Perhaps partially spurred by then-No. 17 Arkansas's upset win over reigning champion LSU last Friday, Tiger gymnast Livvy Dunne took to X on Sunday, expressing concerns about the state of NCAA gymnastics.

Citing "empty seats" at NCAA meets, the sport's NIL leader argued for more perfect scores to increase viewership. "People understand what a perfect 10 is and want people who do things that look great to be rewarded," she wrote. "Too many deductions… feels negative and loses the entertainment factor that draws the crowd in."

Dunne's comments were heavily critiqued by the gymnastics community. Afterwards, former three-time NCAA champion Morgan Belvedere chiming in to say "10s are earned, not given… The integrity of the sport should not be diminished for the sake of entertainment by giving out fake perfect scores."

A perfect 10.00 score is raised by a judge at an NCAA gymnastics meet.
Dozens of perfect 10 scores flooded NCAA gymnastics in recent years. (Jesse Beals/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The backlash of gymnastics perfection

Dunne is correct in noting that this season's judging has produced significantly less perfect 10s than in the past. In contrast, recent years saw record numbers of 10s awarded for sometimes controversially imperfect routines.

Prior to 2022, seasons typically finished with between 30 and 40 perfectly scored performances. That figure nearly doubled to 71 in 2022, followed by 84 and 87 awarded in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Along with concerns about 10s becoming commonplace, experts, fans, coaches, and athletes have long raised flags about inconsistent scoring across the NCAA. For example, a full two-thirds of the perfect 10s awarded from 2023 to 2024 went to just 16 out of 63 Division I programs, all them representing the SEC or the former Pac-12.

Unlike many college sports in which rankings are determined by expert polls, NCAA gymnastics relies solely on scores. Point totals from meets directly determine rankings, conference titles, and subsequent postseason positioning. Therefore, establishing a scoring standard applicable across the entirety of competitions has long been at the forefront of discussion.

UCLA's Jordan Chiles strikes a pose during her floor exercise at a meet.
Jordan Chiles earned one of only two perfect scores given out in 2025 so far. (Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)

New SCORE board decreases perfect 10s

In the wake of these inconsistencies, a new gymnastics judging evaluation system was implemented this year.

Dubbed the SCORE board (Standardize Consistency in Officiating of Routine Evaluation), the system reviews judges' assessments. More accurate scoring can earn judges promotions and better assignments, like postseason meets. Scores further from the set standard could result in demotions.

The new evaluation system did result in markedly lower scores this season, ending a near-four year run of regular-season NCAA gymnastics weeks with at least one perfect 10. Though as judges have settled in to the new SCORE board era, point totals have risen.

However, first four weeks of 2025 competition have seen just two perfect 10s. No. 9 Missouri's Helen Hu earned one on beam, while No. 6 UCLA's Jordan Chiles was given a 10 on bars.

Michigan State gymnast Olivia Zsarmani competes on the beam during a 2025 meet.
No. 5 Michigan State set a new program attendance record by moving a 2025 meet to a larger venue. (Nick King/Lansing State Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Images)

Scoring aside, NCAA gymnastics remains on the rise

While frustrations over college gymnastics scoring are nothing new, Dunne's claim that the issue is affecting the sport's outside popularity doesn't appear to hold true.

In fact, the sport is on the rise. With NIL helping to keep Olympians and other elite gymnasts on the college mat, the NCAA has been able to maintain slate of young international stars.

Between record-setting championship viewership and increasing national coverage, college gymnastics has recently stepped further into the spotlight. Even without perfect 10s, audience demand has fueled moves to larger venues as meets break attendance records — including at LSU's recent loss to the Razorbacks.

Where to watch NCAA gymnastics this week

This Saturday, Fox will air college gymnastics for the first time ever, broadcasting a Big Ten clash between No. 6 UCLA and conference leaders No. 5 Michigan State. Coverage starts at 5:30 PM ET.

With the 2025 NCAA gymnastics season in full swing, top collegiate athletes are already eyeing mid-April's national championship in Fort Worth, Texas.

Unlike elite gymnastics, where difficulty can outweigh execution, the college level values precision over big tricks, so Division I athletes all aim for perfect 10s in their competition performances.

Despite this difference, many of the world's most decorated elite gymnasts also compete in the NCAA. Two-time Olympian Jade Carey is back for her senior season with No. 14 Oregon State while her US teammate in both Tokyo and Paris, Jordan Chiles, is entering her junior year at No. 11 UCLA.

The Bruin, who took the 2024 NCAA season off to prepare for last summer's Olympics, will attempt to reclaim the national titles on uneven bars and floor exercise that she earned in 2023.

No. 2 LSU's Haleigh Bryant does a split leap in the air at a 2024 NCAA gymnastics meet.
2024 NCAA all-around champion Haleigh Bryant is back with LSU. (Reagan Cotten/University Images via Getty Images)

Top teams poised for the podium

After earning their first national title last spring, No. 2 LSU is hitting the 2025 mat armed with a stacked roster, headlined by 2024 all-around champion Haleigh Bryant and social media star Livvy Dunne.

Add in last year's freshman phenom Konnor McClain, whose prowess on the balance beam ultimately clinched LSU the NCAA trophy, and 2024 Olympic alternate Kaliya Lincoln, who opened her NCAA career with a 9.825 vault two weeks ago, and the Tigers are more than capable of a back-to-back run.

LSU isn't the only SEC team predicted to make a deep run this season, as the conference is once again flush with perennial contenders.

Elite US stars Kayla DiCello and early Freshman of the Year frontrunner Skye Blakely will join two-time US Olympic alternate Leanne Wong in trying to return No. 7 Florida to the NCAA championship meet. At the same time, new SEC team No. 1 Oklahoma, winner of seven of the last 10 NCAA trophies, could see senior Jordan Bowers de-throne Bryant for the 2025 all-around title.

Also causing early national championship chatter are 2024 finalists No. 5 Cal, who return two of the country's best all-arounders in senior Mya Lauzon and junior eMjae Frazier, and Big Ten champs No. 6 Michigan State, whose veteran-heavy lineup boasts stars Skyla Schulte and Sage Kellerman.

How to watch NCAA gymnastics this weekend

Some of the country's top NCAA gymnasts will take the mat when No. 7 Florida visits No. 2 LSU at 7:30 PM ET on Friday. Live coverage will air on ESPN2.