This is the marquee meet of Week 1. With two Olympians and the three most recent national champion teams in one meet, what more could you want?
The wildcard here is UCLA. Nobody knows what to expect from the Bruins this year, as a new coach, the No. 1 freshman in the country, and a mysterious injury outlook compound the question of how a team bounces back from a season as challenging and emotional as the Bruins had in 2022. The talent on UCLA’s roster is immense, and an upset over any of the other three teams here is possible—but it won’t be a disappointment if there are hiccups instead. It’s OK if putting the pieces together takes some time.
Auburn is looking to prove it belongs with the best teams in the country after charging through the 2022 season and ultimately qualifying to the national final. There’s little chance of a sophomore slump with Suni Lee still at the reins, but how consistent can the Tigers be this year—and what on earth is Lee going to compete on bars?
For Michigan it’s all about the veterans, with 16 of 24 routines in the Wolverines’ projected lineups coming from seniors or fifth-years and just one from an underclassman. This is essentially the same team that won the national championship in 2021, and this is the last…
