Big Fives Session One

Recap

The Big Storyline: This one was an unexpected nail-biter that came down to the final routines. The Wolverines had a tough start on vault, despite the 9.900 competitive debut of freshman Kaylen Morgan. Illinois took the lead after one, and the Illini and Hawkeyes seemed in battle for the win. A superb floor rotation was just enough for Michigan to steal the title in the last rotation.

Implications: Michigan and Iowa all but officially wrapped up berths to the conference championship night session with their four and three wins, respectively. Nationally, this away number won’t do much for Michigan’s NQS as the Wolverines fall behind Utah to No. 4. Iowa, Illinois and Penn State all get a little boost numbers-wise but won’t move much if at all in the rankings. 

Controversies: Fascinatingly, Nebraska is also where Michigan had a vault meltdown in 2022. Certainly it’s not cause for alarm, but something about the venue seems not to agree with the Wolverines.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 3 Michigan, No. 20 Iowa, No. 21 Maryland, No. 23 Illinois, and No. 31 Penn State

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: Michigan is a heavy favorite to win, but we’ll be looking at a three-way battle between Illinois, Iowa, and Maryland for second place. If any of those teams make a mistake, they’ll be giving their rivals room to move past them in both the meet placements and potentially in the conference standings. Penn State also can’t be counted out, with some mid-196s  on the year. Placement here matters in seeding for the conference championship night session. No team has mathematically clinched a night session berth. Michigan sits at a comfortable 3-1. Iowa, Illinois and Maryland could ride high placements into the top four.

What We’re Watching: Maryland has been a dark horse in the Big Ten this season, but the Terrapins are starting to show some real potential. They lost by just under two tenths to Minnesota, and they put up a huge 49.450 on floor. This team is definitely a threat.

What Else to Know Before Tuning in: This is a neutral-site meet for these teams, so a big number could be huge for NQS. Illinois and Penn State could both use a good away score, so they’ll be hoping to put up some of their best routines of the year. Michigan will aiming for a 198 to keep pace with Oklahoma and Florida nationally.