Countdown to the 2025 NCAA Gymnastics Championships: Who Will Rise to the Top?

Countdown to the 2025 NCAA Gymnastics Championships: Who Will Rise to the Top?

April 16, 2025, 10:02 AM ET – The air is electric with anticipation as the 2025 NCAA gymnastics championships are set to unfold in Fort Worth, Texas, at the iconic Dickies Arena. After a season brimming with breathtaking performances and unexpected twists, only eight teams remain in the hunt for the coveted national title. This weekend promises to be a spectacle of athletic prowess and competitive spirit.

The stage is set for a thrilling showdown. Oklahoma, Florida, Missouri, and Alabama will ignite the competition in Thursday’s first semifinal at 4:30 p.m. ET, broadcast live on ESPN2. As the sun sets, LSU, Utah, UCLA, and Michigan State will take the floor in the evening session at 9 p.m. ET, also on ESPN2. The stakes are high, with the top two teams from each semifinal advancing to Saturday’s team final at 4 p.m. ET on ABC. Individual champions will be crowned Thursday night, following the second semifinal.

ESPN analyst and 2015 NCAA all-around champion Samantha Peszek has dubbed this weekend as one for the history books. “I think this is one of the tightest fields in a really long time, maybe ever,” Peszek remarked. “I think all eight of these teams are extremely competitive and have shown moments of greatness this year that could contend with any team in the country.”

As we gear up for the final weekend of the college gymnastics season, the questions are endless. Can LSU defend its title and achieve back-to-back victories? Will Oklahoma bounce back from last year’s upset to reclaim the trophy? Could Florida, Utah, UCLA, or another team surprise us all and seize the championship? And who will emerge as the all-around champion? Here’s a closer look at the contenders and what to expect.

The Defending Champs: LSU

Last year, LSU broke through a long-standing barrier, capturing their first national championship after being runners-up four times. The Tigers’ triumph was fueled by the stellar performance of all-around winner Haleigh Bryant and a record-setting final rotation on beam, where they earned the highest collective score (49.7625) in the event’s history.

This victory inspired Bryant to return for a fifth year, and LSU’s roster is brimming with talent. Alongside Bryant, Aleah Finnegan, Konnor McClain, and freshman sensation Kailin Chio have propelled the team to the No. 1 overall ranking. LSU has only stumbled twice this season, finishing second to Oklahoma at the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad and losing to Arkansas on the road. Since January 24, they have been undefeated, showcasing their strength and depth.

At the SEC championships, LSU achieved their highest-ever score at the event with a 198.200, securing the conference title for the sixth time. Their performance at the Pennsylvania regional, with a score of 198.050, was the second-highest across all regional competitions. Head coach Jay Clark has emphasized a pragmatic approach, focusing on small goals rather than the end result. “We state [our goals] early and then we don’t talk about ’em again,” Clark told ESPN. “We put our head down and go to work and just try to knock it out one step at a time.”

Oklahoma’s Redemption Mission

Oklahoma, a team synonymous with dominance, faced an unexpected setback last year. As two-time reigning champions, they were poised for a three-peat but faltered during the semifinals. Three gymnasts suffered major landing errors on vault, leaving the team in fourth place. Despite a valiant effort, they couldn’t recover, marking their earliest exit since 2012.

Since then, the Sooners have embraced their “underdog” status, using last year’s disappointment as motivation. Led by Jordan Bowers, Faith Torrez, and fifth-year graduate student Audrey Davis, Oklahoma has been a force to be reckoned with this season. Although they finished second at the SEC championships and lost to LSU in a marquee matchup, they have won everything else.

The Sooners’ 198.450 score at the Washington regional final was the highest across all regions, with Bowers earning three perfect 10.0 scores. Oklahoma enters the championships with the highest season average score (197.908) in the country. Head coach K.J. Kindler believes last year’s experience has only strengthened the team. “We own what happened, we’re accountable for what happened. We made a mistake. Oh my gosh, we’re humans. It’s a tough time to make a mistake but it happened,” Kindler said.

The Other Contenders

While LSU and Oklahoma are the frontrunners, other teams are poised to challenge for the title. Florida, ranked No. 3, narrowly won its regional final by 0.025 of a point. With Leanne Wong and Selena Harris-Miranda ranked in the top five nationally in the all-around, the Gators aim to advance to Saturday’s “Four on the Floor” for the fifth consecutive year and win their fourth NCAA title.

• Utah, a nine-time NCAA team champion, is ranked No. 4 and has had a stellar debut season in the Big 12. Led by 2020 Olympic silver medalist Grace McCallum, the Red Rocks are eager to end their championship drought.
• UCLA, ranked No. 6, has been impressive in the Big Ten, winning the regular season and conference championship. The Bruins, led by Chae Campbell and Jordan Chiles, are determined to return to the championship stage.
• Michigan State, Missouri, and Alabama, ranked No. 5, No. 7, and No. 8 respectively, have all earned their place in the competition and could surprise with strong performances.

Individual Honors

The NCAA championships also spotlight individual qualifiers, gymnasts who rotate with competing teams. Notable pairings include Oregon State’s Jade Carey with LSU and Arkansas’ Joscelyn Roberson with Utah. Carey, a senior and three-time Olympic medalist, is ranked No. 1 in the nation in the all-around and on beam. She aims to cap her collegiate career with an individual title.

Roberson, an alternate on the U.S. Olympic team, has had a standout freshman season and could make a significant impact. ESPN analyst Aly Raisman praised Roberson’s transition to college gymnastics and is excited to see her debut at the national championship.

While Carey is the favorite for the all-around crown, LSU’s Bryant, Oklahoma’s Bowers and Torrez, Florida’s Wong and Harris-Miranda, Utah’s McCallum, and UCLA’s Campbell or Chiles are all contenders. Thursday’s semifinals promise to be a thrilling showcase of talent and determination.