Iowa State’s softball team was selected to finish seventh in the Big 12 Coaches’ Poll, while Jessie Clemons earned an All-Big 12 preseason selection, the conference announced Wednesday.
The 2025 Big 12 regular-season champions, Texas Tech, were picked to finish first with 100 points and 10 first-place votes. Oklahoma State followed in second with 87 points and one first-place vote, while Arizona and Arizona State placed third with 77 points. UCF came in fifth, earning 63 points.
BYU received 55 points
for sixth and Iowa State accrued 44 points. Separated by just two points, Baylor – with 42 votes – claimed the eighth spot. Kansas (28 points), Utah (21 points) and Houston (11 votes) closed out the poll in ninth, 10th, and 11th place.
Bettendorf native Jessie Clemons was the Cyclones’ lone selection to the preseason team after a decorated freshman campaign. A unanimous All-Big 12 First Team member in 2025, Clemons led Iowa State in batting average (.367), hits (65), doubles (13), RBI (36) and total bases (95). Over the course of the 2025 season, Clemons start at first base (17 games), second base (1), shortstop (16), center field (8), right field (11) and designated player (1).
Clemons is the third Cyclone in consecutive seasons to be named to the Preseason All-Big 12 team, joining Milaysia Ochoa (2024) and Angelina Allen (2025).
The Cyclones are set to open the 2026 season on Feb. 6 against Omaha in Cedar Falls.
Preseason All-Big 12 Team
*Regan Shockey, Arizona
*Sydney Stewart, Arizona
*Kenzie Brown, Arizona State
Tanya Windle, Arizona State
Brooklyn Carter, Baylor
*Ilove’a Brittingham, BYU
Lily Owens, BYU
Isabella Vega, UCF
Jessie Clemons, Iowa State
Rosie Davis, Oklahoma State
*Ruby Meylan, Oklahoma State
Lauren Allred, Texas Tech
Jasmyn Burns, Texas Tech
*NiJaree Canady, Texas Tech
*Mihyia Davis, Texas Tech
Alana Johnson, Texas Tech
Taylor Pennell, Texas Tech
Kaitlyn Terry, Texas Tech
2026 Big 12 Conference Softball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
2026 Big 12 Softball Preseason Poll
1. Texas Tech – 100 (10 first-place votes)
2. Oklahoma State – 87 (1 first-place vote)
3. Arizona – 77
Arizona State – 77
5. UCF – 63
6. BYU – 55
7. Iowa State – 44
8. Baylor – 42
9. Kansas – 28
10. Utah – 21
11. Houston – 11
