2026 ICCAC Spring Preview | Softball
The 2026 ICCAC Softball season is fast approaching, and after last season, the competition will be strong once again. In 2025, for the first time, three Division II ICCAC teams qualified for the NJCAA World Series.
In Division I, Indian Hills finished the regular season atop the five-team standings, winning its ninth title in the last 10 years. Despite that, Iowa Western came out on top in the Region 11 Tournament for a second consecutive season.
Iowa Western has been tabbed as the favorite to win the conference title in 2026 after coming up just short in the conference standings last season.
Indian Hills and Southeastern trail right behind the Reivers. The Warriors are picked to finish second after winning another regular-season title last year, but will restart with a new head coach in 2026. Southeastern returns an experienced group, with newcomers filling in the depth.
Southwestern and Marshalltown round out the Division I teams, both fielding new head coaches heading into the season. The Spartans will look to build off their improvement last season, while the Tigers will hit the reset button with a new coach looking to establish a foundation for the future.
Division II is growing by two teams this season with the addition of Central and first-year program Northeast Iowa, bringing the conference total to 10 teams. Kirkwood and DMACC were tabbed as preseason favorites.
Kirkwood was narrowly given the top spot in the preseason coaches' poll. Last season, the Eagles finished second in the standings but went on to win the Region 11-B Tournament and the District, qualifying for a 10th straight NJCAA World Series.
DMACC enters the year after another successful season, winning its first regular-season conference title since 2022. The Bears qualified for an 11th straight NJCAA World Series and finished 1-2 at the event.
NIACC and Iowa Central are also heavy contenders after two strong seasons. The Trojans were tabbed third this season behind a large core of returning players that narrowly fell in the Region 11-A Championship last year. Right behind them are the Tritons, who lost significant production from the team that earned an at-large bid to the NJCAA World Series and finished 2-2 at the event.
Iowa Lakes and Northeast are predicted to finish fifth and sixth this season. The Lakers return a group of players who saw significant playing time in 2025, while the Hawks bring back key All-Region players to help lead the team.
Ellsworth and Central follow at seventh and eighth. The Panthers will aim for another season of improvement, while Central looks to establish itself in the ICCAC.
Hawkeye and Northeast Iowa round out the conference preseason coaches' rankings. Entering year three as a program, the RedTails will aim for a competitive season, while the Cougars enter year one in a difficult conference.
Kirkwood and DMACC remain the favorites, but teams sitting below them are eyeing an opportunity to end the 13-year run held by the two programs.
Division I:
ICCAC Division I Softball Preview
Division II: