NQS will take over in next Monday’s rankings, so with the week 7 rankings (which are still arranged by average), I’m updating where the teams currently stand in their NQS quests. Remember NQS is different this season with only four scores counting (minimum 2 away) and no dropped score.
Bold meet scores must be counted and can no longer be dropped.

1. Florida Gators
Average: 197.613
Road Score 1 | 198.150 |
Road Score 2 | 197.500 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 197.850 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 197.500 |
Current NQS: | 197.750 |
Despite Florida’s relatively dominant lead by team average, there’s still work to do maintain a ranking advantage as Florida’s NQS lead over Oklahoma is quite slim. Watch that back-and-forth as we go.

2. LSU Tigers
Average: 197.325
Road Score 1 | 197.550 |
Road Score 2 | 197.325 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 198.050 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 197.275 |
Current NQS: | 197.550 |
LSU is in 2nd place by average but 3rd place by NQS and will have to improve upon those 197.2s and 197.3s to hope to get back to #2.

3. Oklahoma Sooners
Average: 197.132
Road Score 1 | 198.225 |
Road Score 2 | 197.800 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 197.475 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 197.450 |
Current NQS: | 197.738 |
The switch to NQS will allow Oklahoma to drop those two bad meets from earlier in the season and zoom up toward the top, entertaining the possibility of passing Florida for #1 depending on how the scores play out this weekend. Oklahoma has the higher peak score and the lower score to drop, and therefore has more room to improve than Florida does during week 8—and overall, since Oklahoma has three more meets than Florida this season.

4. Utah Utes
Average: 197.113
Road Score 1 | 197.450 |
Road Score 2 | 196.900 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 197.475 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 197.225 |
Current NQS: | 197.263 |
Utah has been competitive with the top teams on average so far, but a deficit emerges when switching to NQS because of the lack of a huge 198 on Utah’s slate (the not-dropping-the-high-score thing this year doesn’t help Utah at all right now. Utah needs some fancy scoring soon in order to hope to hang onto a #1 regionals seeding.

5. Michigan Wolverines
Average: 197.025
Road Score 1 | 197.375 |
Road Score 2 | |
Home/Road Score 1 | 197.650 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 197.225 |
Current NQS: | N/A |
Michigan’s funky schedule means the team won’t be able to fill out an NQS picture until after the March 5th road meet and will therefore be absent from the rankings entirely next Monday. But once there are enough scores, things look healthy here.

6. Arkansas Razorbacks
Average: 196.854
Road Score 1 | 196.875 |
Road Score 2 | 196.675 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 197.350 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 197.250 |
Current NQS: | 197.038 |
Arkansas is experiencing a home-road disparity in scores that will handcuff NQS to some degree, so keep an eye on those final two road scores in March to see if Arkansas can match that home level.

7. Alabama Crimson Tide
Average: 196.842
Road Score 1 | 197.000 |
Road Score 2 | 196.775 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 197.725 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 196.925 |
Current NQS: | 197.106 |
Despite being behind Arkansas by average, Alabama ranks ahead on NQS because of the stronger road-score picture—and not having to drop that massive home 197.7.

8. Minnesota Gophers
Average: 196.613
Road Score 1 | 196.975 |
Road Score 2 | 196.375 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 197.625 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 197.025 |
Current NQS: | 197.000 |
Minnesota’s early-season inconsistency is still making itself known in the NQS situation, so a good road score at the Big Five next weekend should allow Minnesota to challenge the likes of Arkansas and Alabama.

9. Cal Bears
Average: 196.588
Road Score 1 | 197.425 |
Road Score 2 | 196.075 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 197.100 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 195.750 |
Current NQS: | 196.588 |
Cal’s ranking by average is much stronger than its current place in the NQS hierarchy because Cal has competed only four times and can’t drop any scores yet. But because Cal has five meets left and needs only two more good results out of those five in order to have a high NQS, the opportunity for growth is quite high.

10. Denver Pioneers
Average: 196.517
Road Score 1 | 196.600 |
Road Score 2 | 196.375 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 197.000 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 196.725 |
Current NQS: | 196.675 |
Denver has seen its scoring pace drop in recent weeks, putting some pressure on the remaining four meets to be in that 197 zone. Every other team in the current top 10 has at least two 197s so far.

11. BYU Cougars
Average: 196.478
Road Score 1 | 197.075 |
Road Score 2 | 196.425 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 196.975 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 196.825 |
Current NQS: | 196.825 |
BYU is among the teams that really benefits from NQS because of the team’s ample schedule (BYU has already competed 8 times and can drop 4 scores). If we were doing NQS this week, BYU would be 8th.

12. Iowa Hawkeyes
Average: 196.458
Road Score 1 | 196.450 |
Road Score 2 | 196.325 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 196.800 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 196.775 |
Current NQS: | 196.588 |
Iowa’s thing this season (until Saturday’s meet) has been consistency, which is famously not rewarded by NQS, so Iowa currently has a lower NQS total than several of the teams ranked behind it by average.

13. UCLA Bruins
Average: 196.445
Road Score 1 | 197.100 |
Road Score 2 | 196.750 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 196.600 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 196.150 |
Current NQS: | 196.650 |
UCLA’s NQS situation is currently a bit better than its average situation because NQS allows the Washington adventure to be dropped, though that 196.150 is still weighing things down.

14. Kentucky Wildcats
Average: 196.350
Road Score 1 | 196.875 |
Road Score 2 | 195.825 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 197.000 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 196.400 |
Current NQS: | 196.525 |
Kentucky will be fairly pleased with the current setup because this score is pretty competitive even with a 195.8 on there itching to be dropped.

15. Georgia Bulldogs
Average: 196.329
Road Score 1 | 196.375 |
Road Score 2 | 196.150 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 197.275 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 196.150 |
Current NQS: | 196.488 |
Georgia is being saved right now by the fact that the top score doesn’t have to be dropped this season. Otherwise, it would be a mess. But that one score can only do so much work and Georgia needs to start matching it immediately. Actually, literally every team wants Georgia to start scoring better now that Georgia is hosting a regional. No one wants to be matched with a low-seeded Georgia in a Georgia regional.

16. Southern Utah Thunderbirds
Average: 196.171
Road Score 1 | 196.650 |
Road Score 2 | 196.175 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 197.275 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 196.550 |
Current NQS: | 196.663 |
Southern Utah enjoys one of the biggest boosts from the NQS switch and would be ranked in the top 10 this week if NQS were happening. So watch out for that in next week’s rankings.

17. Arizona State Sun Devils
Average: 196.163
Road Score 1 | 196.650 |
Road Score 2 | 195.950 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 197.150 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 196.275 |
Current NQS: | 196.506 |
Arizona State’s scores have been all over the map this year, but with five meets left including three away, there’s room to expect those low(ish) numbers to go away.

18. Auburn Tigers
Average: 196.013
Road Score 1 | 196.100 |
Road Score 2 | 195.575 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 197.075 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 197.050 |
Current NQS: | 196.450 |
Auburn’s dramatic disparity between home and road scoring is a thing, and with just two away meets left, there is some real pressure this Friday to take advantage of the glowing warming glow of a meet at Florida to hit for a big road total. It’s necessary if Auburn hopes to get a seeded spot this year (top 16).

19. Illinois Illini
Average: 195.938
Road Score 1 | 196.300 |
Road Score 2 | 196.075 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 196.650 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 195.600 |
Current NQS: | 196.156 |

20. Boise State Broncos
Average: 195.850
Road Score 1 | 196.900 |
Road Score 2 | 196.400 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 196.350 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 196.325 |
Current NQS: | 196.494 |
Boise State has only one road meet left, so last Friday’s away 196.900 was actually an important result to get everything looking shipshape. Which it now does.

21. Ohio State Buckeyes
Average: 195.642
Road Score 1 | 196.400 |
Road Score 2 | 196.000 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 196.375 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 195.950 |
Current NQS: | 196.181 |

22. Utah State Aggies
Average: 195.550
Road Score 1 | 196.250 |
Road Score 1 | 195.975 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 196.225 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 195.325 |
Current NQS: | 195.944 |

23. Missouri Tigers
Average: 195.529
Road Score 1 | 196.850 |
Road Score 2 | 194.800 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 196.175 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 195.750 |
Current NQS: | 195.894 |
With the score pressure on, Missouri delivered against Arkansas last Friday. But with three meets left, the score pressure isn’t done yet. Just deferred for another meet.

24. Iowa State Cyclones
Average: 195.388
Road Score 1 | 196.125 |
Road Score 2 | 196.050 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 195.500 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 193.875 |
Current NQS: | 195.388 |
Iowa State’s 193splosion in the last meet has to count right now, so once that’s dropped, expect a major blast up the rankings.

25. NC State Wolfpack
Average: 195.354
Road Score 1 | 195.425 |
Road Score 2 | 195.025 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 196.125 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 196.025 |
Current NQS: | 195.650 |

26. Maryland Terrapins
Average: 195.279
Road Score 1 | 196.275 |
Road Score 2 | 195.350 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 195.300 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 194.950 |
Current NQS: | 195.469 |

27. North Carolina Tarheels
Average: 195.270
Road Score 1 | 195.600 |
Road Score 2 | 195.250 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 195.300 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 195.200 |
Current NQS: | 195.338 |

28. Kent State Golden Flashes
Average: 195.264
Road Score 1 | 195.650 |
Road Score 2 | 194.825 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 196.375 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 195.850 |
Current NQS: | 195.675 |

29. Western Michigan Broncos
Average: 195.175
Road Score 1 | 196.050 |
Road Score 2 | 195.575 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 196.025 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 195.425 |
Current NQS: | 195.769 |

30. Penn State Nittany Lions
Average: 195.154
Road Score 1 | 196.000 |
Road Score 2 | 194.750 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 195.925 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 195.275 |
Current NQS: | 195.488 |

31. Michigan State Spartans
Average: 195.138
Road Score 1 | 194.500 |
Road Score 2 | |
Home/Road Score 1 | 195.775 |
Home/Road Score 2 | |
Current NQS: | N/A |
Time is of the essence for Michigan State once the team resumes with four meets left on the schedule and three scores to get.

32. West Virginia Mountaineers
Average: 195.120
Road Score 1 | 195.350 |
Road Score 2 | 194.775 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 195.400 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 195.175 |
Current NQS: | 195.175 |

33. Eastern Michigan Eagles
Average: 194.994
Road Score 1 | 195.975 |
Road Score 2 | 195.150 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 195.825 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 195.800 |
Current NQS: | 195.688 |

34. Arizona Wildcats
Average: 194.894
Road Score 1 | 195.650 |
Road Score 2 | |
Home/Road Score 1 | 195.075 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 194.875 |
Current NQS: | N/A |

35. Oregon State Beavers
Average: 194.835
Road Score 1 | 195.850 |
Road Score 2 | 195.250 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 196.200 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 194.925 |
Current NQS: | 195.556 |

36. Ball State Cardinals
Average: 194.833
Road Score 1 | 195.975 |
Road Score 2 | 195.550 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 195.275 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 194.425 |
Current NQS: | 195.306 |

37. Central Michigan Chippewas
Average: 194.750
Road Score 1 | 195.950 |
Road Score 2 | 195.050 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 196.300 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 194.075 |
Current NQS: | 195.344 |

38. Nebraska Cornhuskers
Average: 194.604
Road Score 1 | 195.350 |
Road Score 2 | 195.250 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 195.100 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 194.725 |
Current NQS: | 195.106 |

39. Towson Tigers
Average: 194.492
Road Score 1 | 194.475 |
Road Score 2 | 194.475 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 196.150 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 194.225 |
Current NQS: | 194.831 |

40. Temple Owls
Average: 194.021
Road Score 1 | 194.850 |
Road Score 2 | 194.525 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 195.100 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 193.650 |
Current NQS: | 194.831 |

41. Northern Illinois Huskies
Average: 193.913
Road Score 1 | 194.800 |
Road Score 2 | 194.250 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 194.825 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 193.350 |
Current NQS: | 194.306 |

42. New Hampshire Wildcats
Average: 193.863
Road Score 1 | 192.050 |
Road Score 2 | |
Home/Road Score 1 | 195.350 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 194.375 |
Current NQS: | N/A |

43. Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Average: 193.860
Road Score 1 | 195.975 |
Road Score 2 | 194.025 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 194.050 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 192.750 |
Current NQS: | 194.200 |

44. Lindenwood Lions
Average: 193.813
Road Score 1 | 193.900 |
Road Score 2 | 193.000 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 195.250 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 195.000 |
Current NQS: | 194.288 |

45. TWU Pioneers
Average: 193.790
Road Score 1 | 195.125 |
Road Score 2 | 194.750 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 194.050 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 192.725 |
Current NQS: | 194.163 |

46. Washington Huskies
Average: 193.610
Road Score 1 | 194.125 |
Road Score 2 | 193.500 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 194.050 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 193.500 |
Current NQS: | 193.795 |

47. Pittsburgh Panthers
Average: 193.466
Road Score 1 | 193.875 |
Road Score 2 | 192.850 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 195.700 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 194.525 |
Current NQS: | 194.238 |

48. George Washington Colonials
Average: 193.275
Road Score 1 | 193.600 |
Road Score 2 | 192.950 |
Home/Road Score 1 | |
Home/Road Score 2 | |
Current NQS: | N/A |

49. Southeast Missouri Redhawks
Average: 192.358
Road Score 1 | 194.425 |
Road Score 2 | 193.950 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 192.450 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 191.725 |
Current NQS: | 193.138 |

50. Illinois State Redbirds
Average: 191.865
Road Score 1 | 194.900 |
Road Score 2 | 190.225 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 194.150 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 192.075 |
Current NQS: | 192.838 |

51. Air Force Falcons
Average: 191.375
Road Score 1 | 192.650 |
Road Score 2 | 192.575 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 192.225 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 191.400 |
Current NQS: | 192.213 |

52. William & Mary Tribe
Average: 189.450
Road Score 1 | 189.450 |
Road Score 2 | |
Home/Road Score 1 | |
Home/Road Score 2 | |
Current NQS: | N/A |

53. Long Island Sharks
Average: 189.167
Road Score 1 | 188.850 |
Road Score 2 | 188.075 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 190.575 |
Home/Road Score 2 | |
Current NQS: | N/A |

54. Centenary
Average: 187.825
Road Score 1 | 189.925 |
Road Score 2 | |
Home/Road Score 1 | 185.725 |
Home/Road Score 2 | |
Current NQS: | N/A |

55. Bowling Green Falcons
Average: 179.171
Road Score 1 | 190.550 |
Road Score 2 | 179.525 |
Home/Road Score 1 | 193.250 |
Home/Road Score 2 | 190.375 |
Current NQS: | 188.425 |
What… happened with Bowling Green?
Their RQS is a real massacre, eh?
Multiple meets with not being able to count 5 scores on each event. A few meets they had only 3 or 4 gymnasts on an apparatus because team members had to quarantine due to Covid protocols. For example, against Eastern Michigan BGSU only put up 4 gymnasts on VT and only 3 gymnasts on both UB and FX. They had 6 athletes that competed BB.
So therefore they counted five 0.00s into their team total.
So no one wants to be matched w/ Georgia because they have a home regional. This is sad. Everyone knows the scoring that goes on there, but no one does anything about it. The last regional they hosted Cal should have been the team to go to nationals. It is sad to see Georgia be ranked 15th and from what I have seen even lower once RQS comes out. Where are all the Georgia fans outraged as they did to Danna. At least she made a Super Six three times!!!
Shoulda hustled to get that regional themselves then. As you said, everyone knows what the game is here.
Most responsible states don’t want to host regionals due to covid restrictions. Georgia got it because of New Hampshire having to step down.
I’m aware of that, and there are plenty of gymnastics teams in COVID-lax states (New Hampshire, obviously, is not one of them). Not clear if anyone bid for it besides Georgia, but I have limited sympathy for any team that complains about this when there is generally little to no practical action taken by the “cannon fodder” teams (all but about ten of them) to reform this highly broken system.
There are state laws preventing many teams from hosting. Louisiana and Missouri, not exactly states known for strict covid laws, aren’t able to host SECs and regionals, respectively.
The issue is not with other schools not getting their hustle on and getting to host. The issue is with the ridiculous home scoring that happens at Georgia meets.
No argument that certain teams, and notably Georgia, have HIGHLY suspect home scoring. What is anyone doing about that? There is no organized effort to establish a NCAA code or reform scoring. Whether it’s having the hustle to bid for the regional yourself, starting a reform movement, or just asking your AD for the budget to pay judges more, do SOMETHING. We’ve had years and years of disorganized grumbling and whining by athletes/coaches/other stakeholders and what has that achieved? Absolutely nothing. At some point you begin to wonder how invested people really are in reforming the system. I get that the “if you can’t beat them, join them” approach requires athletic director buy-in, which may not happen if your AD doesn’t care about gymnastics beyond making sure Title IX is satisfied, but it’s frustrating to watch. Because from the outside, it looks like a good 50-60 teams are content to let this system keep screwing them.
Re “asking AD for the budget to pay judges more” — that’s not actually how it works. Judges’ pay is standardized. The judges aren’t throwing out high scores in Georgia because they’re being paid more (unless there is some under the table payment going on, which I doubt).
Exactly, it is a sport and the integrity of the sport should be important to athletes, coaches, and administrations. Also, all these athletes work hard and deserve the same opportunity. They should not already feel defeated because they know they have to compete at a regional qualifier where judging is more biased at some locations. I can understand somewhat home scoring during regular season, but In post season there really needs to be some enforcement. Yes, this means separating routines. Not all routines fall between a 9.8-10.0. Georgia Will already have the benefit of home field, they do not need home judging when it comes to post season and qualifying.
How does judging assignment and compensation work for regionals? Does the host team have the discretion to follow whatever process it does during regular season, or is it different?
Let’s not pretend Georgia is the only team with whack scoring. And home judges have had no trouble hanging 196.1s on their lackluster home meets. The reason they are dangerous is because if everyone is healthy and hits, they can punch much higher than their current results. On another note- it will be interesting to see if Danna pursues another coaching job and how she performs. Jay did better as an LSU assistant than UGA head coach.
Georgia isn’t the only offender but I think they are the worst.
As for Jay, I wouldn’t be upset if history repeats itself and LSU doesn’t make it out of regionals.