JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville University softball team has released its 2026 season schedule, complete with 51 total games across the three-month season.
The Dolphins are coming off a trip to the second round of the ASUN Tournament, defeating No. 9 North Alabama in the opening round as the bracket's No. 8 seed. Before the 'Phins reach tournament play once more, they first must navigate a slew of non-conference tournaments, starting with the 2026 edition of the River City Leadoff.
JU opens the year on Feb. 6, at North Florida, against Colgate in the River City Leadoff. The Dolphins will face Colgate, UMass and, for the first time in any sport in school history, the North Dakota State Bison. Tournament play goes from Feb. 6-7.
Hosting the University of Florida on Feb. 10 follows the team's first four games, before a trip down to Gainesville on Feb. 11. The Gators are coming off a trip to the Women's College World Series.
Jacksonville next takes on the annual JU/UNF Invitational inside the Pruitt Softball Complex, where JU will play host to Stony Brook, Princeton and Iona on Feb. 13-14. JU softball owns a 4-1 all-time record against Stony Brook but has never once faced off against either 2025 Ivy League Tournament Runner-Up Princeton or Iona.
The team's lone tournament outside of the 904 area code comes during the UNC Charlotte Tournament from Feb. 20-22. In the Queen City, Jacksonville draws 2025 Patriot League Champion Boston University twice, Marshall and the host school twice during tournament play. Adding to the list of firsts for this upcoming season, Jacksonville has never played Marshall or UNC Charlotte.
During the JU/UNF Classic held from Feb. 27 to March 1, Jacksonville will square off against DePaul for the second straight season. The tournament features three games against the Blue Demons and two games against Tennessee Tech. The Dolphins went 1-1 last year against DePaul and are 2-0 all time against Tennessee Tech.
Head coach
Erica Ayers' team will make the short jog over to Tallahassee to face FSU on March 4 between its run in the Classic and its non-conference final tournament of the season. The Seminoles are fresh off a trip to the NCAA Super Regionals after a 49-win season.
JU's final tournament test of the non-conference slate will be the Jacksonville Spring Break Challenge at home and at UNF, March 6-8.
Games against Georgia Southern, Presbyterian and Brown will come as Jacksonville's final test before the ASUN slate. The Brown Bears won the Ivy League last season, making a trip to the NCAA Regionals.
The combined 2025 record of JU's mid-major non-conference opponents was 353-368. JU will face eight teams outside of UF and FSU that finished .500 or better, including a conference tournament runner-up and two conference champions.
Atlantic Sun Conference play begins March 13 with a three-game stand at West Georgia. Next up is three games across town at UNF from March 19-21.
The first home series of the year is against UWG March 28-29. Jacksonville opens the month of April at home against FGCU, April 3-4.
A lone game against FAMU at home on April 7 breaks up the ASUN slate before trips to Queens (April 11-12) and FGCU (April 18-19). The Dolphins end the year with a weekend series against Stetson April 25-26 and a trio of games against the Ospreys April 30 through May 2.
ASUN Tournament play begins May 6 and runs to May 9 and will be hosted this year at the UNF Softball Complex.
Stay alert on JUDolphins.com and on Jacksonville Softball social media (Instagram: @jax_sftbl, X: @JAX_Softball) for updates regarding potential game-time changes, streaming information or gameday promotions.
