‘Elite Eight’ Showdown Begins Today With NCAA Titles On The Line

Selena Harris-Miranda celebrates during the 2026 SEC Gymnastics Championship on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at BOK Center in Tulsa, OK.

Madilyn Gemme/UAA Communications

This year’s NCAA Gymnastics Championships will feature a “smorgasbord” of talent. But on Thursday, April 16, the Elite Eight will be carved into a final four. Though there are predictable favorites and de-facto underdogs, this year’s NCAA Championships are anyone’s game.

The nation’s top eight programs will face off in National Semifinals on Thursday, April 16 at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The top two teams from each semifinal will advance to Saturday’s national championship. The bottom two will leave Texas empty-handed.

Thursday’s semifinals will also determine the individual NCAA champions in the all-around and on the four events. Winners will be named and awarded at the conclusion of the second national semifinal.

When I asked former ESPN Commentator and Olympic medalist Kathy Johnson Clarke for her prediction, her response was simple: “Whoever has the most fun finding their perfect meet together is going to win.”

Read up on the contenders, their strengths – and their star contributors, below. Full scheduling and broadcast information can be accessed here.

Selena Harris-Miranda celebrates during the 2026 SEC Gymnastics Championship on Saturday, March 21, 2026 at BOK Center in Tulsa, OK.

Madilyn Gemme/UAA Communications

Semifinal I: Thursday, April 16 at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2

No. 2 Florida Gators

Last Title: 2015 (3 total) | Best Finish: First

After trailing LSU in the national rankings for weeks, the surging Florida Gators claimed the second seed in the championship. Few teams have looked stronger in the final postseason stretch than the Gators squad. The Gators have posted five-straight scores of 198+, the golden standard in NCAA Women’s Gymnastics. In March, the Gators held off both Oklahoma and LSU for the SEC Championship and are chomping at the bit to clinch their first national title since 2015. With arguably the strongest roster in recent history, great expectations weigh on the Gators.

No. 3 LSU Tigers

Last Title: 2024 (1 total) | Best Finish: First

The No. 3 LSU Tigers won the program’s first NCAA title in 2024 and arrive in Fort Worth looking for their second in three years. Though they came in as the No. 1 overall seed in 2025, the Tigers’ title-defense was cut short in the semifinals. However, with star sophomore Kailin Chio as their leader – the number one gymnast in the nation – title number two feels within reach. The Tigers will look to Konnor McClain, Kaliya Lincoln, and Lexi Zeiss for key contributions as well. First, they’ll have to get past two hungry SEC foes in the semifinal round.

No. 5 Georgia GymDogs

Last Title: 2009 (10 total) | Best Finish: First

The Georgia GymDogs are back and better than ever. After years of uncharacteristic results, the historic program has returned to its former glory under the leadership of Co-Head Coaches Cécile Canqueteau-Landi and Ryan Roberts. Led by an elite trio of All-SEC freshmen with big, difficult gymnastics, the GymDogs are underdogs – but underdogs whose bite often matches their bark. Georgia was one of just seven programs to hit the 198 mark this year, a number that could put them in title contention for the first time since 2009.

No. 6 Arkansas Razorbacks

Last Title: Never | Best Finish: Fifth

Much like the Gymdogs to their east, the No. 6 seed Arkansas Razorbacks are flourishing in 2026. The Razorbacks cruised to Fort Worth after spectacular routines from Joscelyn Roberson, Morgan Price, and freshman Allison Cucci. Though the program is an outlier contender for the title, the team’s mindset runs counter to the narrative. “If we show up and are at our best, there’s absolutely no reason why we can’t compete with UCLA or Oklahoma,” Head Coach Jordyn Wieber said last week. Led by a coaching staff of two Olympic gold medalists and one Olympian, the Razorbacks bring confidence and power to every event.

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Semifinal II: Thursday, April 16 at 9 p.m. on ESPN2

No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners

Last Title: 2025 (7 total) | Best Finish: First

The defending national champion Oklahoma Sooners are the predictable favorite. The Sooners have arrived at nationals as the No. 1 seed at every championship since 2014 – except one: 2025. That didn’t matter for the Sooners, who went on to win their seventh NCAA title. However, the rock-solid Sooners will have to weather the most formidable challenges they have faced in recent years. K.J. Kindler’s squad is known for responding to disappointment with a vengeance, so the Sooners’ loss at March’s SEC Championships should instill fear in their competition. As the No. 1 vault squad in the nation, the Sooners should look to dial in their landings to gain an advantage over the field.

No. 4 UCLA Bruins

Last Title: 2018 (7 total) | Best Finish: First

Though the competition is heavy with teams from the Southeastern Conference, Big Ten Champion No. 4 UCLA comes in seeking revenge. In 2025, the Bruins finished as the national runner-up to Oklahoma. In 2026, they seek the program’s eighth title in Jordan Chiles’ final collegiate season. Chiles is also expected to contend for the all-around title, and fans anticipate a battle between Chiles and Chio. The Olympic gold medalist joined forces with freshman stars Tiana Sumanasekera and Ashlee Sullivan, helping UCLA to its second-straight conference championship. This week in Texas, they hope to climb to the top of the podium once more.

No. 7 Stanford Cardinal

Last Title: Never | Best Finish: Third

Stanford is another program on the rise. The No. 7 Cardinal punched their ticket to Fort Worth in dramatic fashion, edging out ACC foe Clemson by just .075 in the all-important regional final. Though the Cardinal have struggled to put forward a complete meet in recent weeks, they are capable of a top finish if the stars align. In February, they posted a massive score of 198.150, the second-highest in school history. Known for their prowess on bars and floor, the Cardinal will need to deliver on all four events to contend for the program’s first national title.

No. 8 Minnesota Golden Gophers

Last Title: Never | Best Finish: Sixth

The Golden Gophers are in Fort Worth for a reason – not sheer luck. After a stellar team effort, the No. 13-ranked Minnesota Golden Gophers edged out No. 5 Alabama and 9-time NCAA Champion Utah to qualify for the NCAA Championship, ending Utah’s 49-year streak of championship play. Like the Gators, the Gophers have been peaking at the right time, putting up the fourth-highest score in program history in mid-March. Though their title hopes are small, the program arrives as the eighth seed and looks to improve on its program-record finish of sixth place.

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This article was originally published on Forbes.com