Schedule

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 6 LSU at No. 36 Georgia

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: LSU hasn’t competed since week one due to COVID protocols and will be looking to maintain or improve on its current sixth-place ranking. It may seem like a foregone conclusion that the Tigers are going to take the win, but you can never count the Gymdogs out when they’re competing at home. After a disastrous beam rotation in its home meet against Florida last week, Georgia responded with a 49.525 on floor that included a perfect 10 from senior Rachel Baumann.  

What We’re Watching: Is beam too obvious of an answer here? Georgia counted an unthinkable four falls on beam last week against Florida, and all eyes will be waiting to see how it recovers. 

What Else You Should Know Before Tuning In: LSU head coach Jay Clark addressed the controversial midseason transfer of freshman Alexis Jeffrey in a Tuesday afternoon press conference. He confirmed that Jeffrey has been added to LSU’s roster but will not be traveling to Georgia for Friday’s meet. 

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 13 Arkansas at No. 4 Florida

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: After coming in hot, Florida’s looked a little less polished the last two meets (which is to say, still capable of pulling a 197 if not looking postseason ready). The Razorbacks have been particularly hampered by COVID protocols with the bulk of the freshman class sitting out week one and its week three meet being rescheduled. However, they still managed to post a 197.200 in last time out, higher than the Gators scored in their past two meets. 

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: Florida’s freshmen have garnered a lot of attention for obvious reasons, but you won’t want to miss Arkansas freshman Leah Smith, especially on bars and floor. 

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 19 Southern Utah at Boise State

Why You Should Make Time to Tune in: Boise State still hasn’t competed in a meet this season thanks to a first week bye combined with COVID protocols the past two attempts. A Broncos team at full strength can easily contend with the top teams in the conference and has the potential to top the MRGC. Southern Utah is also a team with lots of talent and currently holds the top ranking in the conference. Bars should be a highlight for both teams while beam should be the equalizer—especially with two teams who have struggled with consistency on the event in recent years. 

Need More Proof? Emily Muhlenhaupt’s bars are gorgeous, as is Southern Utah’s Shylen Murakami’s routine. Karley McClain looked like her old self on floor last week; look for her to eventually add more events and ease back into the all-around. Boise will also look to debut several freshmen; Alyssa Vulaj should be a top contributor in that class, though it will be interesting to see what lineups each freshman ends up making. 

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 9 Alabama at No. 8 Auburn

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: Last time they met head to head, the Crimson Tide outscored the Tigers by nearly one and a half points. Both of these teams bounced back from sluggish season openers with impressive 197-plus performances. Alabama is coming off of a lights-out home meet against Kentucky, but given that it’s the only time it’s hit 197 so far this season, it remains to be seen how it’ll fare week to week. Auburn, meanwhile, has posted two consecutive scores over 197 and will have the home-arena advantage. This one could go either way!

What Else You Should Know Before Tuning In: Reigning SEC all-around champion Luisa Blanco has been limited to two or three events so far this season due to a nagging shoulder injury. In a meet that may very well come down to tenths, Blanco’s scores (or lack thereof) could make the difference. Also keep an eye out for SEC Freshman of the Week Lilly Hudson; the Alabama freshman earned a stellar 39.525 in her debut last week. 

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 10 Missouri at No. 12 Kentucky

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: The Tigers and the Wildcats have both exceeded expectations so far this season, earning decisive wins on the road and at home. The last time these teams met in a dual meet, Kentucky took the win 195.775 to Missouri’s 195.350; so far this season, neither team has posted a score under 196.275. These are two teams on the rise looking to shake up the SEC pecking order, but they’ll have to get through each other first. 

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: Raena Worley has been outstanding in the first two weeks, earning back-to-back SEC Gymnast of the Week honors. The junior has yet to top 9.950 on any event, but having already earned 9.9-plus on all four events this season makes that likely to change. Missouri freshman Jocelyn Moore snagged a 9.950 of her own on vault in Chapel Hill last weekend; her flared Yurchenko one and a half is a showstopper. 

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 19 Stanford at No. 2 Utah

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: The Pac-12 conference-leading Utes finish out their three-week homestand hosting conference foe Stanford. The Utes will be aiming to stay undefeated on the season after a strong freshman class led by Olympian Grace McCallum has fit right in alongside touted returnees like two-time NCAA champion Maile O’Keefe. The Cardinal, after a tumultuous season in which it missed the postseason as a team, has had a major rebound thanks to super senior Kyla Bryant. It currently sits ranked in the top 20.

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: While both McCallum and O’Keefe have must-watch routines on every event, it was Cristal Isa and Jillian Hoffman who highlighted Utah’s performance last week with 9.975s on beam and floor, respectively. There have been a lot of fresh faces for Stanford to start the season after the Cardinal had several COVID opt-outs in 2021, with freshman Brenna Neault and redshirt Isabela Onyshko two to know with outstanding beam routines.

Update 1/27: This meet was postponed due to COVID protocols within the Minnesota program.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 58 Yale at No. 48 Pennsylvania

Why You Should Make Time to Tune in: It’s Penn’s home opener, and after two top-five all-time scores in the last two meets, the Quakers have every shot to finally bring home the program record. Meanwhile, Yale caught fire last week and beat its season high by over three points to give a real challenge to LIU. 

Need More Proof? Kiersten Belkoff (yes, the younger sister of NCAA gymnastics alums Corinne and Alexis) is the leader of the Penn vault team that set an event program record last weekend. Penn’s endlessly stylish beam star Natalie Yang is a can’t-miss as well. Keep an eye on GEC Performance of the Week honoree Raegan Walker from Yale, particularly on vault and beam.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 15 Michigan State at No. 1 Michigan

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: Do you want to miss the reigning national champions and first team to 198 in 2022 live in Crisler? We don’t! Add to it a young and exciting Michigan State team from just down the road in East Lansing, and this one should be a blast.

What We’re Watching: Don’t take your eyes off vault. Michigan sticks its Yurchenko 1.5s like it’s nothing, and Gabi Stephen notched a perfect 9.950 for her full last weekend. The Spartans are also a thrilling floor team on the heels of alumna Alina Cartwright’s choreography.

What Else You Should Know Before Tuning In: Michigan and Michigan State haven’t seen each other since Elevate the Stage Toledo in February 2020 due to COVID. The Wolverines own the all-time series against Michigan State 75-38.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 5 Denver at No. 3 Oklahoma

Why You Should Cancel Plans for It: It’s a top-five matchup between the top two teams in the Big 12. The gap between Denver and Oklahoma doesn’t seem quite as big as it once was; Denver upset Oklahoma at last year’s Big 12 championship. 

What We’re Watching: Oklahoma put together a more complete meet last week while also shaking up its lineups. Karrie Thomas was notably absent on her usual events after a couple weeks of sub-par performances; we’ll be watching to see if there is more to be concerned about. Floor will also be an event to watch between standout routines from Lynnzee Brown and each team having shown both strong performances and ones that left much to be desired. Both teams are also stellar on bars; Jordan Bowers is already making quite the name for herself in just a short time in Norman. 

What Else You Should Know Before Tuning In: Denver’s beam lineup is currently ranked No. 1 in the country and is going up against a traditionally strong beam team in Oklahoma. The Sooner beam lineup isn’t what it once was, but it should be exciting regardless. 

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 33 Arizona at No. 24 UCLA

Why You Should Clear Space on Your DVR: After two rough performances on the road to start the season, the Bruins will make their 2022 Pauley Pavilion debut to get things back on track against visiting Arizona, who is also in need of a major rebound with a bars disaster spoiling last week’s home quad meet.

You Can Fast Forward, but not Through This: UCLA’s Norah Flatley has been a welcome sight back in the all-around this year after injuries plagued her 2021 season, and should be competitive in what should be an all-around battle between her and teammates Chae Campbell (if healthy) and Emma Malabuyo. Arizona’s Malia Hargrove could also be an all-around contender if she returns to lineups following a scary bars fall last weekend, but freshman Emily Mueller has the potential to step up in her place.

Update 1/25: This meet was rescheduled from 1/21 to 1/31.

Update 1/19: Georgia was added to this meet after its original dual with Kentucky was canceled week two.

Update 1/27: Illinois was added to this meet.