The LSU gymnastics team, currently ranked No. 4 nationally with a 2-1-1 record, will host Kentucky (0-4) in their 2026 home opener on Friday, January 23 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The meet is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast live on ESPN2, featuring commentary from John Roethlisberger, Sam Peszek, and Taylor Davis.
LSU aims to extend its current 15-meet winning streak at home against the Wildcats. Historically, LSU has performed strongly against Kentucky with an all-time record of 89 wins and 10 losses, including a dominant 25-2 mark when competing at home. The Tigers last defeated Kentucky in a regular season dual meet in 2024.
Both teams enter the matchup following recent losses; LSU was narrowly defeated by No. 8 Georgia with a score of 197.200-196.850, while Kentucky lost to Arizona State.
Despite the loss to Georgia, several LSU gymnasts achieved personal bests during the meet. Lexi Zeiss scored a career-high 9.875 on beam in only her second routine for that event. Amari Drayton also set a new personal best on beam with a score of 9.925, and Kaliya Lincoln posted a career-high of 9.925 on floor as the anchor.
LSU secured four individual event titles in Athens: Chio won both vault and beam outright; McClain tied for first place on bars with a score of 9.950; Ulrich earned her first all-around title for LSU with a total score of 39.275.
In national rankings after week three of the season, LSU holds an average team score of 197.175—placing them fourth behind Florida (197.575), Oklahoma, and Alabama. The Tigers are ranked within the top ten nationally for vault (49.200), bars (49.463), and beam (49.400). They are currently third in the nation on bars.
Individually, Kailin Chio is ranked No. 17 among all-around competitors but is also No. 4 nationally on vault and No. 2 on beam; Madison Ulrich sits at No.13 among all-arounders this week as well.
Konnor McClain ranks fourth nationwide on bars with an average score of 9.938; Courtney Blackson is twelfth in that event averaging a score of 9.900.
Amari Drayton is currently eighth nationally on beam while Kaliya Lincoln stands twenty-second on floor after setting career highs last week.
Fans can follow updates about LSU Gymnastics through their official social media accounts @LSUgym across Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.
