With the Big Ten Conference bracing for the additions of UCLA and USC for the 2024-25 athletic season, many are left wondering what impact the blockbuster move will have on the conference’s reputation and strength. In NCAA gymnastics, where the Big Ten contains fewer programs with lower parity than other Power 5 conferences within the sport, the looming change leaves even more questions about how the landscape of the conference will change. As blue-blood UCLA enters a conference that has been rising the gymnastics ranks as of late, we’re taking a deep dive into the numbers of how UCLA stacks up against the existing conference members. This Data Deep Dive takes a look at the scores, the program, and the future of the schools of the Big Ten Conference as they anticipate the arrival of UCLA.
The Scores
The first analysis that came to mind was how UCLA stacked up against Big Ten schools in the past few seasons based on sheer numbers.
Looking at the average score of each team over the past six seasons, UCLA consistently ranks near the top of the conference and seems to be a pretty even match for the top teams in the conference. UCLA won’t be untouchable in this aspect, especially given that all other Big Ten teams are only within a tenth of their 2023…
