2025 NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Preview: Stanford seeks class of its own, Michigan looks to topple Cardinal
Five months ago, the U.S. men’s gymnastics team made history, ending a 16-year medal drought with a bronze-medal finish in the team final at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Former NCAA athletes Brody Malone (Stanford) and Stephen Nedoroscik (Penn State) were joined by current NCAA gymnasts Asher Hong (Stanford), Fred Richard (Michigan), and Paul Juda (Michigan) for the historic run.
Hong, Richard, and Juda are set to return to the NCAA stage with a new goal: winning an NCAA Championship. Stanford is on the cusp of history – with a win in April, the Cardinal would be the first program in the history of NCAA gymnastics – men’s or women’s – to win six consecutive national championships. Many claim that Stanford would have claimed victory in 2020 were it not for the global pandemic, but the Cardinal seems more focused on the future and further cementing their legacy.
A sizable victory the last three years, Stanford seems almost untouchable. Will their success make them complacent? Definitely not. Are other teams working harder than ever before? Absolutely. Will it be enough to dethrone them? We will have to wait and see. The Michigan Wolverines have been the runner-up the last two years running. Determined not to repeat history for a third time, the Wolverines, led by Olympians Richard and Juda, will look to capitalize on their home-field advantage in Ann Arbor in April and keep the Cardinal from making history once more.
Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Illinois rounded out the top five last season and are most definitely looking to shake up the status quo and shock the NCAA to claim a title for themselves.
A note on rule changes: In addition to a new code, there a few rule changes that will make men’s gymnastics look a bit different this season, namely moving to a “four up, four count” competition format to increase parity and make the television product more attractive.
Read on for a detailed breakdown of the top five teams, more on the remaining 10 teams, and insight from coaches and athletes from around the country.
Stanford
The Cardinal had a strong season in 2024 that ended with their fifth-consecutive NCAA title. The team was led by now-Olympian Hong and Olympic alternate Khoi Young, world team member Colt Walker, and former National Team member Taylor Burkhart. These four reunite with an already accomplished squad and will be joined by top-ranked freshmen, including Xander Hong (yes, one of Asher’s talented brothers) and U.S. Senior Development Team member Kai Uemura.
These athletes have their sights set beyond the NCAA; most recently, Burkhart, Walker, and Stanford alum Ian Gunther traveled to the Czech Republic for the Sokol Grand Prix, where Burkhart and Gunther finished 1-2 in the mixed pairs event alongside their female teammates from Canada and Czechia.
Already getting a jump on the season, the Cardinal squad have their sights set on history. They are in a position to become the first team to ever win six-consecutive NCAA Championships. The mentality on The Farm is one of earning their way and competing against themselves. Head Coach Thom Glielmi has developed a world-class machine that is athlete-centered and the results speak for themselves. Everyone loves a good underdog story, but this squad has an underdog mentality that pays dividends. We will have to wait and see what happens in April.
Stanford begins the hunt for historic title number five across the Bay at the Cal Benefit Cup on Monday, January 13.
Michigan
The Wolverines have finished runner-up in the previous two NCAA finals and look to turn the tide this season. The return of Olympians Richard and Juda, paired with the home-field advantage for NCAAs, may give them the upper hand in dethroning the Cardinal.
This year is their chance, and Michigan looks to be giving it everything they’ve got. With 25 athletes currently on roster, including recent transfer Charlie Larson, they have one of the largest squads in the NCAA. Thirteen upperclassmen, including five graduate students, hint that they are looking to win their first NCAA title since 2014. They have the depth and talent and are better suited to challenge Stanford than any other team, but we need to see each piece fall together at the right time.
Richard told Gym Now: “The goal is to win NCAAs as a team and individual and world championships in October.”
In addition to being an Olympian, Richard has become an icon and influencer, creating his own brand and transforming the sport on social media. “I also want to bring 100s of millions of eyes to my sport,” he said. This is a common theme in NCAA men’s, as many have pin-pointed social media as a place to make new fans, but Richard is stepping up to the plate and making it happen.
We will need to wait to watch the Stanford-Michigan battle, but the Wolverines open the season Saturday, January 11, when they host Greenville and Simpson in Ann Arbor.
Oklahoma
Two Sooners had especially busy summers: Emre Dodanli competed at his first Olympic Games representing Turkey and Fuzzy Benas competed at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Most of the team remained in Oklahoma, studying and training through the summer. The goals this summer were common throughout the NCAA: adjust to the new rules and add difficulty.
This season, the Sooners will look to continue rebuilding and return to their dynasty era from the 2010s (2015-2018, to be exact). That starts with competing for a conference title and closing the gap with Stanford and Michigan (and staving off teams like Nebraska and Illinois). With a healthy balance of seasoned veterans and impressive newcomers, no team is better positioned to make strides this season. Still, it may take some time to get up to speed, especially with Dodanli and Benas recovering from injuries. Head coach Mark Williams elaborated on X Friday after a report from Inside Gymnastics.
“Emre Dodanli broke his hand in preseason, but is back to full training now, we’re just being a little cautious,” Williams said. “Expect to see Emre on at least a few events at Rocky Mountain Open. Fuzzy Benas’ surgery relatively minor and went well. Hope to have him back shortly after Winter Cup. Fuzzy jammed his thumb at the Arthur Gander competition in Switzerland and an MRI once home showed a tear. Tried to work through, and was fine on all but p-bars, but affected his grip enough wanted to get it repaired. Recovery going very well so far.”
This Sooner squad is forward-looking, especially with the Sam Viersen Gymnastics Center – the practice facility for both the men’s and women’s teams – currently undergoing an expansion. This is a great sight to see considering the struggles other men’s programs have had recently. Head Coach Mark Williams is helping lead the charge to re-establish men’s gymnastics on the NCAA level, including emphasizing broadcast opportunities – “[We] will have four home meets on ESPN+ and the NCAA Championship will be broadcasted on ESPN.” This is a step in the right direction and the perfect time, as men’s gymnastics needs to capitalize on the recent exposure the sport got during the Paris Games.
The season opens for the Sooners at home, where they’ll host Air Force in McCasland Field House on Sunday, January 12.
Nebraska
The Cornhuskers have their sights set on three things this season: win Big Tens, top three at NCAAs, and All-Americans, All-Americans, All-Americans.
To get there, they have prioritized navigating the new Code of Points this offseason while building up strength in the weight room – “Everything is going pretty well here in Lincoln,” Head Coach Chuck Chmelka told Gym Now.
Three gymnasts had their sights set beyond the NCAA last summer, as Taylor Christopulos, Luke James, and Yanni Chronopoulos worked to qualify for the Olympics. Chronopoulos was named the traveling alternate for Canada.
The sentiment in Nebraska is echoed all throughout the NCAA: the team wants fans to come and watch as many men’s gymnastics competitions in person as possible. Chmelka put it perfectly: “Bring a friend… the more viewership we have, the better everything will be!”
The Cornhuskers open the season at the Rocky Mountain Open in Colorado on Saturday, January 18.
Illinois
Illinois had one of the highest E-scores in the NCAA last season, but it was not enough to put them on the podium. Aware of this, closing that difficulty gap has been priority No. 1 for the Illini.
“We know the difficulty gap will be smaller this season and that we can execute better than any other team,” Illini-legend-turned-assistant-coach Connor McCool told Gym Now. The team believes this will position them to make a run for Big Ten and NCAA titles.
Nebraska transfer Sam Phillips joins the team for his fifth year and will definitely be looked at to make an immediate impact. Phillips joins what has been coined “the most talented freshman class,” according to McCool. Another highlight of the offseason: 2024 NCAA high bar champion Tate Costa was named to the U.S. Men’s Senior Development Team and competed at Olympic Trials.
We get to see a look at this new Illinois squad at the Windy City Invitational on Saturday, January 18.
The Rest of the Country
Ohio State
The Buckeyes had a stressful offseason; the school announced they were cutting scholarships from the program, then chose to reverse course and retain scholarships for men’s gymnastics and a handful of its 36 collegiate sports that were previously at risk. Gratitude is everything to this team. They’re excited to represent THE Ohio State and are looking to strengthen the team chemistry and build off of last season. The Buckeyes hosted their annual alumni exhibition on Saturday, January 4, and will begin their season at the West Point Open on Friday, January 10.
California
The Bears return with a new gym that pairs nicely with the team’s seven incoming freshmen. Working to adapt to the rule changes, they pushed high difficulty skills and a new strength and training program in the offseason – “We want to compete as a team at NCAA finals this year,” Associate Head Coach Bryan Del Castillo told Gym Now.
Despite being new, the freshmen have been working hard and will look to make an immediate positive impact. The Bears also return veteran competitors who provide great leadership and will be relied on for their experience. The Bears host the Cal Benefit Cup, where they will face Stanford, on Monday, January 13.
Penn State
The Nittany Lions did not finish last season the way they wanted when they missed the NCAA finals by a surprising margin. With a talented squad, this team will look to return to form as a regular in the final six. Something to note: there are no true freshman on this squad – Bobby Alessio is a redshirt freshman. Four graduate students, including Matt Cormier and Michael Jaroh, will look to put the Lions back in contention for a Big Ten title. Penn State opens the season at the West Point Open on Friday, January 10.
Air Force
The Falcons had their second best performance of the season in NCAA pre-qualifying last year. Experience is on their side with 11 upperclassmen, led by Senior National Team member and Olympic alternate Patrick Hoopes. The team will look to grow beyond last season, battling with Cal in the MPSF and working to be in contention for a possible NCAA finals appearance. The Falcons travel to McCasland Field House to start the season against the Sooners on Sunday, January 12.
Navy
Win, win, win. That’s the Midshipmen’s mission this year – Army, All-Academy, USAGs, and ECACs. Back to the basics and fundamentals, Head Coach Kip Simons told Gym Now. Navy, along with the rest of the NCAA, is using the core tenets of gymnastics to adjust to the new rules. With six seniors and six juniors, this is a top-heavy team with a lot of experience. Fighting for a spot in lineups will be challenging though, with 24 athletes on roster this year (including senior star Isaiah Drake), but the team is aiming to get athletes as much competition experience as possible. Navy opens the season at the West Point Open on Friday, January 10.
Greenville
The Panthers enter their fourth NCAA season with one goal in mind: win ECACs. The team was very happy with how last season went, but they realized they needed to do things differently to achieve their goals.
“We wanted to peak at the first comp and every comp last season,” Head Coach Zach Peters told Gym Now.
Execution-wise the Panthers were comparable to the rest of the NCAA, but they saw a lag in difficulty and have been working to close the gap. Above all else, Peters said his personal goal is to help his athletes become better men and better people. This approach will guide the Panthers as they chase down Navy for the ECAC title. The Panthers travel to Ann Arbor for a tri-meet with Michigan and Simpson on Saturday, January 11.
Springfield College
After graduating eight guys last year, continuing the team culture is a focal point this season. The Pride has been focused on crafting smart routines for this season, Head Coach Matthew Davis told Gym Now. They are looking to remain competitive in the ECAC and to qualify as a team to the NCAA Championships. After earning their first All-American honor since 2014, they are also looking to boost individual success. The Pride opens its season at the West Point Open on Friday, January 10.
Army
JD Reive enters his second season as head coach of Army and was joined this offseason by Jake Bonnay, a former Nebraska Gymnast who was previously an assistant coach at Greenville. The Cornhusker alum will look to return Army to the podium in the ECAC and vie for a team berth to nationals. Sophomores Jaden Blank and Nick Lester will look to help lead this team again this season. Army hosts the West Point Open from January 10-11.
William & Mary
A program that has undergone trials and tribulations in recent years, the Tribe are on solid ground and looking to build a firm foundation. Building off of last season is the goal this year according to Head Coach Mike Powell. The team has three strong captains this season – Samuel Smith, Jonathan Irwin, and Ricky Pizem – that will be leaned on for their guidance and experience. Fifth-year Sam Lee is also a seasoned veteran who will be another familiar face in lineups. The Tribe open its season at the West Point Open on Friday, January 10.
Simpson
Growth has been instrumental for the team this offseason, according to Head Coach Colin Payne. Both the coaches and athletes have been studying the new code and working to craft smart routines. At the end of the day, good gymnastics is good gymnastics. Keeping this in mind, this year’s squad should be unrecognizable in more ways than one. This season is year one of a new, winning mentality. Simpson starts the season in Michigan for a tri-meet with the Panthers and Wolverines on Saturday, January 11.
