Late last year it was announced that there would be a new method of calculating the National Qualifying Score (NQS) this season, taking into account most, if not all, meets from the season. As a refresher, the new method is:
- Include up to five home scores, taking the lowest five if there are six or more
- Include all the away scores
- Drop the high and the low scores
- Average the remaining
Starting this weekend, for week seven, rankings will switch from straight average to using NQS. Since no team has had more than five home meets so far, what switching to ranking by NQS means in practice is that each team will drop both their high and low score, and rankings will be based on the average of the rest. There is an additional rule that each team must have at least five away scores, but this rule is only relevant for qualification to the postseason. Unlike the old calculation, where teams without the correct number of away meets did not get a ranking, a team is not required to have five away scores to receive an NQS ranking. Therefore, all teams will receive an NQS this weekend.
To look at how the switch to NQS will shake up the rankings, we took the current scores as of week six, dropped the high and low, and averaged the remaining. All but one team currently in the top 50 have competed in either five or six meets so far this season, so NQS rankings here will be based on the average of either three or four team totals. Utah State is the lone exception in the top 50, having competed in seven meets so far this season.
Top 8
Winners: Florida, Arkansas
Losers: UCLA, Georgia, Missouri
| Team | Rank By Straight Average | Rank By NQS | Rank Change | Straight Average | NQS |
| Oklahoma | 1 | 1 | 0 | 197.879 | 197.856 |
| LSU | 2 | 2 | 0 | 197.520 | 197.567 |
| Alabama | 3 | 3 | 0 | 197.435 | 197.467 |
| UCLA | 4 | 5 | -1 | 197.404 | 197.325 |
| Florida | 5 | 4 | +1 | 197.360 | 197.417 |
| Georgia | 6 | 7 | -1 | 197.225 | 197.200 |
| Missouri | 7 | 8 | -1 | 197.163 | 197.156 |
| Arkansas | 8 | 6 | +2 | 197.092 | 197.219 |
The set of teams in the top eight are the same under either ranking, but the order is shaken up. The big winners here are Florida and Arkansas. Florida drops its 196.500 to move back into the top four, while Arkansas drops its lone sub-196 score and jumps two spots from eighth to sixth. The losers of the top eight are UCLA, Georgia, and Missouri, all of which move down one spot in the new rankings.
Top 16
Winners: Minnesota, Denver
Losers: Utah, North Carolina, Clemson
| Team | Rank By Straight Average | Rank By NQS | Rank Change | Straight Average | NQS |
| Michigan | 9 | 9 | 0 | 197.035 | 197.125 |
| Stanford | 10 | 10 | 0 | 196.970 | 197.050 |
| Michigan State | 11 | 11 | 0 | 196.690 | 196.750 |
| Utah | 12 | 13 | -1 | 196.521 | 196.525 |
| North Carolina | 13 | 14 | -1 | 196.500 | 196.483 |
| Clemson | 14 | 15 | -1 | 196.475 | 196.475 |
| Minnesota | 15 | 12 | +3 | 196.467 | 196.612 |
| Denver | 18 | 16 | +2 | 196.380 | 196.367 |
Within the top 16, Minnesota jumps three spots from No. 15 to No. 12, knocking Utah, North Carolina, and Clemson all down a spot. The Gophers’ scores span a wide range, with two sub-196 and three 197+ scores so far, but also having more high than low scores helps them climb the ranks. Denver is the lone team that moves from outside the top 16 into a ranked spot for regionals and is also the only team in the top 50 to move up in the rankings despite its NQS being lower than its straight average. It does so because Penn State and Auburn both drop their lone 197+ scores and as a result, move down in the rankings.
Top 36
Winners: California, Oregon State, Arizona, New Hampshire
Losers: Penn State, Auburn, Ohio State, N.C. State, Kentucky, Utah State, Central Michigan
| Team | Rank By Straight Average | Rank By NQS | Rank Change | Straight Average | NQS |
| Penn State | 16 | 17 | -1 | 196.463 | 196.363 |
| Auburn | 17 | 18 | -1 | 196.450 | 196.350 |
| California | 20 | 19 | +1 | 196.288 | 196.306 |
| Ohio State | 19 | 20 | -1 | 196.340 | 196.292 |
| Iowa | 22 | 21 | +1 | 196.138 | 196.194 |
| N.C. State | 21 | 22 | -1 | 196.155 | 196.025 |
| BYU | 23 | 23 | 0 | 196.029 | 196.000 |
| Maryland | 24 | 24 | 0 | 195.775 | 195.858 |
| Oregon State | 26 | 25 | +1 | 195.721 | 195.800 |
| Kentucky | 25 | 26 | -1 | 195.765 | 195.725 |
| Southern Utah | 27 | 27 | 0 | 195.685 | 195.633 |
| Nebraska | 28 | 28 | 0 | 195.660 | 195.625 |
| Arizona | 31 | 29 | +2 | 195.438 | 195.619 |
| Arizona State | 30 | 30 | 0 | 195.540 | 195.575 |
| Utah State | 29 | 31 | -2 | 195.567 | 195.569 |
| San Jose State | 32 | 32 | 0 | 195.260 | 195.242 |
| New Hampshire | 35 | 33 | +2 | 195.045 | 195.125 |
| Pittsburgh | 34 | 34 | 0 | 195.100 | 195.106 |
| Central Michigan | 33 | 35 | -2 | 195.165 | 195.058 |
| Illinois | 36 | 36 | 0 | 195.010 | 195.050 |
No new teams crack the top 36 when ranking by NQS. Penn State drops out of a ranked regional placement by one spot into No. 17. Auburn, Ohio State, N.C. State, and Kentucky all also drop one spot due to season highs between 0.450 and 1.000 points above their second-best scores thus far. Utah State and Central Michigan also drop two spots each. California, Iowa, Oregon State, Arizona, and New Hampshire are all benefitting from the reverse, a season low that is well below their second lowest.
Individuals
The new ranking system will not apply to individuals this season. They will still be ranked using the old formula: take the top six scores with at least three away, drop the high, and average the rest. That also means individuals without at least six scores or at least three away scores will no longer get a ranking. Here we will highlight gymnasts currently ranked in the top five on an event who will not have a ranking after week seven. We are not going to calculate a new ranking since most only have five scores so far, and six are needed to calculate an NQS.
All Around
Joscelyn Roberson is currently ranked second but has only competed all-around once this season. In fourth, currently, is Anna Roberts, but she needs two more away all-around performances to receive an NQS. Jordan Chiles already has enough all-around scores for an NQS, while Kailin Chio and Delaynee Rodriguez will receive an NQS assuming they are in the all-around this weekend.
Vault and Beam
Selena Harris-Miranda is currently in fifth on both events, but she only has two away scores and Florida is at home this weekend. All other gymnasts in the top five on both events either already have enough scores for an NQS or will after this weekend, assuming they compete.
Bars
There are currently 11 gymnasts who tie for one of the top five spots nationally on bars. All of these gymnasts should get an NQS next week, with the exception of freshmen Sabrina Nemcek and Haley Mustari, who have each only competed once.
Floor
Kentucky’s Creslyn Brose and Southern Connecticut’s breakout star Abby Royer each only have three floor routines under their belts this season. They will need to perform three more times, one of which being away, before they can make their way back into the rankings. We should expect to see the other three ranked next week.
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Article by Claire Harmon and Jenna King
