Michigan Selected as 2026 Big Ten Men’s Gymnastics Favorite
ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Michigan Wolverines have been selected as a unanimous choice to win the 2026 Big Ten Men’s Gymnastics title, according a poll of the conference’s coaches announced on Thursday.
Last season, the Wolverines raised their fifth consecutive Big Ten championship and secured the program’s seventh NCAA Championship.
In Thursday’s preseason conference poll, Michigan was followed by Nebraska, Illinois, Penn State, and Ohio State.
Four Big Ten teams advanced to the 2025 NCAA Championship finals, with Nebraska, Penn State, and Illinois finishing fourth, fifth, and sixth, respectively. Three Big Ten student-athletes also claimed individual titles. Michigan’s Fred Richard won the all-around, while teammate Paul Juda won the parallel bars. Ohio State’s Kameron Nelson earned gold in the vault.
In addition to Thursday’s preseason Big Ten poll, the conference unveiled the 2026 Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch List, as selected by the conference coaches.
Among the 10-person Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch list are three student-athletes who earned All-Big Ten honors last season.
Richard leads the trio after claiming his third consecutive all-around gold at the 2025 Big Ten championship, while Ohio State’s Jesse Pakele won gold in the floor exercise. Nebraska’s Asher Cohen was also named to the list after securing a second-place finish in the still rings.
The 2026 season will get underway on Jan. 10, when Michigan hosts Greenville and Simpson. One day later, Penn State will play host to Army. Nebraska will open its 2026 slate on Saturday, Jan. 17 at the Rocky Mountain Open, while Illinois, Michigan, and Ohio State will begin at the Ohio State Open in Columbus on Jan. 18.
Nebraska’s Pinnacle Bank Arena will play host to the 2026 Big Ten Men’s Gymnastics Championships on April 3-4 in Lincoln, Neb. Illinois will host the 2026 NCAA Championships on April 17-18 at the State Farm Center, the fifth time the Illini have hosted the event.
The complete 2026 Big Ten Men’s Gymnastics Preseason Poll and Gymnasts to Watch List follows:
2026 BIG TEN MEN’S GYMNASTICS PRESEASON POLL
1. Michigan
2. Nebraska
3. Illinois
4. Penn State
5. Ohio State
2026 BIG TEN MEN’S GYMNASTICS – GYMNASTS TO WATCH
Preston Ngai, Jr., Illinois
Sam Phillips, Grad., Illinois
Aaronson Mansberger, So., Michigan
Fred Richard, Sr., Michigan
Asher Cohen, Sr., Nebraska
Nathan York, Sr., Nebraska
Jesse Pakele, Sr., Ohio State
David Ramirez, So., Ohio State
Kacper Garnczarek, Sr., Penn State
Akseli Karsikas, Jr., Penn State