Jordan Chiles Makes History In UCLA’s Big Ten Title Sweep – ‘We’re Coming For Y’all’
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CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - MARCH 21: Jordan Chiles of the UCLA Bruins competes on the floor during the 2026 Big Ten Gymnastics Championships at State Farm Center on March 21, 2026 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Craig Pessman/Big Ten/University Images via Getty Images)University Images via Getty Images
It’s time for Jordan Chiles to clear more space in her trophy case.
The UCLA senior gymnast led the No. 5-ranked Bruins to their second-straight Big Ten Championship on Saturday, topping the second-place Michigan State Spartans by a sizable margin.
The Bruins posted a staggering 198.100 to clinch the title over No. 11 Michigan State in second, No. 13 Minnesota in third, and No. 10 Michigan in fourth.
Rewriting the Big Ten Record Books
Her performance on Saturday was also historic.
Chiles’ all-around score marked a conference championship record. With a 39.825 total score, Chiles won the all-around over reigning Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, Nikki Smith of Michigan State. With four individual titles in one meet—winning the all-around and floor exercise outright while sharing the uneven bars and balance beam titles—Chiles tied a conference record.
Despite her numerous collegiate successes, Saturday’s competition marked the first major all-around win of Chiles’ NCAA career.
Winning every event but vault, Chiles brought her total Big Ten title count to seven, adding to two individual wins from UCLA’s tenure in the now-defunct Pac-12 conference. Her effort included two scores of 9.95, one of 9.925, and a perfect ten to secure the floor exercise title, her seventh perfect score of 2026.
The accolades didn’t stop there. Following the competition, Chiles was honored as the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year.
The Road to the Repeat Title
The Bruins started on the balance beam, the one event where Chiles has not earned a 10.0. Though the senior delivered a strong 9.95, the No. 9 Michigan Wolverines took a slim lead after the first rotation.
On floor – Chiles’ best event – the Bruins posted a huge 49.675 to surge into the lead. Earning another perfect score, the rotation felt like déjà vu for Chiles – she executed perfection to claim the floor title at last year’s Big Ten Championships.
“I got a ten last year… and now I’ve got back-to-back tens in the Big Ten. I love it,” Chiles said, adding that she focused on “enjoying the moment.” CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS - MARCH 21: The UCAL Bruins celebrate as champions during the 2026 Big Ten Gymnastics Championships at State Farm Center on March 21, 2026 in Champaign, Illinois. (Photo by Craig Pessman/Big Ten/University Images via Getty Images)University Images via Getty Images
In the third rotation, UCLA maintained the lead on vault, thanks to Chiles’ 9.925 and a meet-winning 9.95 from teammate Riley Jenkins.
With a respectable 0.225 lead heading into the final rotation, the Bruins simply needed to execute cleanly to secure their second consecutive title over the Michigan State Spartans. The team delivered, with Chiles and UCLA sophomore Sydney Barros earning clutch scores of 9.95 to finish in a six-way tie for the event title.
Chiles’ stellar scores didn’t just help the Bruins pull away from the conference field on Saturday – she helped the squad hurdle the Alabama Crimson Tide for fourth place in the national rankings.
Eyes on the National Championship in Fort Worth
Looking ahead, she and the Bruins set their sights on Dickies Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. The 2026 NCAA Gymnastics Championships begin April 16, and the Bruins look hungry to improve on their runner-up finish from 2025.
The Bruins lost the title to No. 1 Oklahoma in 2025, but entered 2026 with a star-studded freshman class and newfound motivation.
“We’re coming for y’all,” Chiles warned after the competition.
While she hopes to lead her team to an NCAA title, Chiles also looks to turn her 2025 all-around silver into gold.
Postseason competition resumes for Chiles and the Bruins on April 1 with the Regional Championships, where they look to qualify for the NCAA Championships as one of the nation’s top eight teams.
