Jordan Chiles’ positive aura is seriously contagious—nothing can knock her confidence, not even racist comments or losing her Olympic medal. She knows that what’s meant for her will always come back around. Right now, she’s bringing all that good energy to UCLA, lighting up the NCAA. And February 1st is a huge moment—women’s gymnastics is getting its first-ever live broadcast on Fox.

The No. 6 UCLA Bruins are going up against the No. 5 Michigan State Spartans on national TV. With Jordan leading the way, this meet is shaping up to be something unforgettable, right? Both Michigan State and UCLA are 2-0 in conference play, and this could honestly be the deciding factor for the Big Ten Regular Season title. With both teams sitting in the top ten nationally, isn’t this clash in Westwood about to be a historic moment for NCAA gymnastics?

UCLA’s third-year coach, Janelle McDonald, is beyond excited about the opportunity to show off the sport to a national audience—could this be the moment NCAA gymnastics gets the attention it truly deserves? “To be able to be one of the teams that gets to be [competing for] the first time on Fox, I think that that’s a pretty exciting thing,” McDonald said. “We get to be the team that gets to show, hopefully, a whole new audience what NCAA gymnastics is about.” With two rising powerhouse programs facing off, this Big Ten dual meet is poised to be a thrilling event. But can UCLA win?

Could Jordan Chiles’ Bruins make a top-five push?

The number five is proving lucky for UCLA gymnastics this season. With a perfect 5-0 record and five scores above 9.900 in recent victories, the Bruins have climbed the national rankings. The big question now: can they break into the top five? Senior Emma Malabuyo, ranked No. 3 on beam, and graduate student Brooklyn Moors, No. 4 on floor, have already made their mark, with Malabuyo yet to score below 9.900 this season.  Moors mirrors that success on the floor, securing a No. 4 ranking with scores of 9.900 or higher.

However, while UCLA shines on beam and floor, bars remain its lowest-ranked event at No. 18, despite junior Jordan Chiles achieving perfection on the apparatus against Maryland. Chiles’ performance, though flawless at one meet, had a dip in UCLA’s home opener against Illinois with a 9.750. But Chiles made up for it with a strong 9.850 on beam, showing that even when things don’t go perfectly, she’s quick to bounce back.

Vault, while not in the top ranks yet, has shown noticeable improvement each meet, with a season-high of 49.325 against Illinois. This upward trend could be just what the Bruins need to maintain their momentum as they face off against one of their biggest competitors this season—Michigan State.

Ranked No. 5, Michigan State has been a powerhouse on vault, boasting the fourth-highest vault average in the nation at 49.306. Junior Nikki Smith, the standout on vault, is ranked No. 2 nationally with a season-high 9.950. As both teams are neck-and-neck in the rankings, Saturday’s matchup will be a true test of their strengths and weaknesses.UCLA’s artistry on beam and floor faces off against Michigan State’s power on vault and bars, and both teams will be battling for their place in the top ranks, making this a must-watch event.