Big Ten Ties Record with 11 Programs Headed to 2026 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Regionals

ROSEMONT, Ill. – The Big Ten Conference will send representatives from all 12 of its women’s gymnastics programs to the regional round of the 2026 NCAA Championships, with those regionals taking place April 1-5 at four campus sites around the country.

For the second year in a row, the Big Ten had 11 institutions earn spots in the team competition, while gymnasts from Illinois, Nebraska, Rutgers and Washington will participate in individual events.

Four Big Ten programs garnered national seeds with Big Ten Champion UCLA (4th), Michigan (10th), Michigan State (11th) and Minnesota (13th).

Maryland, Ohio State and Rutgers will compete in the Lexington Regional. The Terrapins will open action in the first session of the second round on April 3 at 1 p.m. ET. The Buckeyes will participate in the evening session of the second round on April 3 at 7 p.m. ET. The Scarlet Knights will take part in a “play-in” dual meet against Central Michigan on April 2 at 2 p.m. ET to determine the final participant in the eight-team regional competition. With a win, Rutgers would advance to join Ohio State in the evening session on April 3.

The Corvallis Regional has the potential to host a Big Ten quad meet in the evening session of the second round. Washington will challenge San Jose State in a “play-in” dual meet on April 2 at 5 p.m. ET for the opportunity to join UCLA, Minnesota and Iowa in the second round on April 3 at 10 p.m. ET.

Nebraska and Michigan are headed to the Baton Rouge Regional. The Huskers will face Air Force on April 1 at 3 p.m. ET in a “play-in” dual meet as they look to earn a spot in the evening session of the second round on April 2 at 8 p.m. ET. The Wolverines are slated to begin their quest on April 2 at 2 p.m. ET in the second round’s first session.

Michigan State and Penn State will be featured in the Tempe Regional. The Spartans will compete in the first session of the second round on April 2 at 4 p.m. ET, followed by the Nittany Lions in the second session at 10 p.m. ET.

ESPN+ will stream live coverage from all four NCAA regional sites, with coverage of every gymnast and apparatus.

The top two teams from each session in the second round will advance to the regional final. The top two teams from each regional final will receive an automatic berth to the national championship. In addition, the top all-around competitor and top event specialist on each event (who are not on an advancing team) from each regional will advance to the national championship. Event specialist qualifiers will only compete in the events they qualified.

ESPN2 will air the national semifinals on April 16, with sessions slated for 4:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. ET. This year’s NCAA Finals on April 18 will be televised live on ABC at 4 p.m. ET for the sixth straight year.

2026 NCAA Championships – Regionals (April 1-5)
Lexington Regional – Lexington, Ky.
Big Ten Teams: Maryland, Ohio State, Rutgers
Individual Event Specialists: Summer Clancy, Illinois (balance beam), Eden King, Illinois (floor exercise), Chloe Cho, Illinois (all-around), Emily Leese, Rutgers (vault, floor exercise), Gabrielle Dildy, Rutgers (all-around)

Corvallis Regional – Corvallis, Ore.
Big Ten Teams: Iowa, Minnesota, UCLA, Washington
Individual Event Specialists: Deiah Moody, Washington (uneven bars, balance beam), Lilly Tubbs, Washington (uneven bars, balance beam), Chelsea Hallinan, Washington (balance beam), Kristin Lin, Washington (balance beam), Caitlin McWilliams, Washington (floor exercise)

Baton Rouge Regional – Baton Rouge, La.
Big Ten Teams: Michigan, Nebraska
Individual Event Specialists: Molly Peterson, Nebraska (uneven bars), Lauren Homecillo, Nebraska (floor exercise), Whitney Jencks, Nebraska (all-around)

Tempe Regional – Tempe, Ariz.
Big Ten Teams: Michigan State, Penn State