Clemson softball learns NCAA path. Tigers headed to nearby SEC school
Clemson softball has learned its 2026 NCAA Tournament destination.
The Tigers are the No. 2 seed in the Athens Regional, which is being hosted by No. 10 overall seed Georgia, it was announced Sunday.
Clemson will play its opening game in the double-elimination regional against No. 3 seed UNC Greensboro on Friday (4:30 p.m., ACC Network). No. 1 Georgia and No. 4 College of Charleston will play later Friday (7 p.m., ESPN+).
Clemson’s regional is paired with the Knoxville Regional. If the Tigers advance, they’d likely play a super regional series against No. 7 overall seed Tennessee.
Clemson softball finished the regular season 32-20 and 13-11 in the ACC. The Tigers lost in the opening round of the ACC tournament Wednesday.
This is Clemson’s sixth straight and overall NCAA Tournament appearance. The Tigers have reached the super regional round three times, including last season, when they lost a close series 2-1 against eventual national champion Texas.
They won’t start the 2026 postseason very far from home, as Clemson and Georgia are regional schools separated by roughly 90 minutes and 79 miles. The ACC and SEC schools face off in football and other sports often.
“Really excited for our team,” Clemson coacoh John Rittman told reporters after a team watch party at McWhorter Stadium. “This never gets old.”
Rittman noted Clemson’s had an “interesting year” featuring the toughest schedule it’s played in the program’s brief history and “a few ups and downs.”
“Really, really pleased to see where we’re seeded and to have the opportunity to go down and and compete in a very competitive regional,” Rittman said.
2026 Athens Regional schedule
Friday, May 15
Game 1: Clemson (32-20) vs. UNC Greensboro (42-17), 4:30 p.m. (ACCN)
Game 2: Georgia (38-18) vs. College of Charleston (30-28), 7 p.m. (ESPN+)
Saturday, May 16
Game 3: Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner, 1 p.m. (TBA)
Game 4: Game 1 Loser vs. Game 2 Loser, 3:30 p.m. (TBA)
Game 5: Game 4 Winner vs. Game 3 Loser, 6 p.m. (TBA)
Sunday, May 17
Game 6: Game 3 Winner vs. Game 5 Winner, noon (TBA)
Game 7 (if necessary): Game 6 Winner vs. Game 6 Loser, 2:30 p.m. (TBA)
This story was originally published May 10, 2026 at 7:30 PM.
