Oklahoma and Temple at Denver

Recap

The Big Storyline: Both Oklahoma and Denver bounced back in a major way after underwhelming sub-196 performances in week four. Temple posted its highest score of the season. 

Implications: Oklahoma and Denver reasserted themselves as the top teams of the Big 12 (all the more impressive given that Denver was competing with a veritable skeleton crew, competing five-up, five-count on every event except floor). We won’t see any changes in the conference rankings, but this might just be enough for both teams to climb a spot or two nationally. Temple will happily take this massive away score (its season high by over a point), which should help lift it out of the bottom of the EAGL standings. 

Records: Jenna Dunn and Lynzee Brown both matched their career highs of 9.925 on beam while Evy Schoepfer notched a personal best 9.950 on vault. Temple’s Caitlin Gray also matched a career-high 9.775 on bars.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 5 Oklahoma and No. 45 Temple at No. 8 Denver

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: Big 12 rivals Denver and Oklahoma are facing each other for the first time this season, and both are coming off of tough performances in which neither team broke the 196 barrier. They’ll be seeking not only redemption, but also the team scores needed to climb back up the national rankings. Further complicating things, Temple has been outstanding on floor and impressive on vault. If the Owls can put together four hit rotations, they could make this meet much closer than anticipated. The only thing we know for sure about this season is that just about anything can happen. 

What We’re Watching: Not to put too fine a point on it, but beam is make-or-break for the Sooners. After a strong debut, they’ve had to count at least one fall in the last two meets. The talent is certainly there, but the team will have to conquer its collective nerves if it wants to stave off the Pioneers.