Minnesota Upsets UCLA; Oklahoma, LSU, Florida Reach Final
PUBLISHED Apr 17, 2026, 12:38 AM ET
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Fort Worth, Texas — No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 13 Minnesota clinched spots in Saturday's NCAA Gymnastics Championship after Thursday's semifinals, with Oklahoma posting a 198.300 and Minnesota edging UCLA in the final rotation to secure the program's first appearance in the Four on the Floor. Head coach Jenny Hansen called it a historic milestone. Fort Worth organizers reported LSU and Florida had earlier advanced by defeating Georgia and Stanford; Oklahoma and Minnesota will join LSU and Florida in the national final on Saturday. Faith Torrez of Oklahoma won the NCAA all-around Thursday with a 39.7875 despite limited event participation this season.
By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- LSU and Florida defeated Georgia and Stanford earlier Thursday to secure Final Four berths.
- Oklahoma opened its semifinal session with a dominant vault rotation and led throughout.
- Minnesota produced a clutch uneven bars rotation late to surpass UCLA and clinch a Final Four spot.
- Faith Torrez returned to four events and won the NCAA all-around with a 39.7875.
- The four qualifying teams (Oklahoma, Minnesota, LSU, Florida) will compete for the national title on Saturday.
News Intelligence
- This is a big deal for Minnesota. Their first-ever appearance in the Four on the Floor shows the growth of their program. If you're a fan, it's time to celebrate. Even if you're not, it's a great example of hard work paying off.
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Oklahoma, Minnesota, LSU and Florida benefited by advancing to the NCAA Championship, gaining national exposure, recruiting leverage, and potential postseason revenue tied to higher placement and visibility.
UCLA and Arkansas suffered by missing the four-team final, losing the opportunity to compete for a national title and facing scrutiny over execution in key rotations, notably UCLA's vault issues.
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Minnesota Upsets UCLA; Oklahoma, LSU, Florida Reach Final
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