For years, Olivia Dunne was the undisputed face of LSU’s gymnastics-effective routines, an energizing presence, and an NIL empire that made her one of the most marketable collegiate athletes in the nation. But now? She’s missing. Again! How? As the Tigers fought hard for a close win against Alabama, Dunne was absent from the lineup. The same story unfolded against Missouri. Was it a strategy? All this is unfolding as the NCAA’s staggering $2.8 billion NIL settlement shakes the very foundation of college athletics.

Olivia Dunne last competed for LSU against Arkansas, where she posted a 9.700 on the floor, but still, the Tigers suffered a tough loss. A week later, when LSU traveled to Missouri, Dunne was absent from the lineup. Then, against Alabama, she has been left out again. There are no obvious answers to it. Meanwhile, LSU continues to adapt and has secured a road victory over No. 14 Alabama last night with a score of 197.300 to 197.075 at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa. Freshman Kailin Chio stepped up with a career-high 39.650 in the all-around, earning individual titles on vault (9.975) and beam (9.925).

Moreover, junior Ashley Cowan and sophomore Konnor McClain shared the bars title, each scoring 9.90, while veterans like Haleigh Bryant and Aleah Finnegan anchored key routines. Previously, against Missouri, the floor squad delivered under pressure, securing a crucial win even as Mizzou’s Helen Hu posted a near-perfect 9.975 on beam. Meanwhile, Dunne, who remains absent from LSU’s lineup, the NCAA’s $2.8 billion settlement fiasco, adds another sheet to her NIL (name, image, and likeness) uncertainty. The deal, aimed at compensating athletes for past NIL restrictions, could mean a hefty payout, but how much?

That remains ambiguous. Attorneys from Tennessee and Virginia, who spearheaded the antitrust case, argue that athletes like Dunne deserve retrospective earnings for recruitment missed opportunities. For someone who built a multimillion-dollar brand on social media. If the NCAA imposes limits or delays payouts, Dunne’s earnings could take a hit. And while her NIL ranking continues to rise, questions linger. Dunne has not only found herself caught in the NCAA’s $2.8 billion case but has also turned her attention to another pressing issue, which is judging in college gymnastics.

Olivia Dunne Criticizes NCAA Gymnastics Scoring

Olivia Dunne, one of the biggest names in college gymnastics, isn’t just watching the sport evolve but also questioning where it’s headed. The LSU star took to X last week to voice her concerns over the direction of NCAA gymnastics, particularly the impact of a new judging accountability system. “I am sitting here watching NCAA gymnastics and the empty seats are concerning,” Dunne posted. “People understand what a perfect 10 is and want people who do things that look great to be rewarded.”

The new system, implemented this season, aims to curb score inflation. Last year, 87 perfect 10s were handed out, a number that had some questioning the integrity of scoring. Now, routines that once earned 9.9s are seeing 9.8s, and perfect scores are rare. Dunne believes this shift is dampening the excitement that draws fans to the sport.

“Too many deductions taken at a judge’s discretion feels the same as watching a basketball game that’s constantly interrupted with penalties,” she continued. “At some point, it feels negative and loses the entertainment factor that draws the crowd in.” Dunne, in a conversation with The Guardian, emphasized her long-term concerns: “People are like, ‘I don’t understand why she’s complaining because this school is breaking records’… but it’s about keeping those people engaged and wanting more.”

She also tied the issue back to a broader concern, the looming NCAA revenue-sharing settlement and the future of non-revenue sports. “Gymnastics is at the point right now where it could be a filled arena of record-breaking attendance, but it’s still a non-revenue sport.” Anything that might potentially cause a dip in popularity and fan engagement, such as the new judging accountability system and resultant lower scores, seems like the wrong choice to Dunne at this particular juncture. “I don’t think that [the] timing is right because of what’s happening in the future,” she added.

Time will tell how things pan out as the sports continue to evolve this season.