How many sports teams in the world can win a championship in one season and say that they began the season that followed by breaking a record? My math is not very good, but I can say only a handful of teams can say that. When the dust settled on LSU’s debut meet against Iowa this season, the scoreline read 197.300-194.100. What was so special about it? It was the first time since 2018 that the Tigers posted a score beyond 197.000 in their season opener. The debut meet also saw the freshman Kailin Chio clinch the highest debut score by a freshman in LSU history.

But coach Jay Clark is not one to sit on his laurels. He already has the next meet in sight—the 2025 Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad on January 11. His comments in a recent press conference ahead of the meet showed exactly why he is such a successful coach.

When asked about what such a challenge so early on in the season means for the team and its confidence, Clark said, “Hopefully, it causes us to raise our performance level again.” As positive as ever! “And you know, one of the reasons you get involved in things like this is cuz you want to be tested by the best, and you want to be battle-tested when you get to the end and having been through big meets is what makes that possible, you know that,” he added. He realizes that some challenges may be tougher than others and may even end in losses, but the key is to learn and come out better after each. That is how you win championships!

All the teams at the meet will be competitive, that’s for sure. Jay Clark, however, is particularly looking forward to their face-off against the University of Oklahoma. With six out of the last ten national championships in their bag, Oklahoma has established itself as the best that the NCAA has to offer. Moreover, they are the top-seeded team this season after the first week. Acknowledging Oklahoma as the “gold standard”, Coach Clark hopes to give them a tough time at the meet, and he thinks that the Tigers might just have an advantage.

The advantage? Well, they start on vaults, which has always been one of their biggest strengths. Case in point: their first meet this season against Iowa. KJ Johnson, Chase Brock, and Kaliya Lincoln each scored a whopping 9.825 while Alleah Finnegan clinched the best score of 9.950. In response to the Tigers’ vault score of 49.350, Iowa State could only manage 48.825. On top of this, they’ll also have the rotation that they have in their home. So the coach thinks that as long as nothing goes south in the run-up to the meet, the Tigers will be ready to give Oklahoma a run for their money.

No discussion about a high-profile match-up is complete without delving into its history. How has LSU fared against Oklahoma in the last decade? Let’s find out.

Oklahoma vs LSU: Who has history on their side?

While Jay Clark’s thinking of vaults as an advantage is not without its merits, Oklahoma is also the current leader in vault scores. After the first week this season, the Sooners stand at 49.450 on vault. The Sooners are also the leader in terms of overall scores, with the Tigers in second position. Moreover, as positive as Clark is, he’ll also have LSU’s history against Oklahoma at the back of his mind.

The two teams have gone head-to-head on a number of occasions since their first encounter on February 9, 2014. And on most of those occasions, Oklahoma has managed to come out on top. At the moment, the Sooners lead LSU 4-2 with their biggest victory being 198.3875-197.5250 on April 15, 2023. That being said, LSU is no stranger to changing history. They did that just last season! And they have begun their season with a spring in their step.

While both Oklahoma and LSU fans will be biting their nails come January 11, the match-up promises to be a great one for the neutral spectator. What are your predictions? Let us know in the comments.