LSU gymnastics did itall last season—well, almost.
The Tigers’ program won its first NCAA Division I title after a 31–3 season, highlighted by an all-around-championship performance from Haleigh Bryant, while also capturing first in the SEC championship meet. But one thing that eluded the team was the SEC regular-season title, which was claimed by Florida (the Gators’ 6-1-0 conference record topped the Tigers’ 5-2-0 mark).
This year, No. 2 LSU is hoping to get that title—if No. 1 Oklahoma doesn’t have something to say about it.
The Sooners are spending their first season in the SEC circuit after making the move from the Big 12 last summer. A perennial contender that has won six titles in the past 11 years, Oklahoma remains undefeated midway through the season and currently holds the top spot in the conference with a 4-0-0 record, while LSU trails at 3-1-0.
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An opportunity for both programs to make their mark this year awaits Friday, when No. 2 LSU hosts No. 1 Oklahoma.
It will be a meeting of gymnastics powerhouses with plenty to prove by both parties. The Tigers will be competing as reigning champions looking to take hold of the SEC and No. 1 spot in the nation, while the Sooners are eyeing redemption for their errors in the national semifinals that saw them miss the championship meet for the first time since 2012 after entering as heavy favorites.
LSU’s Bryant says the regular season SEC title is still at the forefront of the team’s mind despite everything accomplished in 2024.
“That’s something [that was on] our goal sheet back in August,” Bryant told Sports Illustrated last summer. “Getting that and winning the actual SEC competition would be amazing.”
Bryant is coming back into form for the Tigers after missing the first meet of the season with an elbow injury. She most recently made her return to vault in LSU’s victory over No. 14 Alabama on Feb. 7, while also competing in floor and beam.
A graduate student, Bryant ultimately decided to return to the Tigers this year alongside teammate and friend Olivia Dunne, who is also in her last collegiate season.
“We had so many conversations. We went back and forth a lot, but we were in it together and we wanted to do it together, because she’s been one of my best friends before we even came to LSU,” Bryant said. “So just getting to do it with her and live out our LSU collegiate dreams one more time and because it’s gonna be the last year of gymnastics [for us].”
Bryant made a splash with her accomplishments last season, leading her nominations for ‘Best Breakthrough Athlete’ and ‘Best Collegiate Athlete’ at the ESPYs. Though she did not win, Bryant says it was a “dream come true” just to be there and see her name among the likes of C.J. Stroud, JuJu Watkins, Victor Wembanyama and Caitlin Clark. Bryant was also honored at the ‘ESPYS x Power of She’ luncheon held by Athleta ahead of the ceremony with her fellow nominees, calling the event highlighting female athletes “one of the best experiences of my life.”
Beyond Bryant, LSU has been powered by new and familiar faces this season. Freshman Kailin Chio has been a standout performer for the Tigers in her first season, so far winning nine titles and most recently being named back-to-back SEC Freshman of the Week. Senior Aleah Finnegan has also continued to shine for LSU, winning 11 titles through the program’s first eight meets.
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9️⃣ . 9️⃣ 7️⃣ 5️⃣ to start things off for Faith Torrez and Oklahoma gymnastics‼️
Meanwhile, Oklahoma boasts three of the top four all-around scorers in the nation in junior Faith Torrez, senior Jordan Bowers and graduate Audrey Davis. Torrez most recently was named back-to-back SEC Gymnast of the Week after earning another three titles in the Sooners’ victory over No. 8 Kentucky.
Oklahoma and LSU meet again after competing in the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad meet earlier this season alongside California and Utah, which saw the Sooners edge out the Tigers, 197.950–197.650. Bowers won the all-around title in the meet, while Bryant was only able to compete in beam while returning from injury.
The SEC currently is home to the top three gymnastics programs in the nation in scoring in Oklahoma, LSU and Florida. When the competition is that stiff, a regular-season title just means more, even in the grand scheme of competing for a national title.
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Oklahoma has an opportunity to reassert its dominance this season, while LSU has its eyes on overtaking the top of the conference. The Tigers have already achieved some redemption after beating last year’s regular-season champion in Florida this year, but facing undefeated Oklahoma will be an even bigger test.
“Just being willing to change, willing to sacrifice things and just being there for one another,” Bryant said on what it will take to succeed this season. “Just supporting everybody, being there for one another and just working so hard and keeping our eyes forward, keeping our foot on the gas and just giving it all we got.”
LSU’s Dunne has been vocal about the lack of fans at meets this year, but with the talent and stakes between Oklahoma and LSU, the Baton Rouge crowd is sure to be in for a treat Friday night.
For the second time this year, we’ll see Oklahoma and Alabama face off in a pivotal showdown.
The Sooners (10-2) will host the Crimson Tide (10-3) for a College Football Playoff showdown Friday at Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium in Norman, Oklahoma. The last time these teams faced off, Oklahoma came away with a 23-21 win over Alabama on the road.
Will Oklahoma once again topple Alabama? Here’s everything fans should know about Oklahoma-Alabama in the CFP:
How to watch Oklahoma-Alabama in the CFP
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When: 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19
Where: Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (Norman, Oklahoma)
TV: ABC/ESPN Streaming: ESPN app
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A prime-time showdown
None of the four first-round College Football Playoff games overlap, but Alabama-Oklahoma really takes center stage.
With the other three games on Saturday, including Texas A&M-Miami, this game is the only one on Friday night and doesn’t overlap with any of Saturday’s NFL action like Tulane-Ole Miss and James Madison-Oregon do.
It shouldn’t be as cold as it has been lately in Norman, Okla., as early forecasts are expecting temperatures in the lower-50s and upper-40s on Friday. Combine that with a 7 p.m. kickoff that gives Oklahoma fans plenty of time to tailgate and get riled up for the game, and “The Palace on the Prairie” should be a sight to behold as it hosts its first CFP game.
Oklahoma-Alabama head-to-head
Oklahoma and Alabama have faced off eight times in the past. The Sooners lead the all-time series 5-2-1. As we mentioned above, Oklahoma won the latest matchup in the 2025 regular season.
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— Five storylines for Oklahoma-Alabama: A shot at revenge, turnover battle and more
— 10 things to know about Oklahoma head coach Brent Venables as Sooners head to CFP
— Brent Venables’ aggressive defense gives Oklahoma different look than past CFP teams
— Final College Football Playoff bracket: See where Texas Tech, A&M and Oklahoma landed
Find more Oklahoma coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.
Moccasin Bend Ranch, a residential treatment program in Wyandotte, has reopened after a remodel, expanding access to specialized mental health services for children ages 5 to 12. Leaders say the program fills a critical gap in Oklahoma, where options for young children needing higher levels of care remain limited.
A unique approach for younger children
Moccasin Bend Ranch is a 28 bed psychiatric residential treatment facility set on 12 wooded acres. The unlocked campus is designed to give children access to outdoor play and nature, something leaders say is essential for younger patients.
“This setting allows our kids to act like kids,” said Christina Holum, interim chief executive officer at Willow Crest Hospital and Moccasin Bend Ranch. “Watching them play gives us a renewed sense of purpose. We are confident this change will lead to better outcomes and happier, healthier children.”
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The ranch focuses exclusively on children, a distinction that sets it apart from many other programs across the state.
Why early treatment matters
Mental health leaders say many children referred to Moccasin Bend Ranch have already tried outpatient therapy and medication management without success. By the time families seek residential care, behaviors are often increasing in both frequency and intensity.
“If outpatient services are not working, families need somewhere to turn,” said Grant Linihan, vice president of business development for Vizion Health, which owns the facility. “If our program was not available, these, kids, where are they going to go to get treated?”
Linihan and Holum say early intervention can help children develop coping skills and emotional regulation before problems follow them into adolescence and adulthood.
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Inside the treatment program
Children at Moccasin Bend Ranch receive a full schedule of therapeutic services, including individual therapy, family therapy and group sessions. The program also emphasizes recreational and expressive therapies to help children process trauma and build skills in a developmentally appropriate way.
Staff members work with families to plan for discharge, aiming to ensure continuity of care once a child returns home.
Making the holidays feel normal
For some children, the holiday season can be especially difficult. Leaders say the ranch makes a point to celebrate milestones and traditions, even while children are in treatment.
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The facility hosts holiday meals, seasonal activities and visits from community volunteers, including a volunteer Santa. Children are also taken to see nearby holiday light displays.
“We try to get them to reshape their minds,” Linihan said. “Even though you’re with us, this is still going to be a joyous time for you.”
A broader mental health need in Oklahoma
Mental health providers say the need for pediatric services is tied to broader challenges across the state, including limited funding and access to care. They note that untreated mental health issues in childhood can contribute to long term struggles later in life.
“There will always be a need for this type of service for a certain group of children,” Holum said. “If they cannot get help early, their prognosis becomes much worse.”
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How families can get help
Families who are concerned about a child’s mental health can contact Willow Crest Hospital or Moccasin Bend Ranch for a free phone intake. Staff members can help parents determine whether residential treatment is appropriate or if outpatient care may still be an option.
Willow Crest Hospital, also operated by Vizion Health, is a 50 bed acute inpatient psychiatric facility in Miami serving adolescents ages 9 to 17. Together, the programs serve families from across Oklahoma, including hundreds of children from Tulsa County each year.
For more information, families can call (918) 542-1836 to speak with an intake specialist. You can also find their website here.
Bob Stoops’ coaching career appears to be over. For real, this time.
The former Oklahoma football coach, who led the Sooners to a national championship in 2000, said Monday he would be retiring from coaching. Stoops had spent the previous three years as coach of the the United Football League’s Arlington Renegades.
“After much thought and reflection, I’ve made the decision to retire from coaching and step away from the game of football,” Stoops said in a statement released by the UFL. “Coaching has been one of the greatest honors of my life, and closing this chapter comes with lots of gratitude. …Thank you for allowing me to be part of this incredible game for so many years.”
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Stoops’ first and only head-coaching job at the Division I level came at Oklahoma. He took over ahead of the 1999 season and stayed through 2016. OU went 190-48 overall while only suffering three-or-more defeats in Big 12 play four times. The Sooners’ 2001 Orange Bowl win capped 13-0 season and gave Oklahoma its first national title since 1985.
A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Stoops took over coaching Oklahoma after serving three years as Florida’s defensive coordinator. He retired from job at OU in June 2017, but lasted less than two calendar years as he was drawn to coaching the Dallas Renegades in the XFL.
The league folded in part because of the COVID pandemic before OU called on him again to serve as interim coach for the 2021 Alamo Bowl after Lincoln Riley left to coach Southern California. After that, he rejoind the Renegades, now rebranded as the Arlington Renegades in the UFL.
