Oklahoma Is a Dynasty
Yet again, the Sooners are one of the teams to beat. That truism has held for the last decade, as K.J. Kindler’s masterful direction of the program has led to six national titles, four runner-up trophies, and two third-place finishes. In fact, Kindler’s Sooners haven’t placed lower than tenth, finishing off the podium just five times since she took the helm in 2006. Known for recruiting both star elites—like Maggie Nichols and Jordan Bowers—and shaping under-the-radar recruits—like Chayse Capps—into college stand-outs, Oklahoma demonstrates unwavering precision and attention to detail. After the sport’s best-ever regular season in 2024 ended with a shocking NCAA semifinal exit, the Sooners have reloaded and are looking to rebound big in 2025. While it’s true that there are no guarantees in college gymnastics, it’s generally safe to bet on the Sooners.
The Utes Are Still Finding a New Identity
Utah is the only gymnastics program with appearances in every national championship since the NCAA began sponsoring the sport in 1982. The Utes won the first five national titles and have a total of nine to their name. Though they haven’t won since 1995, they’ve landed on the podium 12 times since then (including third-place finishes at the last four championships). Program originator Greg Marsden retired in 2015, ceding leadership of the legendary team to his wife Megan Marsden and Tom Farden. Flash forward to the present: Farden is out amid allegations of abuse and cultivating a toxic team culture, leaving former assistant and now-head coach Carly Dockendorf to right the ship. In her first season, she kept the nationals and third-place streaks alive, and now, with Avery Neff—the highest-rated recruit ever—in SLC, the Red Rocks are moving in the right direction.
Michigan Looks to Return to the Top
Michigan spent years finishing near the top of the field and landing just short of the big prize. In 2021, though, the Wolverines became just the seventh team ever to win a national title. No new program had joined the short-list since Oklahoma tied Florida in 2014, and no other Big Ten team has won the title (though seven-time champion UCLA joins the conference in 2025). Despite being a fixture at the top of the rankings throughout the 2022 and 2023 regular seasons, the Wolverines haven’t made it back to the Final Four since their win. The Wolverines’ 2024 season ended in another earlier-than-expected postseason exit, but with the nation’s top-ranked freshman class on the roster in 2025, Michigan can start to refresh the mojo.
Florida Hasn’t Hoisted the Trophy Since 2015
After back-to-back-to-back NCAA team titles, starting with the program’s first in 2013, it looked like the Gators were well on their way to dynasty status. But, after then-head coach Rhonda Faehn surprisingly left for a position with USA Gymnastics after the 2015 season, the Gators’ title drought began. Current head coach Jenny Rowland has had plenty of success at the helm of Florida—winning five SEC titles and finishing as NCAA runner-up on several occasions—but hasn’t been able to lead it back to a championship despite several star-studded and top-ranked recruiting classes. Much of that has been due to the dominance of other programs (see: Oklahoma), but there has been more than enough talent in Gainesville to win it all. That sentiment will be the same this season.
The Tigers Are Hunting to Defend Their First Championship
LSU finally filled an infamously empty spot in its trophy case in 2024, literally. After finally being cured of their bridesmaid-never-the-bride syndrome, the Tigers enter 2025 as one of the preseason favorites to lift the trophy once again. After initially hinting that last season would be her final go-around, reigning all-around champion and every-award winner Haleigh Bryant was recruited back to Baton Rouge to help defend the Tigers’ titles, and with momentum behind a deep and talented roster, that’s very realistic. Yes, Olivia Dunne is back, too.
Former Dynasties Alabama and Georgia Aim to Recapture Faded Glory
These SEC rivals were the center of the NCAA universe for decades under legendary head coaches Sarah Patterson and Suzanne Yoculan, winning a combined 16 national titles from 1987 until Patterson’s retirement in 2012 (Yoculan retired in 2009 after securing the GymDogs’ fifth consecutive championship trophy). But, neither has factored much into the championship conversation consistently since. Alumna Ashley Priess Johnston led the Crimson Tide to back-to-back top 10 finishes and a nationals appearance in her first two seasons leading Alabama and continues to move in the right direction with highly ranked recruiting classes year after year. The GymDogs made huge personnel moves over the summer, letting the program’s best-ever gymnast, Courtney Kupets Carter, go from her head coaching position after she could not produce results. Georgia went all-out in its search, landing Cecile Canqueteau-Landi of coaching-Simone-Biles fame, and has since strung together a solid run of transfers and recruits that have trends pointing positive.
UCLA Is Rebuilding
The Bruins are about to enter year three under head coach Janelle McDonald. The storied program, known for big floor routines and bigger personalities, has won seven national titles, most recently in 2018. Since the program’s legendary—and controversial—head coach Valorie Kondos Field retired in 2019, the program has struggled to find its footing. She was succeeded by Chris Waller, who led the team to consecutive 12th–place finishes before ultimately resigning amid allegations of mishandling incidents of racism within the team. McDonald, whose resume includes a long and successful assistant stint at California, had a strong debut season, culminating in a fifth–place finish at the 2023 championships before an upset exit at regionals to finish outside the top 16 in 2024. After a lot of significant offseason changes for the Bruins—losing their best gymnast to the transfer portal, gaining back Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles, and moving to the Big Ten—UCLA’s 2025 outlook is tricky to predict with a lot of adjustments to make.
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Article by Emily Minehart, Claire Billman, and Brandis Heffner
Updated Dec. 15, 2024
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