Canady. The Raiders lead the series 5-2 since Arizona joined the Big 12. One of those wins came in the 2025 conference tournament final.
Arizona starts Big 12 play by hosting Iowa State from Friday, Mar. 12 through Sunday, Mar. 14. It will be the Cyclones’ first trip to Hillenbrand since the Wildcats joined the Big 12. The two teams did not play the first season. Arizona won the series 2-1 in Ames last season.
The Wildcats remain at home for the second series of the season when Utah comes to town from Mar. 19-21. The Utes upset Arizona in their series last season, keeping the ‘Cats from earning the second seed in the conference tournament. Since that time, they have lost their top pitcher and their starting catcher. Head coach Amy Hogue will be in somewhat of a rebuilding phase.
Arizona finally plays a road series from Thursday, Mar. 25 through Saturday, Mar. 27 but it doesn’t go very far. The Wildcats travel up I-10 to take on their in-state rivals.
UA handled ASU in a 2-1 series win last year, but couldn’t replicate it when the teams got to Oklahoma City. The Sun Devils knocked the Wildcats out of the conference tournament in the 3-6 matchup.
ASU was forced to rebuild after the successful end to last season. The Devils lost all of their pitchers as well as catcher Samantha Swan. They brought in a large transfer class but will have to get everyone on the same page quickly.
The Wildcats get their bye week before playing another Thursday through Saturday series at BYU. Arizona will play in Provo Apr. 8-10. It swept the Cougars in three straight run-rule victories to start conference play last season.
The Texas Tech series gives Arizona a week at home before it heads back out on the road to play Baylor. The series in Waco runs from Friday, Apr. 23 through Sunday, Apr. 25.
The Wildcats swept the Bears in Tucson last year. The two teams did not meet the year Arizona joined the league.
Kansas comes to town from Apr. 30-May 2. Arizona swept the Jayhawks in Lawrence two years ago with two wins coming by the run rule. The teams did not meet last season when KU had a 36-21 season that earned them a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
Arizona wraps up the regular season with a trip to Orlando to play UCF from May 7-9. The Knights shocked Arizona two seasons ago, winning the series in Tucson 2-1 in the Wildcats’ first Big 12 series.
UA did not face UCF last season when the Knights went 41-19-1. UCF advanced to Super Regionals where it lost to UCLA.
The loss of OSU on the schedule could be mitigated by the addition of UCF and Kansas as long both teams live up to their positive outings last year. Arizona also needs to strengthen its schedule with a strong nonconference slate if it hopes to host postseason play. The out-of-conference schedule will be released at a later dates along with TV co
