Title: The Untimely End of NCAA Gymnastics' Four-Year Perfect 10 Streak
In a recent shift, the NCAA Women's Gymnastics scene saw a rare occurrence – no perfect 10s during the first week of competition since 2018. This happened back in February 2021. The absence of these top scores hints at a potential transformation in the sports' scoring system.
Looking back, there were 71 perfect tens awarded across the regular season in 2022. Not a single weekend passed without a perfect 10. This trend continued in 2023 with 84 perfect tens, and in 2024, it climbed to 87. It's evident that the coveted "perfect ten" is becoming more frequent in recent years.
However, this trend came to a halt at the beginning of the 2025 season. Top teams such as No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners and No. 2 LSU Tigers delivered winning performances without recording a perfect 10. The surprising absence of perfect scores was just the beginning of potential changes in the sport.
The scores nationwide were historically low that week, even for high-performing teams. Defending Runner-Up California's opening score was the team's lowest in four years. Olympic Champion Jordan Chiles' UCLA Bruins delivered their third-lowest score in over 15 years.
The differences in scores between 2025 and previous years were quite noticeable. Only five gymnasts scored higher than 9.9 on the floor that week, compared to 27 in the first week of 2024. 9.875s claimed victories in week one events.
So, what's causing this change? The talent is undeniable, with more than 15 Olympians and numerous national team members competing. The change can be primarily attributed to the new judging system introduced by the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) – the Collegiate Judging Issue (CJI).
Fans, coaches, and athletes alike had been voicing concerns over the past few years about inconsistencies in the NCAA judging system. Critics argued that the scoring did not always adhere to the official Code of Points, and deductions for small mistakes were not being made consistently.
The CJI aims to bring more uniformity and fairness to the scoring process by evaluating judges based on how closely their scores align with a target score. This evaluation method aims to create a fairer playing field, less focused on perfection and more on consistency and accuracy in routine evaluation.
Despite the financial and organizational challenges faced by the proposed SCORE board, one thing is clear: NCAA Women's Gymnastics judging is under scrutiny in 2025. Whether the sport remains "tenless" in week two remains to be seen.
Meet highlights for week two are available below:
- No. 11 Michigan State, No. 23 Nebraska, and Northern Illinois at No. 3 Florida on January 10 at 6:45 p.m. ET (Live Results | Streaming TBA)
- Sprouts Farmers Collegiate Quad (Session I): No. 13 Michigan vs. No. 25 NC State, Clemson, and Arizona on January 10 at 9:00 p.m. ET (Live Results | Streaming: ACCN)
- Sprouts Farmers Collegiate Quad (Session II): No. 1 Oklahoma vs. No. 2 LSU, No. 4 California, and No. 5 Utah on January 11 at 4:00 p.m. ET (Live Results| Streaming: ESPN2)
- Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad (Session III): No. 7 Kentucky vs. No. 8 Arkansas, No. 10 UCLA, and No. 16 Ohio State on January 11 at 9:00 p.m. ET (Live Results | Streaming: ABC)
[1] Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Introduces Collegiate Judging Issue (CJI), Addressing Concerns in NCAA Gymnastics Judging, 2024.[1] Criticism of the NCAA Gymnastics Judging System, 2022.[3] Impact of Collegiate Judging Issue (CJI) on NCAA Gymnastics, 2025.
Olivia Dunne, a standout gymnast, performed during the 2025 season, despite the lack of perfect tens that week. The absence of perfect scores also affected Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, both Olympic champions competing for their respective college teams. Incoherencies in the judging system, a concern voiced by fans and coaches, became more prominent, leading to the introduction of the Collegiate Judging Issue (CJI) by the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA). To watch college gymnastics, including the second week of the 2025 season, viewers can tune into the meets listed in the provided schedule.
[1] Thinking about watching some college gymnastics in 2025? The second week of competitions features several high-profile matches. (2025)[2] Olivia Dunne, a notable gymnast, was part of the 2025 season, marked by the absence of perfect tens. (2025)[3] Changes in judging, a concern highlighted by critics, influenced the introduction of the Collegiate Judging Issue (CJI) in 2024. (2024)[4] The lack of perfect tens in 2025 affected Jordan Chiles and Jade Carey, both Olympic champions in college gymnastics. (2025)[5] To follow college gymnastics competitions, including the events in the second week of 2025, viewers can access the provided broadcast schedule. (2025)
