New season, new wishlist. As we look ahead to 2026, CGN editors share their hopes, dreams, and demands for the future of college gymnastics—from judging trends and skill difficulty to floor music and beyond.
What’s one trend you’d love to see continue in 2026?
KT: Even fewer 10.0s. I enjoyed the start of the season far more last year when the scoring seemed tighter. It eased up a bit as the season went on but I really did enjoy those first few weeks of scoring.
Sara: Unique hairstyles. We saw Kyen Mayhew make headlines when she braided her hair into the “CAL” letters for a meet and it not only went viral online, but gymnasts from other schools like Rutgers chose to braid hair into the school letters. This was a big and bold step up from traditional school spirit.
Naomi: Higher difficulty on floor. If it’s safe for the gymnast, it’s great to see big skills being thrown and complex routines being competed. I’d also love to see more three-pass routines in the NCAA.
Katherine: As the sport is becoming more and more popular, I’d like to see even more creative publicity attempts by individual schools and the NCAA as a whole. Last year’s balance beam outside of the ESPN studio in New York in honor of nationals was a cool example, and I’ve been loving the featuring of schools like Oklahoma and LSU on big networks’ pregame football programming to attract more potential eyeballs this fall.
What’s one trend you’re hoping we leave behind?
KT: Mashups of about 10 different songs for floor routines. Call me a purist, but the trend for more than a few cuts per routine gives me whiplash! Also, it’s a relatively new one that we’ve seen this recruiting cycle, but committing on your official visit at the first college you visit… You might be at your dream school but if you don’t visit any others how can you be sure?
Sara: I also agree with KT about committing to the first college you visit. It seems a little crazy to think that gymnasts feel ready to decide after one visit that it is the school for them; especially since that is where the athletes will be living for four or five years and earning a degree at the end. I could see a rule being implemented in the future that gymnasts need to visit a minimum of three schools before picking where to go.
Naomi: 10.0 scoring under crowd pressure. While seeing packed arenas and passionate fan bases is great, certain arenas have become known for giving out perfect 10s a bit too easily. 10.0s are quickly becoming part of the sport’s “entertainment value” and I’d rather see them become rarer and only awarded for truly perfect routines.
Katherine: I addressed this in a previous roundtable, but I think the inevitably forthcoming scoring discourse no longer needs the disclaimer that “it’s about the judges, not a reflection of the athletes.” Let’s have this discussion in a productive way (as productive as can be when it’s been discussed at length already) like the adults we are, recognizing that we’ve all already come to this consensus.
What change would you make to the judging process?
KT: Having some way to actually, properly hold judges accountable for their scoring accuracy. What we have right now just isn’t working.
Sara: Similar to KT, but teams being overscored just because of the name of the school. If multiple schools are competing against each other, it seems silly to score one lower than the other for the same skills; like seeing two of the same stuck Yurchenko one and a half vaults. We need to seriously reevaluate how we want both teams and fans alike to view and appreciate college gymnastics.
Naomi: Stop having coaches rate judges! The overscoring has to stop. Inquiries exist for a reason and adding the rating system weakens judging overall.
Katherine: Judges’ names should be added back to the publicly available score sheets. That was an absolutely ridiculous change to me, based on applying our favorite Patriots Principle and trying to imagine NFL and NBA games where the names of the referees aren’t expressly stated on broadcasts. No one should be getting harassed, but to respond to that harassment with such a blatant attack on the transparency we so badly need in the sport was very much an overreach.
What rule change would improve the sport most?
KT: I would love to see scoring rewards for risk in routines. Bars routines in particular have become so cookie cutter, I think it would improve the viewer experience if risk could be worth it in a college line-up.
Sara: Going back to my hot takes on rule changes, rotation order. I don’t understand the point of having teams flip-flop events in a dual meet with the away team ending on beam. I think it would be interesting to see an away team in a dual, end on an event that could make or break its NQS chances like having to end on bars. It would make the meet more exciting and allow gymnasts and coaches to change up meet preparation.
Naomi: Inspired a bit by KT’s answer, I would want to prohibit a whole line up (with the exception of vault) having the same routine construction. Watching six Maloney-pak bar routines in a row is quite dull, and this would reward more unique skills. I’d also love to see the option to compete two vaults rather than being limited to one.
Katherine: Regarding the postseason, I would like to see something done with the play-in meets to make them a little more exciting and get more eyes on them, both on the streams and in person. Having them in the afternoon makes it harder for people to attend, like students already on the campus who are in class. These meets are literally “win or go home,” so I’d like to see some more excitement around them.
What skill or apparatus trend should make a comeback?
KT: I would love to see more original and inventive ‘signature’ skills like Danusia Francis’ beam dismount and Peng Peng Lee’s beam flair mount.
Sara: Riskier bar releases. We always seem to see the same ones being done in competitions like Maloney Pak combos and Jaeger overshoots that are becoming boring to the eye. In the past, we’ve seen Georgia Dabritz perform a Comaneci front and recently saw Suni Lee and Jade Carey perform a Nabieva and Bahardwaj respectively. Seeing skills like this make a comeback would be special and different for the sport.
Naomi: Triple series on beam and turns on floor. Both add excitement and uniqueness to routines and we don’t see much of them in the NCAA.
Katherine: Do three-pass floor routines count? I think the subject has been beaten to death, but it doesn’t change me wanting to see more.
What would you like to see in commentary or media coverage?
KT: Please, please, PLEASE can we stop explaining the very basic, simple rules before every apparatus, every week? Imagine watching a football match and being told the rules each week?! The viewers deserve better!
Sara: I would love to see more former college gymnasts stepping into the spotlight. We’ve seen Bridget Sloan, Kennedy Baker, Trinity Thomas, and Olivia Karas all do an amazing job with commentary and remaining unbiased so I’d like to see that continue.
Naomi: Bring back Kathy! Just kidding. Maybe. A pet peeve of mine is hearing human interest type facts about gymnasts while they are competing. Focus on the gymnastics when the routine is happening and save the fun facts for when they are waiting for their score.
Katherine: I would like to see less bland descriptions of floor choreography (“she’s showing her personality”) and skills in general. I also wish we wouldn’t hear awkward pauses mid-commentary when a gymnast falls, as though the world just ended. This effect can be okay depending on the situation, but I feel like for the most part it’s fine to keep on discussing the routine in light of the fall.
What’s your boldest gymnastics hope for next season?
KT: Clemson having a meteoric break-out season.
Sara: Missouri getting back into the championship final and coming from behind to win its first National Championship Title.
Naomi: Another HBCU team, and a new team winning the National Championship.
Katherine: Michigan State eclipsing its success last season and making Four on the Floor In its first year post-Skyla Schulte and Gabi Stephen.
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Article by the editors of College Gym News
Definitely agree that judges score leos more than routines. Been that way as long as I’ve watched the sport and it’s wrong.
Disagree about limiting ’10’ scores. Last season the judges were petrified to give them out bcause of how they were being scrutinized, and routines that deserved them had to settle for 9.975s.
I also enjoy former gymnasts on commentary, but some are much better than others. I’m always happy to hear from Olivia Karas, Kennedy Baker, Sam Peszek, Anastasia Webb, Ali Raisman…but there are a few that I have to mute because they’re just cliche machines.