National Broadcaster FOX Announces Massive News for NCAA Gymnastics Amidst Olivia Dunne’s Heated Controversy

America’s gymnastics fans are way too attached to the NCAA Championships to let its shortcomings slide past. And this year, there has been so much backlash. It all started when the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association’s newly introduced scoring system came under scrutiny and escalated when Olivia Dunne broke her silence. It had to right? Straight up from 87 perfect 10s in 2024, we are now down to just 2 so far this season. But, looks like NCAA gymnastics is here to redemption.

For the first time since 2021, NCAA gymnastics opened its week with no perfect 10 score awarded. No, not even LSU senior Olivia Dunne or anybody from the reigning champions’ tent could bag one. That drought only ended recently, when Helen Hu and Jordan Chiles brought two of them, less than 24 hours apart. So yes, there have been relieving moments amidst all those NCAA gymnastics concerns. Another one comes in now as a huge meet is lined up, intertwined with a broadcasting update, possibly aiming to bring the viewership back on track!

On January 27, UCLA Gymnastics posted on X, hyping up their big meet this Saturday. It’s not just any meet though— it’s UCLA taking on No. 5 Michigan State, and for the first time ever, this gymnastics meet will be broadcast live on FOX! Until now, NCAA gymnastics has been thriving with about 100 hours of live coverage on ESPN platforms, including ABC, SEC Network, and ACCNX. But now, with FOX joining the mix, it feels like the sport is getting a serious boost.

After all, we’ve seen how NCAA gymnastics’ popularity has skyrocketed in recent years. In 2023, ABC amassed about 1.02 million viewers for the NCAA women’s gymnastics, the highest in a decade, precisely since 2007. However, this season, there was a slight dip in the records, as the quad meet between Olivia Dunne’s LSU Tigers, California, Oklahoma, and Utah recorded 618,000 viewers on ABC. But now, things could scale up with this FOX broadcasting debut!

However, it’s still hard to turn a blind eye to the factors that have made NCAA gymnastics take a hit this season. Besides, the scoring system that Olivia Dunne and many others have talked out, we also have fans pointing out the poor commentary. Some fans are also speculating if ESPN’s call to replace Kathy Johnson Clarke with Anastasia Webb and Samantha Beszerk was the right one. Ever since the switch, there’s been plenty of chatter about commentary slip-ups. Not addressing occasional over-scoring by judges or misnaming gymnastics routines has is quite frustrating for the fans.

Maybe, the FOX move pulls away the attention from all these voids and pumps more viewership numbers into the NCAA gymnastics games. Or maybe it’s too small a move compared the the Everest-sized backlash. Especially, as popular sensations like Olivia Dunne are coming forward to call out the systemic lapses this season.

Olivia Dunne lashes out at NCAA Gymnastics

A combination of so many factors has plagued the NCAA gymnastics scene this season. And it’s evident to the pros who are playing on the mats too. No wonder NIL sensation Olivia Dunne took a stand saying, “I am sitting here watching NCAA gymnastics and the empty seats are concerning. I care deeply about the growth in women’s sports especially in the NCAA. If you want fans to enjoy the sport and increase viewership, you have to look at what makes the crowds go crazy! People understand what a perfect 10 is and want people who do things that look great to be rewarded.”

Olivia Dunne did not mince her words. She was clear that this was not about LSU but about the sport. After all, gymnastics fans want a clear and trustworthy officiating system. Not that the fans can not themselves differentiate between a perfect 10-worthy discipline and one with faults. So, the need to fix the NCAA gymnastics system is the need of the hour. The event needs to regain the trust and viewership numbers, and this can be called a step in that direction. But a lot more needs to come. What do you think? Let us know!