Freshman stars shine as Alabama Crimson Tide opens 2026 with a record-setting 197.475, outlasting Clemson Tigers in a marquee road showdown.
The 2026 season could not have started any louder for Alabama gymnastics.
Competing in a hostile environment at Littlejohn Coliseum, the Crimson Tide delivered a statement performance, defeating Clemson 197.475–196.550 and setting a new program record for the highest season-opening score in school history. The total eclipsed Alabama’s previous best opener by .350, signaling both elite preparation and championship-level potential from the very first meet.
Alabama’s performance was balanced, composed, and explosive across all four events, with a freshman class that immediately looked at home on the national stage.
