Even though the chalk has barely settled in Fort Worth to close out the 2025 season, it’s never too early to look ahead to what we can expect in 2026. With NCAA legends departing and a strong freshman class set to make its debut, we’re likely to see some reshuffling among this year’s top finishers. That said, all eight of this season’s championship qualifiers are well-positioned heading into next year. It’s shaping up to be a tight race between Oklahoma and Florida for the top spot, with plenty of room for movement throughout the rest of the top 10.
*Only confirmed fifth-year returners and transfers as of the day before publication were considered in these rankings.
1. Oklahoma
2025 Finish: No. 1
The defending national champion will feel the loss of two of the nation’s top gymnasts in Jordan Bowers, the 2025 NCAA all-around champion, and Audrey Davis. But the Sooners reload quickly, bringing in the nation’s top two recruits—Mackenzie Estep and Kamila Pawlak—who are projected to make immediate lineup impacts. Fellow five-star recruit Ella Murphy should also challenge for a vault spot. A key factor in making Oklahoma the early title favorite again is how much competition experience this year’s freshman class gained en route to the title. With Faith Torrez…
