VESTAL, N.Y. – The Binghamton softball program has announced its 2026 schedule, which begins Feb. 6-8 with a trip to the South Carolina Tournament. The 50-game regular-season slate includes five opponents that advanced to the 2025 NCAA Tournament, four nationally-ranked teams, six programs that finished with an RPI in the Top 75 as well as a pair of teams ranked in the D1Softball.com Mid-Major Poll. In addition, six of the Bearcats' opponents are members of Power-4 conferences.
"We see our 2026 schedule as more than just a set of dates - but also a challenge that we are ready to take on," head coach Jess Bump said. "After winning the America East championship last season, it was our program's goal to help better prepare ourselves for when we have the opportunity to compete in the NCAA Tournament again by playing a variety of top-ranked teams in the country. We are not chasing perfection, but we are chasing progress, toughness, and relentless effort by committing ourselves to each other every single day."
In addition to South Carolina, Binghamton travels to in-season tournaments at Auburn (Feb. 13-15), Coastal Carolina (Feb. 27-March 1) and Penn State (March 6-8). The schedule also includes a non-conference weekend series at Princeton (March 14-15), three non-conference doubleheaders as well as 10 home dates at the Bearcats Sports Complex Softball Facility.
South Carolina and Binghamton will be joined by Syracuse and Virginia Tech at the season-opening tournament. The host Gamecocks - who are in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) - advanced to the NCAA Super Regionals last season and finished with a No. 12 NFCA national ranking. Syracuse and Virginia Tech are both in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). The Orange finished the 2025 campaign with a No. 71 RPI while the Hokies advanced to the NCAA Regionals and earned a No. 18 NFCA national ranking.
At Auburn, Binghamton also faces Campbell, Bradley and Illinois. Like South Carolina, the host Tigers are also members of the SEC. Last season, they advanced to the NCAA Regionals, won 35 games and received votes in the final NFCA national poll. Illinois competes in the Big Ten Conference while Campbell went 37-20 in 2025 and advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association (CAA) finals.
Also competing at the Coastal Carolina Tournament are Florida Atlantic and St. Joseph's (Pa.). The host Chanticleers went 42-19 last year, won the Sun Belt Conference title, advanced to the NCAA Regionals and were ranked seventh in the final D1Softball.com Mid-Major Poll. Florida Atlantic won the American Athletic Conference (AAC) title, also advanced to the NCAA Regionals, were ranked third in the final Mid-Major Poll and received votes in the final NFCA national poll. St. Joseph's, meanwhile, won 30 games last season as a member of the Atlantic 10 (A-10) Conference.Â
Other opponents at Penn State Tournament are Lehigh, Colgate and Niagara. The host Nittany Lions compete in the Big Ten Conference while Lehigh won 28 games in 2025 as a member of the Patriot League.
At Princeton, the Bearcats square off against a Tiger squad that won 28 games last season and advanced to the Ivy League finals. In 2024, they captured the Ivy League championship and won a game in the ensuing NCAA Tournament.Â
Binghamton's home-opening games take place during an America East series against UMBC (March 21-22). Other home conference series are against UAlbany (April 3-4), Maine (April 18-19) and UMass Lowell (May 1-2). The Bearcats also have non-conference home doubleheaders against Colgate (April 1) and St. Bonaventure (April 15).
On the road, Binghamton has conference series at Maine (March 28-29), Bryant (April 11-12) and UMBC (April 25-26). In addition, the Bearcats head to Cornell on April 21 for a non-conference doubleheader.
This season, the America East Tournament will be held at Maine May 6-9. The event will once again feature a double-elimination format with all six teams qualifying.
Binghamton went 36-14 in 2025, won the America East title and advanced to the NCAA Regionals. The Bearcats also finished the year with a No. 17 ranking in the D1Softball.com Mid-Major Poll and a No. 77 RPI (out of 309 Division I teams).Â
2026 SCHEDULE HIGHLIGHTS
NCAA Tournament Teams (5)
South Carolina (Super Regionals), Virginia Tech (Regionals), Auburn (Regionals), Florida Atlantic (Regionals), Coastal Carolina (Regionals)
Power-4 Conference Opponents (6)
South Carolina (SEC), Virginia Tech (ACC), Syracuse (ACC), Illinois (Big Ten), Auburn (SEC), Penn State (Big Ten)
2025 Nationally-Ranked Teams (4)
South Carolina (No. 12), Virginia Tech (No. 18), Auburn (RV), Florida Atlantic (RV)
RPI Top 75 (6)Â
South Carolina (9th), Virginia Tech (No. 18), Auburn (No. 20), Florida Atlantic (No. 33), Coastal Carolina (No. 44), Syracuse (No. 71)
Mid-Major Ranked Teams (2)
Florida Atlantic (3rd), Coastal Carolina (7th)
2025 Conference Champions (2)
Coastal Carolina (Sun Belt), Florida Atlantic (AAC)Â
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