The 'underdog' Sooners are back for redemption

The Sooners were the two -time defending champions of the U.S. gymnastics program in April .

They were ranked No. 1 in the nation and had been the top-ranked gymnastics team all season .

But in the semifinal of last year's meet, they fell in last place and didn't compete for the title.

Now, the Sooners insist they see it only as motivation in the new year .

Head coach K.J. Kindler : "We're the underdogs".

After years of dominating the Big 12, Oklahoma joined the SEC across sports ahead of the current academic year .

The Sooners are the only remaining undefeated team in the SEC .

After Week 6 , Oklahoma is ranked No. 1 as a team on both bars and beam.

They face LSU in Baton Rouge on Friday , the team's toughest test of the season .

"I mean, all of the top teams' goal is to win one but when you walk into our [practice] gym, you see Maggie [ Nichols ], you see all of these incredible gymnasts who have won so many national championships [on the wall] and you're like, 'I'm going to be like them.' So that's your goal and that's what you want to do. We're going to do whatever it takes.".