A new season means a fresh path to the national championship—and the competition is as fierce as ever. Returning powerhouses, rising challengers, and dark-horse squads all have a case to make for the 2026 crown. We’re breaking down the teams best positioned to make a run for the title this season.
Florida
Stocked with loads of elite and level 10 talent, the Gators’ roster is loaded, planting them firmly in the title conversation. That’s a familiar spot for Florida; however, its championship drought has now grown to over a decade, but 2026 presents as good a chance as ever to reclaim the throne. While there’s no replacement for now-graduated Leanne Wong, Skye Blakely notched more world championship experience for Team USA during the offseason and appears ready to contribute more than just bars. Also, fellow elite Kayla DiCello should be back from injury and ready to replicate her success from her debut season back in 2023. Rowland has all the tools in her arsenal to take home NCAA title number four.
LSU
The sport’s newest title winners after their 2024 championship, the Tigers will once again aim for first place despite the graduation of several program greats. Last season’s Freshman of the Year, Kailin Chio, will now take center stage for LSU, as she’ll lead a deep roster of returnees and a freshman class full of former five-stars like Haley Mustari and Nina Ballou through a tricky SEC slate. This Tiger team will look different this season, but it still maintains the capability to earn the program’s second NCAA team title.
Oklahoma
After the semifinal exit in 2024, the Sooners rebounded in the ideal way with a championship in 2025—their eighth title since first winning nationals in 2014. Despite losing a pair of powerhouses, Oklahoma has reloaded with several former five-star recruits, including No. 1 Mackenzie Estep. It also retains superstar Faith Torrez, who finished second in the nation in all-around NQS last season, as the Sooners should never be counted out in the championship conversation as the sport’s current dynasty program.
UCLA
Expectations for the Bruins entering the 2025 season were unclear, but after they finished as runners-up, expectations for the 2026 season were set. Led by Olympic champion and three-time NCAA individual champion, UCLA will be looking to take home title number eight. The Bruins are ushering in a large group of freshmen, but most of them carry elite experience and poise that should translate well to the collegiate level. Should the Bruin newcomers successfully make the NCAA adjustment, Janelle McDonald’s first championship as head coach is within reach.
Utah
Looking to bring home the Big 12’s first national championship since Oklahoma’s departure from the conference are the Utes, who are still riding their streak of qualifying for the NCAA championship every single season. Historically guaranteed to make the championship, Utah is perpetually in title conversation, this season in thanks to Avery Neff and Makenna Smith, who will step into more prominent roles with the graduation of Grace McCallum and her ability to snag 10s with ease. Both star returnees have yet to reach perfection in their careers, with that needing to end for the Red Rocks to return to the top.
Dark Horses
Alabama
Entering the 2025 postseason as the 12-seed, the Crimson Tide outperformed expectations with an upset of California in their home regional finals en route to an eighth-place finish overall at the NCAA championships. While they now have to grapple with the loss of multi-time All-American Lilly Hudson, Alabama has reloaded with one of the strongest freshmen classes—featuring four former four or five-star recruits. Jasmine Cawley, the fourth-ranked recruit of the class of 2025, looks primed to take over Hudson’s spot in all four lineups with the ability to keep the Crimson Tide relevant in the title hunt.
Arkansas
The Razorbacks gained plenty of positive momentum in the offseason, bringing in one of the top rookie classes and seeing now-sophomore Joscelyn Roberson have a successful elite season—culminating in a bronze medal at the world championships. After entering last postseason with the 16th seed and finishing at 12th, Arkansas is set to take even more of a jump with the program’s highest-ranked and rated recruit, Allison Cucci, leading an all-important freshman regime that can take the Razorbacks back to a top-10 mainstay.
Michigan State
Romanian Olympian Lilia Cosman headlines a newcomer class for Michigan State that is more than capable of replacing its key losses and keeping itself in the national championship conversation. Cosman is one of four former four-star recruits the Spartans are bringing in, continuing their hot recruiting streak, as they look to start a national championships qualifying streak after finally breaking through to Fort Worth a season ago. Nikki Smith, a former Big Ten gymnast of the year, is more than capable of leading the Spartans to success in her senior season.
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Article by Brandis Heffner and Elizabeth Grimsley
