LSU gymnastics will be chasing a second national title in 2026, and with the schedule already slated, here’s how LSU will be tested on its road back to the podium.
The Tigers open on Jan. 10 at the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad in West Valley City, Utah. This is the Tigers’ first test, as they’ve somewhat struggled at the Quad in recent years.
Oklahoma will be the biggest matchup in the invitational, as the Tigers placed second behind the Sooners in both 2024 and 2025.
Beyond facing the defending champs, the invitational gives LSU a chance to test lineups against non-conference teams.
Among them will be UCLA and the University of Utah, against whom the team lost in its semifinal exit last season.
Following the opening weekend, LSU heads to Athens to take on the Bulldogs on Jan. 16.
Historically, the Tigers have prevailed over the GymDogs since 2023, but a strong debut season under co-head coaches Cecile Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts makes Georgia more dangerous than ever as it looks to prove last year wasn’t a fluke.
Even so, the Tigers are favored over Georgia after losing three gymnasts to the transfer portal over the offseason.
Recruits such as Autumn Reginold will help to fill gaps in the roster, but Georgia won’t have much collegiate competitive experience until midseason, giving LSU the edge.
On Jan. 23, LSU hosts Kentucky for its home opener — a matchup that consistently is a record-booster since 2024. Six days later, the Tigers head back on the road to face Mizzou.
In the past, LSU hasn’t exactly prevailed over the Tigers from Missouri. Although LSU beat the team twice in 2025, Mizzou was the national runner-up.
However, after losing veteran gymnasts, Mizzou faces significant lineup losses that LSU can exploit.
Moving into a two-meet home stretch, LSU will have its one and only regular-season non-conference matchup against Penn State.
Even without reaching a national championship, Penn State had a historic season that continues a strong trend. The Lions have consistently ranked in the top 25 for the past three years, while setting program-high scores.
That being said, the team may face hardship as it lost a total of seven upperclassmen.
With five freshmen and several underclassmen carrying the load of keeping the Lions’ momentum alive, LSU will have clear intentions of winning this matchup.
To round out the home-meet stretch, LSU will look to defend against the Tigers from Alabama. Holding a win streak since 2023, LSU has the upper hand ahead of the Friday the 13th matchup against Auburn.
Injury-plagued in 2025, expect a healthier roster that could flip expectations with Katelyn Jong and new recruits visiting Baton Rouge in February.
LSU will meet Oklahoma for a second time in the season away from home in what’s expected to be a significant yet unpredictable matchup.
In a back-and-forth bout over the past few years, Oklahoma will be a marquee matchup for the Tigers. As defending national champions, the Sooners’ drive to stay on top will be sky-high.
The Tigers’ roster advantages could make the difference, especially with OU stars like Jordan Bowers and Audrey Davis gone. The team turns to the recruitment of Mackenzie Estep and Kamila Pawlak to help fill the holes.
A win over Oklahoma could be a turning point in LSU’s championship journey.
LSU closes the season at home against Alabama before the Podium Challenge in Baton Rouge, an annual event the Tigers have won since 2023. With regionals approaching soon after, expectations remain high for the continuation of a top-ranking national qualifying score.
On the other side of the Podium Challenge, the Tigers are faced with their last two regular-season meets before postseason competition.
In Gainesville, LSU faces the Florida Gators, a team chasing its first title in a decade. With five-star recruits Jocelyn Sasson and Madelyn Dorbin joining this year’s roster alongside Olympic alternate Kayla DiCello, Florida won’t be a perfectly easy matchup for the Tigers.
In their last meet before the postseason, the Tigers will face yet another big competitor at home. This finale won’t be easy, with Arkansas aiming to upset LSU in a second Friday the 13th matchup.
LSU is 5-1 in its last two seasons against Arkansas; however, being the only SEC team to miss out on the conference championship resulted in numerous offseason changes to the Razorbacks’ roster.
Lauren Williams and Frankie Price return from season-ending injuries, strengthening the beam and vault lineups. Transferring to the team to compete alongside her sister is Morgan Price, who had a historic career at Fisk University.
With Arkansas upgraded, LSU faces a tough regular-season finale. If the team can remain healthy throughout the season, LSU could reasonably overcome Arkansas’ revamped roster.
After they close out the regular season, the Tigers turn towards the SEC Championship and soon after, regionals in Baton Rouge. LSU will aim for a stronger postseason, with its sights set on the 2026 championship final in Fort Worth.
The Tigers have a long road back to the top, with key meets serving as pillars against some of the nation’s best.
With the days counting down to Jan. 10, LSU gymnastics will need to be on its A-game ahead of the Utah season opener, marking the start of another exciting season.
