An unfamiliar conference means new rivalries are inevitable.

And this week, the Bruins could find themselves in the first chapter of a powerful new matchup.

No. 6 UCLA gymnastics (5-2, 2-0 Big Ten) will face No. 5 Michigan State (5-1, 2-0) at home Saturday. Pauley Pavilion is set to host what could be the Bruins’ greatest regular-season conference showdown, giving them the opportunity to stake their claim on the Big Ten.

“We are so ready,” said senior Emma Malabuyo. “We’re going to go out there with confidence, but we are going to attack our gymnastics and be aggressive when we go out there.”

UCLA is hot off of a home-opening 197.200-194.750 win against Illinois last week. The matchup was marked by stuck landings across the board and floor routines that sent the crowd into roars.

Mika Webster-Longin and Macy McGowan are the only freshmen to make a lineup spot this season. Their routines exemplify the signature theatricality of UCLA’s storied floor culture, helping the Bruins claim the nation’s No. 2 ranking on the event.

“It’s been exciting,” McGowan said. “This floor routine is a lot different from the ones I’ve had in the past.”

The Bruins have continued to bounce back and find consistency in the face of setbacks.

Last week’s beam rotation started with a wobble from senior Emily Lee and a fall from sophomore Katelyn Rosen – reminiscent of UCLA’s performance at its season opener. But this time, the squad kept its cool. Three scores of 9.850 or higher from Malabuyo and graduate students Chae Campbell and Brooklyn Moors finished the lineup, securing a 49.150 total.

“Not everything’s going to go perfectly, and not everything’s going to feel easy,” said Coach Janelle McDonald. “If we have resilient competitors that are intentional about what they’re doing, then we’re going to be able to reset any moment and steady the lineup to get back to doing what Bruins do.”

Michigan State is the defending Big Ten champion, and its current resume looks promising, boasting programs ranked in the top 10 on vault, bars and beam. The Spartans have found most of their success in the past three years, finishing in the nation’s top 10 for the first time in 2022, and securing the No. 14 and No. 11 spots the last two years, respectively.

Saturday’s meet will mark the Bruin’s second matchup with the Spartans after a win in 2001. However, the stakes are different this time around, with the pair being the top two teams in the Big Ten.

“I actually feel more competitive,” Malabuyo said. “I feel this fire inside of me, and I think the team can feel it too.”

This week could be the start of a storied rivalry. Not only do the squads hold neighboring spots in the national rankings, but Michigan State is ranked higher on vault and bars, while UCLA owns top-five rankings on beam and floor.

The competition will be the first NCAA gymnastics meet broadcast on FOX, charting new territory for the sport and providing the Bruins with a unique national platform.

“I hope that when they watch us on TV these younger gymnasts are inspired, and that what they see is joy out there,” Malabuyo said. “We’re having fun, and hopefully we can spread that joy to the younger girls.”

Action in Pauley Pavilion kicks off at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.