This is the big one.
The back-to-back SEC champion #2 LSU gymnastics team is back in action for the biggest meet of the 2026 regular season. The Tigers are coming off a massive 198.325-196.825 win over Auburn. Now they have to hit the road to face by far the best team in the land: the #1 Oklahoma Sooners. The meet begins at 8:00 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2. John Roethlisberger and Bridget Sloan will be on play-by-play, and Taylor Davis will be reporting on the floor. Live stats can be found here.
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LSU’s match-up history with Oklahoma
LSU is 13-25-1 all-time against Oklahoma and is 1-1 against them in Norman. The last time the two met was at the season-opening Sprouts Collegiate Quad in West Valley City, Utah, where the two tied 197.500-197.500. LSU hasn’t been to Norman since 2014, when the then-#3 Tigers beat the then-#2 Sooners 197.650-197.325. That was the last time Oklahoma suffered a loss at home. Oklahoma is on a 63-meet home win streak when including Big 12 Championships they hosted and regional meets they hosted.
This is the second straight time that these two teams are facing off in a 1 vs 2 dual meet. LSU won last year’s meet in the PMAC 198.050-197.675 thanks to the Sooners buckling under the pressure.
About #1 Oklahoma
The reigning national champion Oklahoma Sooners finished third at SECs last year. The Sooners lost nine NQS routines from the 2025 squad, but those came from three program legends: Danielle Sievers’ bars, Audrey Davis AA and Jordan Bowers AA. It’s impossible to overstate the impact of losing the two all-arounders is, but Oklahoma was built to withstand it. The Sooners brought in the most stacked recruiting class of all time highlighted by Mackenzie Estep and Kamila Pawlak, the top two recruits in the country. They also got Ella Murphy, the #8 recruit in the rankings.
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The Sooners are 10-0-1 overall and 5-0 in the SEC. Their most recent meet was a 198.075-197.575 win at Florida. Oklahoma looks like the program everyone’s gotten used to seeing: a juggernaut. OU owns the highest score of the season, a definitely uncontroversial 198.425 set on January 23rd, and has as many 198s as the rest of the country combined. Their last three meets have all been 198s. On top of that, they’re on a 63-meet home win streak, including regionals and conference championships, since LSU’s win in 2014. They are the standard. If you’re looking for a star, this team is a galaxy. The true studs on this team are AAers Addison Fatta, Lily Pederson and Mackenzie Estep and all-but-floor specialist Faith Torrez.
Oklahoma is led by the legendary K.J. Kindler in her 20th season with the program. She is assisted by associate head coaches Lou Ball and Tom Haley, each in their 20th season, and assistant coach Ashley Kerr in her ninth year. They are the dynasty, the gold standard, the queens of the castle, and the team everyone wants to beat. Only one team has failed to lose to them in their last three meets, though, and that’s LSU.
About #2 LSU
After a phenomenal performance against Auburn, Kailin Chio earned SEC Gymnast of the Week honors for the third time this season. Her 39.875 AA score is tied for second in LSU history and tied for the 2026 national high.
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LSU is ranked second on vault [49.369], second on bars [49.463], fifth on beam [49.388] and first on floor [49.494].
LSU needs to come out with a strong showing. They are highly unlikely to win because Oklahoma is an absolute beast at home, but this sport isn’t about wins and losses until the tournament. If LSU somehow pulls out a near-198 at this meet, it’ll be more than enough to make everyone feel confident. Lineups will be what they are, what matters is the ability to harness whatever momentum they can get.
In terms of the NQS, LSU will max out if they have as good a performance as they did last week. LSU’s program record for a true road meet is 198.200, so keep expectations reasonable. LSU needs a mere 197.125 to maintain their #2 spot in the rankings. Oklahoma is locked into the #1 spot no matter how they do tonight. It should be a fun meet, so enjoy the excitement.
