Rk	Chg	Team	Avg	This Week
1	=	Oklahoma	198.139	198.300
2	+1	LSU	197.696	198.300
3	-1	Cal	197.575	197.400
4	=	Utah	197.533	197.300
5	+1	Florida	197.517	197.925
6	-1	Kentucky	197.504	197.775
7	=	Denver	197.314	197.350
8	+2	Michigan State	197.282	197.550
9	-1	UCLA	197.254	196.975
10	-1	Alabama	197.246	197.675
11	=	Michigan	197.221	197.650
12	=	Auburn	197.082	197.100
13	+1	Missouri	197.064	197.475
14	-1	Ohio State	197.021	197.125
15	=	Minnesota	196.911	196.950
16	=	Arkansas	196.825	196.800/ 197.375
17	+2	Oregon State	196.661	197.100
18	=	Georgia	196.604	—
19	-2	Arizona	196.600	196.250/ 196.950
20	=	Arizona State	196.582	196.850
21	+6	Illinois	196.269	196.550/ 196.850
22	+1	Penn State	196.207	196.400
23	+3	Nebraska	196.182	196.500
24	-3	Ball State	196.175	195.950
24	-2	Clemson	196.175	196.000
24	+4	BYU	196.175	196.600
24	+7	NC State	196.175	197.575

With these official week 7 standings, we’ve now hit the end of determining the rankings by average for the year. Things switched over to NQS starting with yesterday’s meets, so analyzing average score at this point would be like buying a new Victrola. Here’s where we stand with NQS. (NQS Explained)

Bold scores must be included as part of the six and can no longer be dropped.

Oklahoma currently enjoys a massive NQS lead over everyone else and already prospectively has the second-highest NQS ever recorded (second only to last year’s 198.355).

In the second pack, we have LSU and Cal. LSU is looking like the only team right now that could strike at Oklahoma because of that wealth of home 198s, though the road scores lag well behind Cal’s—as well as several other teams. LSU’s 3 counting home scores rank 1st in NCAA, but the 3 counting road scores currently rank 8th. Cal’s road scores rank 2nd to Oklahoma, meaning those weaker scores from the last two meets that saw Cal drop behind LSU overall can be eliminated at any competition, while LSU must specifically convert at the remaining away meets, like this Friday at Florida (brace thyselves).

In the first divergence from the average rankings, Kentucky gains two spots by NQS, moving up to 4th ahead of Utah and Florida. Florida has competed one fewer time than the other top teams so has not had a chance to drop any scores yet, while Kentucky and Utah are both already able to get rid of their season-low 196s. Of the 4-6 teams, Florida has the most room to improve its NQS this week by dropping that 197.100

NQS provides major assistance to Michigan, moving from 11th in the average rankings to 7th in the NQS rankings thanks to now being able to drop that 195.875 from the season opener. And with a 196.900 still hanging around, Michigan will like its chances to continue improving this number. The Michigan/Michigan State race is on, as both currently sit very close to each other and both have a 196 to get rid of at Big Fives this weekend.

It’s a steady slate for Alabama, but with a season high that’s lower than any team in the top 8, Alabama will face a troublesome ceiling if the high 197s or 198s don’t start coming.

When it comes to teams getting hit with the nasty end of NQS, we have Denver and UCLA. Denver drops from 7th by average to 10th by NQS, and UCLA drops from 9th to 11th. The culprit: road scores. While both teams have hit 198 at home and have two strong home results you wouldn’t at all mind counting, they are yet to break 197.5 at away meets. Denver has four road meets remaining, while UCLA has three.

Meanwhile, superior road scores help a team like Missouri move ahead of Auburn compared to average, but will a lower overall peak ultimately handcuff Missouri?

Arkansas will like its chances to pounce soon with those high road scores logged and a 196.200 still to be removed.

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The top 16 teams are seeded at the four regional sites, which would divide like this right now purely by ranking.

–[1] Oklahoma, [8] Michigan State, [9] Alabama, [16] Minnesota
–[2] LSU, [7] Michigan, [10] Denver, [15] Arkansas
–[3] Cal, [6] Florida, [11] UCLA, [14] Ohio State
–[4] Kentucky, [5] Utah, [12] Missouri, [13] Auburn

Because this setup would create two host conflicts (Michigan with Arkansas, Cal with Florida), you swap the lower-ranked host the fewest possible number of spots in order to alleviate the conflict. So Arkansas swaps with Minnesota and Florida swaps with Utah, giving you this.

–[1] Oklahoma, [8] Michigan State, [9] Alabama, [15] Arkansas
–[2] LSU, [7] Michigan, [10] Denver, [16] Minnesota
–[3] Cal, [5] Utah, [11] UCLA, [14] Ohio State
–[4] Kentucky, [6] Florida, [12] Missouri, [13] Auburn

Note: Georgia does not currently have enough away meets for an NQS. A typical score at Friday’s visit to Alabama would put Georgia here in 20th.

Note: Maryland does not currently have enough away meets for an NQS. A typical score at Saturday’s Big Five meet would put Maryland around here in 30th.