20260206 Gym Vs Uk Em 0010 — Auburn’s Paige Zancan at Neville Arena on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. (Estela Munoz / Auburn Tigers)

For the first time in over four decades, the Auburn gymnastics team has won consecutive head-to-head meetings against rival Alabama.

But the Tigers have a big challenge ahead of them to keep that streak alive as the Crimson Tide will come to The Plains this weekend as the No. 3 team in the country.

Here’s what you need to know before gymnasts take the floor Friday night:

Who: No. 3 Alabama Crimson Tide at No. 18 Auburn Tigers
When: 7:30PM | Friday, Feb. 20
Where: Neville Arena | Auburn, AL
Watch: SEC Network
Tickets

Keep reading to learn more about both teams before the rivalry showdown.

Alabama gymnastics

View this post on Instagram

While Auburn has won the last two head-to-head meets, Alabama still believes it holds the standard for college gymnastics in our state. Despite the regular season defeats, the Crimson Tide has still outscored Auburn at the last two SEC championships.

And this year, it’s Alabama that is climbing the national leaderboards.

Alabama has two head-to-head losses this season—No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 4 Florida—both coming on the road. The Tide has not scored below 197.275 this season and holds the third highest scoring average in the country.

The Tide is led by Gabby Gladieux who is ranked as the No. 9 all-around gymnast in the country with an average score of 39.375.

Chloe LaCoursiere is ranked No. 1 on the uneven bars with an average score of 9.95. Azaraya Ra-Akbar was just named SEC Freshman of the Week after posting three scores of at least 9.9 against Arkansas.

Auburn gymnastics

View this post on Instagram

While the Tigers remain nationally ranked, Auburn has lost all five of its SEC meets so far this season. Alabama will be the fifth top 10 opponent for Auburn already.

Auburn has an average score 196.450, passing the 197 mark just one time and that was in the season opener against NC State.

And now, things get more difficult as the Tigers will have to move forward without Sophia Bell who suffered a season-ending injury last month.

But Auburn hopes its depth can still help the team turn the corner over the final two months of the season. The Tigers have four players ranked in the top 40 of the vault including: