Gerry Glasco and the Texas Tech Red Raiders softball team are in an interesting position. They’re clearly the best team in the Big 12 (and among the best teams in the country) and they’re looking to build upon the monumental sort of success they had a season ago. 

To be able to do that, that will involve making a run through the Big 12 (again), winning the conference (again) and then going out and competing at the highest sort of level in Oklahoma City during the Women’s College World Series (again).

Anything less than that would be disappointing for Texas Tech fans. This is a team that can and should dominate this year. And after getting started with 17 straight games on the road, Texas Tech is sitting at 16-1 overall and holding the No. 1 spot in the Big 12.

That’s not bad! Not bad at all. Certainly something to build upon and keep the momentum rolling, especially as we get closer and closer to conference play getting started.

Big 12 softball standings, records: Who is following the Red Raiders as Texas Tech holds the No. 1 spot in the conference

Here’s what the Big 12 standings look like ahead of this weekend’s games (with the Texas Tech Red Raiders on top, of course) when it comes to records. 

Texas Tech Red Raiders -16-1 overall, 0-0 Big 12Arizona State Sun Devils – 13-3 overall, 0-0 Big 12UCF Knights – 15-4 overall, 0-0 Big 12Houston Cougars – 11-3 overall, 0-0 Big 12Baylor Bears – 12-4 overall, 0-0 Big 12Oklahoma State Cowgirls – 11-4 overall, 0-0 Big 12Iowa State Cyclones – 10-4 overall, 0-0 Big 12Arizona Wildcats – 12-5 overall, 0-0 Big 12Utah Utes – 11-5  overall, 0-0 Big 12Kansas Jayhawks – 10-6 overall, 0-0 Big 12BYU Cougars – 3-11 overall, 0-0 Big 12

It’s interesting seeing the way that the Arizona State Sun Devils and the UCF Knights aren’t too far behind Texas Tech. There’s clearly a gap, but it looks like both the Sun Devils and the Knights might have the talent and ambition to be able to make things interesting in the conference this season.

Of course, it’s still early, and just about everyone other than the BYU Cougars has shown the ability to go out and win games on a regular basis. Everyone but BYU has double digit wins. Which is notable and something to keep an eye on.