BYU at Ohio State

Recap

The Big Storyline: This wasn’t either team’s best meet, but it wasn’t too bad either. Ohio State fell just short of a 197, and BYU scored a 195.575 after counting a fall on beam. The Cougars were really fighting with the Buckeyes for the first half of the meet, but after going to floor and counting a 9.550, things started to go downhill. 

Implications: This meet won’t really affect either team’s NQS. BYU already has a number of road scores in the 196s, and Ohio State has higher scores to lean on as well. As for the national standings, Ohio State moved up to 15th place, which gives it a little bit of room for error when it comes to being seeded at regionals. BYU also moved up one spot and is now sitting in 33rd. The Cougars will have to keep improving to avoid either the play-in round or missing regionals entirely.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 34 BYU at No. 16 Ohio State

Why You Should Make Time to Tune in: This year’s postseason might look different than previous years for both of these teams. Ohio State is fighting for a coveted seeded spot at regionals while BYU is just trying to sneak in at all. This meet will be crucial for both teams to accomplish their postseason goals. A big road score would be helpful for BYU’s NQS, and Ohio State could use another 197 to secure that spot in the top 16.

Need More Proof? If you haven’t seen Rebekah Bean Ripley’s viral Barbie-themed floor routine yet, this is your chance! You’ll definitely be smiling throughout the whole routine. As for Ohio State, freshman Payton Harris is coming off a huge 9.950 on vault. If she can minimize deductions on her other events, her all-around score could be huge.