Utah Gymnastics Faces Rival UCLA in Regular-Season Finale

Red Rocks look to continue their dominance over the Bruins in a highly anticipated matchup.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 7:10pm

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

The Utah gymnastics team, ranked No. 12 in the nation, is set to face off against their longtime rival, the No. 5 UCLA Bruins, in the final regular-season meet of the year. Both teams are coming off conference title wins, with Utah going undefeated in the Big 12 and UCLA doing the same in the Big Ten. This matchup will be a test for the Red Rocks as they haven't faced such stiff competition during their conference season.

Why it matters

This meet is an important barometer for Utah as they prepare for the postseason. Competing against one of the nation's best teams in UCLA will give the Red Rocks a chance to see how they measure up and identify areas for improvement before the conference and NCAA championships.

The details

Utah gymnast Avery Neff said the team is eager for the opportunity to compete against UCLA, noting that they haven't had a push like this in competition for a while. The Red Rocks faltered in their earlier big tests against UCLA and top-ranked Oklahoma and LSU, but have since bounced back with some of their best scores of the season. Utah will need to bring that "extra edge" to compete against the Bruins in their home arena on Senior Night.

  • The meet is scheduled for Saturday, March 15, 2026 at 8:30 p.m. MDT.
  • Last season, No. 5 Utah topped No. 4 UCLA at the Huntsman Center, but the Red Rocks finished below the Bruins in the NCAA finals.

The players

Avery Neff

A Utah gymnast who is competing in Pauley Pavilion for the first time. She is ranked fourth nationally in the all-around.

Makenna Smith

A Utah senior who is looking forward to competing against the energetic UCLA crowd, which she says reminds her of home.

Jordan Chiles

A UCLA gymnast who ranks second nationally in the all-around and is just one perfect score away from achieving a Gym Slam.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We are going to have to have that extra edge, and more intense pressure that we have been training for to compete against UCLA in their home arena.”

— Avery Neff, Utah gymnast (Deseret.com)

“It's fun that we get to keep this rivalry alive even without us being in the same conference. UCLA is a really great team to go up against, and they have a really awesome crowd that brings really awesome energy. It reminds me of home, so I think it makes it a little bit easier to compete.”

— Makenna Smith, Utah senior (Deseret.com)

What’s next

The winner of this regular-season matchup between Utah and UCLA will likely be favored to win their respective conference championship meets later this season.

The takeaway

This highly anticipated showdown between two of the nation's top gymnastics programs will provide valuable insight into Utah's readiness for the postseason as they look to topple one of the best teams in the country on the road.