Top-ranked Oklahoma edges No. 2 LSU by 0.200 in Norman behind 198.125 team total

A narrow margin in a top-two showdown

Oklahoma defeated LSU 198.125–197.925 on Friday, Feb. 20, 2026, at Lloyd Noble Center in Norman in a meeting of the nation’s top two NCAA women’s gymnastics teams. The result kept Oklahoma unbeaten on the season at 11-0-1 while LSU dropped to 6-2-1.

The 0.200 margin reflected a meet that remained within reach late, with LSU producing multiple event-title level routines while Oklahoma’s four-event total proved enough to protect home floor in one of the season’s most anticipated duals.

Kailin Chio posts two perfect 10s and wins the all-around

LSU sophomore Kailin Chio delivered the meet’s signature individual performance, earning perfect 10.000 scores on vault and balance beam. Chio’s night also included a 9.925 on floor, where she shared the event title with teammates Lexi Zeiss and Amari Drayton.

Chio’s combined totals produced a 39.850 all-around score, securing the all-around title despite LSU finishing second in the team standings. The performance added to a season in which Chio has amassed multiple perfect scores, underscoring LSU’s ability to generate high-end routines even in a road environment against the top-ranked program.

What the team scores indicate

Both teams surpassed 197.900, a range typically associated with postseason-caliber execution and depth. Oklahoma’s 198.125 total, paired with LSU’s 197.925, suggests two lineups capable of producing championship-level totals with limited separation between them on the night.

While individual highlights drew attention, the team outcome ultimately depended on cumulative scoring across four rotations, where small landing errors and amplitude deductions can swing tenths quickly.

Context within the broader LSU–Oklahoma series

The Norman meet also fit into a recent stretch of high-profile matchups between the programs. In Baton Rouge on Feb. 14, 2025, LSU defeated Oklahoma 198.050–197.675 in another top-ranked dual. One year later, the teams again traded elite totals, with Oklahoma holding serve at home.

• Final (Feb. 20, 2026): Oklahoma 198.125, LSU 197.925
• LSU standout: Kailin Chio (39.850 AA; 10.000 vault; 10.000 beam)
• Prior notable meeting (Feb. 14, 2025): LSU 198.050, Oklahoma 197.675

The meet reinforced the current competitive landscape: Oklahoma and LSU remain closely matched, with results hinging on tenth-level execution across complete lineups rather than any single routine.