Northwestern softball’s 2026 schedule analysis

Key Highlights

• It won’t be easy, but playing high-level competition should only make the Wildcats even better as the season progresses.
• Let’s unpack what’s on the docket in 2026. AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementNon-Conference GamesUnlike many other sports, Northwestern softball’s conference slate tends to be more difficult than Big Ten play.
• The opponents vary in strength, from below-average teams to top-five teams in the country.
• Nevertheless, opening the season with opportunities to see how the ‘Cats fare against different kinds of competition is undoubtedly beneficial, as it gears the team up for conference play and can significantly impact their tournament chances and seeding. The Wildcats kick off their season at the Kajikawa Classic, where they’ll play two games against Texas State and have single-game matchups against Toledo, Memphis and the hosts, Arizona State.
• All four teams pose different threat levels, but how the ‘Cats fare against Texas State will be interesting to watch, since both teams finished with similar records last season (the Wildcats went 30-20-1, the Bobcats went 34-19).