Across the board grades are up this week as programs are peaking for the postseason and lineups are being set more than shuffled. After Michigan’s iffy Big Fives and Oklahoma’s program record last weekend, the Sooners jump the Wolverines for teacher’s pet this grading period with just a handful of weeks left before conference championships and the postseason kick-off.
In 2023, the NCAA Report Card will measure which teams look like championship teams right now, meaning grades will not be cumulative. Rather, they’ll reflect averages over the most recent two weeks of competition—because what matters most in the postseason anyways is who’s hot at the right time. With the average NCAA champions’ score from the last five years now totaling 198.250, the standards for grades are rising, too. An event total of 49.600 or better is now required for an A+, 49.550 or better for an A, 49.500 for an A-, and the pattern continuing in five-hundredths of a point decreases per plus/minus.
The biggest upside to this new system is that it will indicate which teams have picked up momentum in a way that traditional rankings can’t. Grades will appear harsher at first because of this change—especially early in the season—but with a clean slate every two weeks, schools have the opportunity to rebound easily.
Top of the Class
Oklahoma
| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | |
| Weeks 1-2 | B | B | B | B+ |
| Weeks 3-4 | A+ | A- | A- | A- |
| Weeks 5-6 | B+ | A+ | B+ | A |
| Weeks 7-8 | A | A+ | A+ | A |
Biggest Asset: Championship pedigree. In a story we’ve seen before, just about everything is going right for the NCAA gymnastics dynasty of the last decade. The Sooners haven’t been under 197.925 since Week 2, and it’s hard to imagine them taking a dip anytime soon with plenty of cushion to absorb a mistake or two in the postseason and still make it to Fort Worth in April.
Biggest Worry: The only thing Oklahoma has to “worry” about right now is being able to hit at the right time—at the NCAA championships.
Honor Roll
Alabama
| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | |
| Weeks 1-2 | D+ | C | D+ | D |
| Weeks 3-4 | D+ | D+ | C- | B- |
| Weeks 5-6 | B- | B- | A- | A+ |
| Weeks 7-8 | C+ | B- | A- | A- |
Biggest Asset: Luisa Blanco, unsurprisingly. She’s established herself as one of the nation’s best, and when analyzing Alabama’s scores, many of Blanco’s and the Crimson Tides’ best performances coincide. Her presence in lineups gives them an automatic 10 threat, and when they’re on, they’re a team absolutely in the NCAA finals discussion.
Biggest Worry: Relying on Blanco has had its disadvantages, too, as her early season beam blunder saw Alabama fall into the 196s while she worked her way back up to full strength, and her bars fall last week came in a rivalry loss. With the craziness the postseason can bring, it’s critical for the Crimson Tide’s roster to manifest their own big scores. That way, Blanco’s huge numbers will boost event totals rather than help offset early lineup 9.7s.
Florida
| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | |
| Weeks 1-2 | C | A | B+ | A- |
| Weeks 3-4 | C+ | A- | B | B- |
| Weeks 5-6 | C+ | A+ | A+ | B+ |
| Weeks 7-8 | C+ | A+ | A- | A |
Biggest Asset: Trinity Thomas. There’s no need to argue why Thomas is Florida’s biggest asset as the super senior closes in on the all-time 10s record and has every accolade on her resume aside from an NCAA team title. Perfect nearly every time she performs, Thomas is doing all she can to make sure that happens, and once again, she’s got teammates capable of getting that trophy in her hands.
Biggest Worry: Even with the difficulty to match most of the top five, the Gators have yet to put up any impressive vault totals, with nothing higher than a 49.425 with just weeks to go. All of their vault regulars have hit in the 9.9s but never in the same meet, as landings continue to plague Florida’s vault totals.
LSU
| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | |
| Weeks 1-2 | C | C+ | D | C- |
| Weeks 3-4 | B+ | B- | D- | C+ |
| Weeks 5-6 | B | C | C+ | A |
| Weeks 7-8 | A | C+ | A | A |
Biggest Asset: Resiliency. Despite losing routines by the week, LSU is scoring the best it has all season. The Tigers’ depth has been on display and slotting into lineups seamlessly as they continue to improve in spite of their rash of injuries instead of succumbing to them. Aleah Finnegan’s emergence as an equal to superstar Haleigh Bryant cannot be understated in keeping LSU in the nationals conversation this season, as its grit and scrappiness are capable of taking it far.
Biggest Worry: Health. At some point, the Tigers will run out of routines. And with Alyona Shchennikova’s minor injury limiting her events and hampering her performance last weekend, that’s a legitimate concern. LSU’s scoring potential takes a hit with each lost routine as well, and although the dynamic duo has the Tigers performing close to their ceiling, there’s minimal margin for error with even a rolled ankle capable of derailing the rest of the season at this point.
Michigan
| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | |
| Weeks 1-2 | A- | A | D | A |
| Weeks 3-4 | B+ | C+ | D | A |
| Weeks 5-6 | A- | A- | A- | A+ |
| Weeks 7-8 | D+ | B+ | A- | B+ |
Biggest Asset: Scoring potential. The Wolverines can go off on any event at any time, with five different gymnasts earning at least one perfect 10 in their career. While vault and floor are the usual suspects, beam has come into its own lately and was the saving grace for Michigan at Big Fives—a pleasure to see after early season woes on the event. Plus, most of the roster are national champions and have that experience to hone in on throughout the postseason.
Biggest Worry: Michigan is one of the teams I had to get nit-picky with, but there’s a slight concern about this team hitting under pressure. The Wolverines’ three worst meets of the season were all meets with significance—season-opening Super 16, rivalry dual against Michigan State, and Big Fives—which isn’t a great look as they’re trying to distance themselves from crumbling in last year’s NCAA semifinal.
UCLA
| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | |
| Weeks 1-2 | C+ | A- | C | A- |
| Weeks 3-4 | C | B | F | A |
| Weeks 5-6 | D | B+ | A- | A- |
| Weeks 7-8 | B- | B- | A+ | A+ |
Biggest Asset: Confidence. After a few down years, UCLA has zoomed back into the top five and Four on the Floor picture by honing in on what the program is known for. The Bruins visibly gain confidence every week, something that’s reflected in their grades and scores—particularly on floor where they rank first in the NCAA and continue to engage every crowd. The recent transformation on beam is also a welcome sight after major issues early on and throughout last season.
Biggest Worry: Vault. Will Brooklyn Moors be ready with a third 10.0 start value for the lineup by the postseason? If not, UCLA is going to need sticks from more than Chae Campbell on a weekly basis to keep the lineup competitive.
Utah
| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | |
| Weeks 1-2 | B- | C | A | C+ |
| Weeks 3-4 | B+ | C+ | A- | C+ |
| Weeks 5-6 | D+ | A | A+ | B+ |
| Weeks 7-8 | C- | A | A+ | A- |
Biggest Asset: There is no stronger lineup in the country right now than Utah beam. With just two totals under 49.6 on the year, the Utes’ have more than a surefire hit on beam; they’ve got an assured huge score. Maile O’Keefe has been automatic in the anchor spot, and the propensity for at least one other in the lineup to hit a 9.975 continues to push the highest event NQS of any team on any event even higher.
Biggest Worry: Even with the rebound last weekend, vault has been far from stellar for Utah since the Grace McCallum incident, as the simultaneous injury and removal of Lucy Stanhope from the lineup resulted in dual 48s. Down to four 10.0 start values in the lineup, that’s an example of the slim margin for error the Utes have on vault, and it already cost them a win and clouded their chances of repeating as Pac-12 regular season champions.
Plenty of Potential
California
| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | |
| Weeks 1-2 | C+ | B | C+ | B |
| Weeks 3-4 | F | B+ | B | D |
| Weeks 5-6 | C | A- | B- | C+ |
| Weeks 7-8 | C | A+ | A- | B- |
Biggest Asset: As it has been for a long time—bars. Even with the offseason coaching change on the event, the Golden Bears’ legacy of elite bar workers continues as Andi Li and Maddie Williams are threatening for 10s weekly and have them ranked in the top three. California’s bar lineup may actually be the most guaranteed hit in the NCAA as its season-low, a 49.425, ranks in the top 20 season-highs. Having an event like that can take pressure off other lineups, and that has been a catalyst to much of California’s success this season.
Biggest Worry: Vault. Every 49.4-plus outing on vault for the Golden Bears has been followed by a total in the 49.1s or worse, as their bars consistency hasn’t translated to the leg events. With just three 10.0 start values, California must maximize them and cannot continue to suffer from more flat rotations on the road. Its scoring potential is dependent on it.
Denver
| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | |
| Weeks 1-2 | C | C- | B- | C- |
| Weeks 3-4 | C | B- | C- | C- |
| Weeks 5-6 | C+ | B- | B- | C |
| Weeks 7-8 | B- | C+ | B | B- |
Biggest Asset: Lynnzee Brown. The super senior has always been an X-factor, and it’s evident again this year with the Pioneers’ explosive totals on every event as she works her way back into the all around. Alongside Jessica Hutchinson and Rylie Mundell, Brown gives Denver that magic third all arounder capable of 39.5-plus that most of the nationals contenders have. That’s will be huge down the stretch, especially with the Pioneers hosting a regional.
Biggest Worry: Inconsistency. While Denver has been hitting 49.5s on several events, it’s also been mustering up 49.1s in different spots, as there’s no telling when or where the Pioneers may leave tenths on the table. They’ve yet to truly hit all four events in the same meet, a feat that only gets harder as March progresses.
Kentucky
| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | |
| Weeks 1-2 | C- | D+ | C | C- |
| Weeks 3-4 | D+ | C+ | C+ | B- |
| Weeks 5-6 | C | B- | C+ | C- |
| Weeks 7-8 | B+ | C+ | B- | A |
Biggest Asset: Raena Worley. As she has been for years, Worley is the face of the Wildcats again as they fight to get on the good side of the nationals bubble. But, lately, it’s been Arianna Patterson and Isabella Magnelli who have been bringing in the 9.95s, as their hit streaks have resulted in Kentucky’s best two-meet stretch of the season. Their continued prowess will make-or-break the Wildcats’ season.
Biggest Worry: Postseason Kentucky will, once again, be the Worley-show. While she’s the leader of the Wildcats, they can’t solely rely on her come regionals if they want to qualify for nationals with her like they’ve missed out on the last two seasons. Kentucky came up just tenths short in those performances without a compliment to Worley’s stellar all around totals.
Michigan State
| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | |
| Weeks 1-2 | C | F | D | C |
| Weeks 3-4 | C- | C | C+ | C |
| Weeks 5-6 | C | C+ | F | C- |
| Weeks 7-8 | C+ | C | B | A |
Biggest Asset: The Spartans are gamers. Winners of their most important meets of the year—Big Fives and their dual against Michigan—they show up in game time, and this year were rewarded with a Big Ten regular season co-championship and top seed at the conference meet. For a team that came close to nabbing a nationals spot last year, clutchness makes them all the more dangerous as the trio of Gabrielle Stephen, Nikki Smith, and Skyla Schulte can take Michigan State far.
Biggest Worry: As the grades suggest, vault and bars haven’t shown much promise of being any better than average this season—with only vault hitting the 49.5 mark once. If that’s going to be the case, Michigan State is in a position where it must find ways to stand out on beam and floor every week. That’s a lot of pressure on two lineups, and we have seen the Spartans crack on a few occasions—just, fortunately, in lower-stakes meets. But there’s no room for grace during championship season.
Missouri
| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | |
| Weeks 1-2 | F | F | B+ | C+ |
| Weeks 3-4 | F | C | D- | C+ |
| Weeks 5-6 | D+ | C- | F | C+ |
| Weeks 7-8 | B- | B- | B- | A |
Biggest Asset: Momentum. With their two best performances the last two weeks, the Tigers are getting hot at just the right time—reminiscent of last year’s fifth-place squad. They’ve made the turnaround without their best event, beam, where the Tigers are just now returning to their usual 49.5s. Once beam hits its stride, Missouri’s scoring potential grows with it as it tries to position itself for more postseason success.
Biggest Worry: Keeping momentum is no easy task, and for how long it took Missouri to garner some, one iffy rotation could see it go quickly. After losing no routines from the magical run to nationals, the 2023 Tigers were supposed to be better, but a slow start to the season delayed that until now with last week’s program record. Does Mizzou have what it takes to keep it up?
Oregon State
| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | |
| Weeks 1-2 | D | F | C- | C |
| Weeks 3-4 | C- | C- | B | B |
| Weeks 5-6 | D+ | C+ | B+ | B- |
| Weeks 7-8 | C | D- | A+ | A- |
Biggest Asset: Jade Carey. With her most recent highlight a double 10 performance that elevated the Beavers to their first 198—a program-best—”asset” isn’t a worthy enough word to describe what she means to them. When things go well for the rest of the Oregon State roster, as it did in the 198.075 meet, having Carey in the anchor spot is just icing on the cake. The Beavers’ ceiling now ranks squarely among the nationals contenders, as they’ve also put themselves in a spot to nab the Pac-12 regular season title by winning out.
Biggest Worry: The first half of meets. Oregon State’s top-six ranked beam and floor lineups have been carrying the team, as its Yurchenko fulls refuse to score above 9.850 and its hit bars lineups are maxing out in the 49.300s. With three sub-49 rotations on the season, bars is more precarious than vault, but the Beavers have a slim margin for error on both apparatus.
Room for Improvement
Auburn
| Vault | Bars | Beam | Floor | |
| Weeks 1-2 | B- | C+ | C | C+ |
| Weeks 3-4 | C | C+ | C+ | B |
| Weeks 5-6 | C+ | B+ | B- | A |
| Weeks 7-8 | C- | C+ | D | B |
Biggest Asset: Suni Lee. Her impact goes beyond her actual, stunning routines as she’s changed the culture of the sport at Auburn. While there’s no official way to track it, the extra fans and support Lee has brought to the program has undoubtedly motivated the team and elevated their performances—just watch a Tiger home meet for proof. The electric energy took Auburn to a final four in Lee’s first season, and it’s certainly capable of repeating the feat.
Biggest Worry: The Tigers have yet to put it all together this season, as their season-best totals have come from standout performances on floor. While the potential on the other three events is there, Auburn still hasn’t capitalized, particularly on bars where Lee shines, but the rest of the roster has been average. With Lee and Derrian Gobourne’s ability to nab 10.0s, the Tigers must find ways to break 49.5s regularly for chances at SEC and NCAA titles.
READ THIS NEXT: Bubble Watch: March 1
Article by Brandis Heffner
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