No.3 Huskers Fall to No.5 Buckeyes in Narrow Loss, 316.300-313.050

Columbus, Ohio- The Nebraska men’s gymnastics team lost to the No. 5-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes, 316.300-313.050, on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.

Nebraska had six athletes receive career highs, which included Max Odden (floor), Sam Rakita (floor and rings), Wyatt Reynolds (pommel horse), Nathan York (pommel horse, due to scoring change), Anthony Koppie (rings) and Luke James (vault, due to scoring change). James made his season debut on vault and floor after not competing in the Rocky Mountain Open. 

NU started the meet off on the floor. Odden led off for the Huskers and received a career-high score of 13.85. The freshman, Rakita, went second and also received a career-high score of 12.75. Mondi went third and had a dominant score of 13.70. James anchored the team in his season debut on this event and notched a 13.30. Odden received second place, and Mondi received third place on the floor.

Huskers had a narrow lead on Ohio State after the floor with a score of 53.600-53.550.

The competition then headed over to the pommel horse. Reynolds, a freshman from California, started off the Huskers strong with a career-high score of 12.950. Clinton followed with a season high of 12.90. Tarca went next and had a small fall but ended with a score of 11.55. York finished up for the Huskers with 14.00, which was a career high. The Huskers ended with a score of 51.400 on this event. Nebraska swept the top three spots on pommel with York in first, Reynolds in second and Clinton in third. 

Huskers maintained their lead with a score of 105.00-101.850. 

Nebraska went to rings next and were led off by Odden, who got a score of 12.75. Rakita went second and redeemed himself after a mishap at the Rocky Mountain Open. He notched a career-high score of 12.70. Koppie went third and helped the Huskers with a score of 12.90, which was also a career high for him. Cohen anchored the event with a powerful score of 13.80. The Huskers ended with a score of 52.150 on rings. Cohen won the rings title. 

Nebraska remained on top over Ohio State after the third rotation with a score of 157.150-154.600. 

The competition then moved over to the vault. Nitache led off with a big stuck landing and a score of 14.30. Mondi followed with another stuck landing, and he received a 14.050. Roderiques went third and notched a score of 13.600. James anchored this event with another stuck landing and a score of 14.500. The Big Red ended this event with a score of 56.450. NU also swept the top three spots on vault as well, with James in first, Nitache in second and Mondi in third. 

NU stayed ahead of OSU with a score of 213.600-210.400. 

The teams then headed over to the parallel bars. Clinton started off the Huskers strong with a 13.15. Rakita then made his Husker debut on this event with a strong score of 12.10. York went third and had a rare fall but finished up with a score of 9.80. Cohen anchored and received a score of 13.30. NU ended with a score of 48.35 on the event. 

After a rocky performance on parallel bars for the Huskers, the Buckeyes took the lead with a score of 262.25-261.950. 

The competition then headed to the final event of the day, the high bar. Koppie led off with a strong score of 13.00. Rakita followed with a 12.70. Nitache went third and received an 11.60. Odden finished up for the Huskers with a score of 13.80, and he won the event. Huskers ended with an event score of 51.10.

Nebraska lost to Ohio State with a score of 316.300-313.050.

The Huskers will be back in action next weekend when they host Penn State at home on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026. The meet will be streamed on B1G+.