1. Oklahoma – 198.430

2. LSU – 198.125

LSU was able to use the 198.425 from Friday to knock out a low road score and once again move ahead of Cal for second in the rankings. Back to competing at real-home this Friday, LSU doesn’t have too much room to improve the numbers here with a maximum NQS of 198.160 this week. Since Cal competes twice, Cal will have a chance to take back second place, but it will also require some capital-S Scores.

3. Cal – 198.055

Cal responded to LSU’s 198.4 with a trip to Stanford for 198.550, still falling to 3rd place but putting themselves in control of who takes second for next Monday. To guarantee passing LSU, Cal would need to gain 0.550 in raw scores across this weekend’s two meets. So, that could mean a single 198.425 on Friday, or for example, a 198.125 on Friday to bump out the 197.875, followed by a 198.250 on Sunday to bump out the 197.950. So, some big numbers are required, but it’s possible.

4. Florida – 197.820

Florida cannot move any higher than 4th place this week, so the goal will be to hang onto this position, and doing so should not be too, too taxing. Florida needs 197.625 in its home finale to lock in 4th for next Monday, which let’s be real, would also feel like kind of a low score for Florida at home on senior night.

5. Utah – 197.765

6. Kentucky – 197.745

7. Alabama – 197.620

Alabama made the ranking jump this week with another home 198, moving into the cherished top 8. It would take a 197.975 this week to have any shot to move higher than 7th, and Alabama will also be slightly vulnerable to MSU since MSU has a higher peak (and to Denver since Denver’s peak is pretty close).

8. Michigan State – 197.615

If Michigan State can replicate Saturday’s home performance on the road this coming Sunday, then the #7 ranking could be theirs next week as a 198.075 would lock it in. Otherwise, MSU and Alabama are quite close in terms of current NQS and road score to drop this week, so it’s more or less about who scores better right now at this next meet.

9. Denver – 197.580

10. Michigan – 197.510

Michigan got dropped down to 10th this week after a non-counter 197.075. Michigan also doesn’t have too much of an opportunity to move up this week with a maximum NQS of 197.580, meaning the best case scenario would be tying Denver for 9th.

11. UCLA – 197.460

UCLA is now locked into counting a 197.175 road score and, with a home meet this weekend, will have to wait until Pac-12s to try to improve those road numbers. This week, UCLA is looking at a max NQS of 197.520 so has a slight chance to pass Michigan with a big number if Michigan doesn’t get a score—but also cannot be passed by anyone else.

12. Arkansas – 197.360

With scores that are fairly tightly bunched, Arkansas cannot move any higher in the rankings this week (which continues to be a delicious nightmare for regionals host conflicts). Ensuring staying ahead of Missouri would take 197.525.

13. Missouri – 197.320

In theory, Missouri is looking for 197.175 this week to fend off any possible challenge from Auburn. At the same time, Missouri is currently seeded to go into a dreaded Florida/Utah regional, so moving down one spot might…not be the worst?

14. Auburn – 197.180

Auburn could pass Missouri this week, though it would require 197.625 plus help. In terms of a spot in the top 16, Auburn remains well positioned and would ensure remaining at least 14th this week with a 197.075.

15. Ohio State – 197.100

Ohio State has been pulled back into the danger zone and is now at some risk of dropping out of the seeded positions since both Minnesota and Oregon State have higher peaks after this week. If both teams score season highs, then Ohio State gets dropped to 17th no matter what. In watching for what other teams do, Ohio State be playing a bit of the “Hi, can scores be not crazy this week?” game because if Minnesota and Oregon State stay in the 197.0 zone rather than the 197.4 zone, then it’s good news for Ohio State.

16. Minnesota – 197.055

Minnesota moved back into the top 16 here but will have to fight for the spot again this weekend since Oregon State has a road 196.525 to drop at the higher maximum NQS. Minnesota will be aiming for 197.450, which would be enough to pass Ohio State no matter what.

17. Oregon State – 197.000

Oregon State fell out of the top 16 this week but has the secret weapon of those lower road scores, so the potential to move up certainly exists. A 197.400 means moving ahead of Ohio State no matter what, and 197.500 would do the same about Minnesota.

18. NC State – 196.855

With those gigantic home scores, NC State has now moved into contention for a seeded spot in the top 16—if those scores prove real on the road as well. It would take better than a 197.300 this week to have any shot at the top 16, and then we’ll see.

19. Georgia – 196.800

Starting with Georgia, we mostly have teams that are comfortably ensconced in the regionals qualification positions but cannot get to the top 16 this week, though I’ll note the few exceptions as we go.

20. Arizona State – 196.795

21. Arizona – 196.770

Theoretically Arizona could move up to the top 16 because of having a Wednesday meet and a Sunday meet, though the scores they’d need to do that are pretty unrealistic. But the sub-victory of passing Arizona State is very much in play.

22. Penn State – 196.755

23. Maryland – 196.650

24. Kent State – 196.645

25. Stanford – 196.615

Stanford got a wild score and still lost ranking spots this week because that score is dropped as the high number, but it does mean Stanford has a massive potential NQS ceiling with two meets this weekend. Moving all the way up into the top 16 isn’t perhaps likely, but if they get two more of those 197.975s, it’s happening.

26. Boise State – 196.610

27. Washington – 196.590

27. Clemson – 196.590

29. Nebraska – 196.550

30. Illinois – 196.525

30. Towson – 196.525

32. San Jose State – 196.505

33. Southern Utah – 196.485

34. BYU – 196.455

35. Ball State – 196.440

36. Iowa State – 196.325

Things are bizarrely straightforward when it comes to the drop zone right now because the top 36 this week are also guaranteed to be the top 36 next Monday as well. No one can get up in there. Iowa is the only team close right now, and their max NQS after this weekend’s meet is 196.305.

37. Iowa – 196.230