Lexington, KY – The No. 1 ranked Oklahoma Sooners maintained their perfect start to the 2026 season on Friday night, defeating the Kentucky Wildcats 197.550–196.475 at Historic Memorial Coliseum. Despite the loss, the Wildcats gave the top-ranked team in the country a serious scare, posting their highest team score of the season and outscoring Oklahoma on the floor exercise in the final rotation.

➡️  Kentucky vs Oklahoma photos

The meet began with Kentucky taking an early, if narrow, lead after the first rotation. The Wildcats’ vault squad was led by a spectacular stuck Yurchenko 1.5 from Delaynee Rodriguez, who earned a 9.925. Oklahoma, meanwhile, struggled with uncharacteristic consistency on the uneven bars; a major error in the leadoff spot from Hannah Scheible forced the Sooners to count several scores in the mid-9.7 range, though Addison Fatta saved the rotation with a stuck double layout for a 9.900.

Oklahoma found its rhythm in the second rotation, putting up a massive 49.550 on vault to reclaim the lead. The Sooners’ depth was on full display as Hannah Scheible redeemed her bars performance with a stuck front handspring pike half for a 9.950, a score matched by teammate Keira Wells. Kentucky remained steady on the uneven bars with a season-best 49.025, anchored by another stuck landing from Rodriguez, but the Sooners’ vaulting power created a half-point cushion by the midway mark.

Moving to the third rotation, the Sooners extended their lead on the floor exercise with a steady 49.325, highlighted by Elle Mueller and freshman Kamila Pawlak. Kentucky, however, refused to fade away. The Wildcats posted a season-high 49.000 on the balance beam, where Rodriguez continued her career night with a 9.900. Her performance across all four events eventually earned her the all-around title with a career-high 39.550, a major statement against the nation’s top program.

The final rotation brought the Lexington crowd to its feet as Kentucky’s floor squad actually outscored the Sooners’ beam total. Creslyn Brose was the star of the night on the floor, dazzling with a 9.950 to take the event title. Teammates Chesney Bennett and Callie Gardner also chipped in career-high scores to push the team to a 49.350 event total. However, Oklahoma’s Faith Torrez quelled the comeback with a clinical 9.950 on the balance beam to anchor the Sooners’ victory.

While Oklahoma remains the team to beat in the SEC, Kentucky’s performance suggests they are peaking at the right time. The Wildcats set season-best marks on three of the four apparatuses, proving they can hang with the elite programs when they hit their routines. Oklahoma moves forward with its undefeated record intact, while Kentucky carries significant momentum into next week’s road trip to Auburn.