How the new NQS formula will potentially impact Mizzou Gym in 2026
With NCAA Gymnastics season just around the corner, it’s time to look at the new national qualifying scores (NQS) formula that will be used this season. On November 26, the National Collegiate Women’s Gymnastics Committee announced that new qualifications will take effect for the 2026 season, as reported on by College Gym News.
While last year, only six meets counted as part of the NQS, this season a minimum of nine will be counted, including a maximum five home meets. If a team competes in more than five home meets, then only the five lowest home scores will be factored in.
What this actually means is that since the Tigers have six home meets, an additional home meet could replace a score and potentially lower the NQS. TLDR; score a home high score and it won’t count, but score low and it can bring down the NQS. Yikes.
In addition, the scores from at least five away meets — Mizzou had eight last season and will have six this season, including the SEC Championships — all will be counted towards those nine minimum meets.
Once the scores are lined up, the highs and lows will be dropped and the remaining scores will be averaged in order to obtain the final number.
When I asked Mizzou head coach Shannon Welker about the new system in a media session on December 8, he said, “I don’t think it’s going to change too much. We’re just counting more scores this year. Kind of simply, it means more scores are going to count.”
Since we don’t have any new season scores, let’s look at how this new system would have shaken out with 2025’s scores. I’ve ordered the regular season scores (and SECs) from highest to lowest. In the previous system, the team’s NQS was 197.510 with six counting scores and the highest taken off as well as scores 8-12.
- (H) 198.100— Mar 9 v. Auburn
- (A) 197.800— Mar 14 at Arkansas
- (A) 197.725— Feb 28 at Florida
- (H) 197.425— Feb 21 v. Georgia
- (A) 197.400— March 22 at SEC Champs
- (A) 197.200— Feb 9 at Illinois
- (H) 197.200— Jan 26 v. Kentucky
- (A) 197.175— Jan 31 at LSU
- (A) 197.150— Feb 14 at Zou to Lou
- (A) 196.750— Jan 17 at Oklahoma
- (H) 196.700— Jan 3 v. Ball State/IL State/SEMO (Beauty & the Beast)
- (A) 196.125— Jan 12 at Denver (UGA, LIU quad)
In the new system, this would drop Missouri’s 198.100 home score, as well as that unsightly 196.125 at the Denver meet, leading to a new NQS of 197.2525. Because Mizzou’s schedule was road-heavy, there’s actually not much fluctuation, and the team’s overall standings would not have changed.
“I think consistency has always been a key,” Shannon said. “Maybe you go with somebody who’s a little more consistent, depending on the meet. And you [will] know where you’re at with your scores. Do you need another score or not? I think it’s more of a step and it counts more of your season.”
Guess we’ll see how this pans out soon enough, eh? Mizzou has always been pretty consistent, so I don’t anticipate much of a change, and more than anything, I just can’t wait for this season to get started, and this will be by far the shortest gymnastics-themed piece you will read from me in the next four months.
Category: General Sports
