1. Oklahoma Sooners

NQS: 198.025
Previous ranking: 1

Maximum possible NQS after next meet: 198.125
Meets remaining: 3
Road meets remaining: 1

Oklahoma’s return to the land of the 198s over the weekend brought the team NQS over the 198 barrier—making Oklahoma the 5th team in history to achieve that feat, following Oklahoma 2017 and 2018 and UCLA 2003 and 2004. We’re now back on record watch, as Oklahoma could match its own all-time NQS record (198.120) at today’s meet against Iowa State with a score of 198.300 and would break it with a 198.325. Absolutely possible the way things have been going. Oklahoma is already guaranteed to be safely at #1 heading into conference championships regardless of what happens until then.

Now, about the absences of Trautman and Nichols (on two events). You would think Oklahoma is not going to score 198s in real life if that keeps up into elimination meets, but also nothing matters anymore and there are no deductions, so whatever.

2. UCLA Bruins

NQS: 197.885
Previous ranking: 2

Maximum possible NQS after next meet: 197.995
Meets remaining: 2
Road meets remaining: 1

UCLA notched its 5th-best score in program history on Sunday with a 198.325 against Stanford—a marked improvement over the showing against Oklahoma the previous week but also one where the score overpromises on the quality of the performance, surprise surprise. This result further entrenches UCLA in that #2 position as no one else can come very close to catching the Bruins this weekend. UCLA also cannot catch Oklahoma, even if VAL! 2019 is evaluated exactly as we expect it to be next Saturday.

3. Florida Gators

NQS: 197.675
Previous ranking: 3

Maximum possible NQS after next meet: 197.815
Meets remaining: 1
Road meets remaining: 1

Florida snatched its second 198 of the season in its home finale, though things are not quite as solid for Florida heading into the final weekend of non-championship meets since Florida will be on a rest week. Probably a nice idea before SECs, but it does mean that Florida is potentially vulnerable to losing the #3 ranking if things go just, just right for LSU. LSU would need to match its season high with a 198.150+ on the road at Arizona to pass Florida—so not easy but not impossible.

4. LSU Tigers

NQS: 197.475
Previous ranking: 4

Maximum possible NQS after next meet: 197.680
Meets remaining: 2
Road meets remaining: 2

Not to be outdone, LSU was the 4th team to manage a 198 over the weekend, going 198.150 in its home finale for a top-5 score in program history and opening up the possibility of passing Florida for #3 this weekend as noted above. It’s the flat road scores that have kept LSU from challenging the top three, and an opportunity to rectify that has now been presented.

But. LSU must also worry about getting passed this weekend. Despite having a higher peak NQS than Denver and therefore controlling the situation, Denver still has quite a low road score to get rid of and is therefore more likely to improve its NQS by a larger amount. If Denver manages another season high, LSU is going to need to go 198s again to guarantee staying at #4. LSU is also potentially vulnerable to Utah but would have to put up an unusably low number for that to come into play.

5. Denver Pioneers

NQS: 197.365
Previous ranking: 6

Maximum possible NQS after next meet: 197.650
Meets remaining: 2
Road meets remaining: 2

Our first change in the rankings this week comes with Denver jumping up into the #5 spot ahead of an idle Utah team. Despite recording one of the top 5 scores in program history (ALMOST LIKE A THEME!), Denver did not improve its NQS too much because the team already had three home scores among the top scores in program history. There wasn’t much to change. There will be much to change, however, this next weekend on the road since Denver still has that low 196 road score flapping around in there. Even if the road score are a little more conservative next week, that 196.350 is infinitely beatable and Denver presenting a threat to LSU is realistic. Utah, meanwhile, does present a threat to Denver this week, Denver looking to score 196.950 to be assured of retaining #5.

6. Utah Utes

NQS: 197.315
Previous ranking: 5

Maximum possible NQS after next meet: 197.480
Meets remaining: 2
Road meets remaining: 2

Utah dropped a spot to Denver by not competing over the weekend, though #6 may be the new normal because Utah has a much lower peak NQS after the coming meets than LSU and Denver do. Denver has totally upended that LSU/Utah regional showdown the rankings had been pointing toward for so many weeks. Whether Utah has a shot to get back to #5 this week is in Denver’s hands, even if Utah’s visit to Georgia on Saturday is scored exactly as you expect it to be. Utah will also be focused on staying ahead of Michigan, which can be assured with a 197.550. 

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