Four Big Ten Teams Finish in Top Six at NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships

Michigan, Nebraska, Illinois, and Ohio State all place in the top half of the national competition.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:50am

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A cubist, geometric painting featuring overlapping planes of navy blue, crimson red, and forest green, abstractly representing the intense competition and athletic movements of a gymnastics event.The Big Ten's gymnastics dominance is on full display as its top teams fracture the national championship competition into a cubist masterpiece of athletic prowess.Champaign Today

Four Big Ten schools - Michigan, Nebraska, Illinois, and Ohio State - finished in the top six at the 2026 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championship Finals held in Champaign, Illinois. Michigan placed third, Nebraska fourth, Illinois fifth, and Ohio State sixth. Big Ten athletes also won three individual NCAA titles, with Michigan's Fred Richard claiming his third career all-around gold medal, Illinois' Brandon Dang winning pommel horse, and Nebraska's Asher Cohen topping the still rings competition.

Why it matters

The strong performance by Big Ten gymnastics programs at the NCAA Championships showcases the conference's continued dominance in the sport. With multiple teams and individuals earning top finishes, it reinforces the Big Ten's status as one of the premier gymnastics conferences in the country.

The details

At the 2026 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championship Finals, Michigan finished third with a score of 324.857, Nebraska was fourth with 324.662, Illinois placed fifth with 322.224 points, and Ohio State came in sixth with 316.093. Big Ten athletes won three individual NCAA titles - Michigan's Fred Richard claimed his third career all-around championship, Illinois' Brandon Dang won pommel horse, and Nebraska's Asher Cohen topped the still rings competition. In total, Big Ten student-athletes collected 30 All-America honors by finishing in the top eight in each discipline.

  • The 2026 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championship Finals were held on Saturday, April 19, 2026 in Champaign, Illinois.

The players

Fred Richard

A gymnast for the University of Michigan who won his third career NCAA all-around title, becoming the second Michigan gymnast to claim three all-around championships.

Brandon Dang

A gymnast for the University of Illinois who won the NCAA pommel horse title, joining his head coach Daniel Ribeiro as two of the 11 Illini to win an NCAA title on the pommel horse.

Asher Cohen

A gymnast for the University of Nebraska who won the NCAA still rings competition, becoming the first Husker since three-time NCAA champion Jim Hartung to claim a gold medal in that event.

Michigan

The University of Michigan men's gymnastics team finished third in the 2026 NCAA Championships.

Nebraska

The University of Nebraska men's gymnastics team finished fourth in the 2026 NCAA Championships.

Illinois

The University of Illinois men's gymnastics team finished fifth in the 2026 NCAA Championships, hosting the event at their home arena, the State Farm Center.

Ohio State

The Ohio State University men's gymnastics team finished sixth in the 2026 NCAA Championships.

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The takeaway

The strong performances by Big Ten gymnastics programs at the 2026 NCAA Championships, with four teams finishing in the top six and three individual event titles won, solidifies the conference's status as one of the premier men's gymnastics conferences in the country. The continued success of Big Ten gymnasts at the national level is a testament to the strength of the programs and the quality of coaching and training within the conference.