Top Big Ten Wrestling Matchups of the 2025-26 Season

The road to the NCAA Wrestling Championships runs through the Big Ten, and this season is no exception. With 12 teams ranked in the preseason top 30, including four of the top five, the conference is absolutely stacked. A Big Ten school has won every NCAA team title since 2007, a testament to the league's incredible depth and talent. 

The conference is dominated by the juggernaut that is Penn State. Riding a 71-match dual meet win streak and having won four straight NCAA titles under legendary coach Cael Sanderson, the Nittany Lions are the team to beat. However, teams like Nebraska, Iowa, and Ohio State are loaded with talent and ready to challenge for the top spot. Nebraska, the runner-up at both the NCAA and Big Ten Championships last season, is hungry for more. Iowa, a perennial powerhouse, and Ohio State both finished in the top five at the NCAA Championships and are bringing back star-studded lineups. 

This season's conference slate is filled with can't-miss duals that will have major implications for both the Big Ten and NCAA Championships. We're breaking down the seven marquee matchups, individual bouts, and non-conference battles that you need to circle on your calendar. 

You can  see the whole wrestling schedule here . All times are Eastern. Team and individual rankings are based on the Intermat NCAA DI Rankings. 

The Big Ten Wrestling Landscape 

There's no conference in collegiate wrestling quite like the Big Ten. Year after year, it proves to be the most dominant, producing a steady stream of national champions and All-Americans. This season, the conference boasts an incredible eight teams in the preseason top 15:  

• No. 1 Penn State 
• No. 2 Nebraska 
• No. 4 Iowa 
• No. 5 Ohio State 
• No. 8 Michigan 
• No. 10 Minnesota 
• No. 13 Illinois 
• No. 15 Rutgers 

Penn State has been the standard, winning three straight Big Ten titles (nine of the last 13) and 12 NCAA team championships since 2011. Their streak of 71 consecutive dual meet wins is five shy of Oklahoma State’s major collegiate record (76) and six away from the NCAA record (77).  

Nebraska's NCAA runner-up finish last year was a historic achievement for the program, marking its best performance and finish in the championships’ history. Twenty-four-time NCAA Champion Iowa is never out of the conversation, and Ohio State, the 2015 NCAA champion, remains a formidable contender. 

The depth of the Big Ten means every conference dual is a battle. With so many ranked wrestlers and powerhouse teams, the path to a Big Ten title is arguably the toughest at the collegiate level. 

Not to mention that the conference's arenas are the hardest to compete in. The Big Ten is the current NCAA Division I leader in regular season wrestling attendance: 

• Over 308,000 fans packed into Big Ten wrestling matches last season 
• Iowa led the nation in attendance for the 18^th straight year, averaging 13,640 fans per dual 
• All 14 programs rank in the top 50 for attendance nationally 

With that said, here are the duals on the docket that you won’t want to miss. 

7 Marquee Big Ten Wrestling Matchups 

Penn State at Iowa – January 16^th at 7 p.m. on BTN 

This is the one every wrestling fan has circled. The last time Penn State lost a conference dual? At Iowa, back in January 2020. The Hawkeyes will look to play spoiler again and snap Penn State’s 42-match conference winning streak. This dual is packed with incredible individual matchups that could be previews of the Big Ten and NCAA finals. 

• No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) vs. No. 2 Mikey Caliendo (Iowa) at 165: This is a rematch of both the NCAA and Big Ten finals from last season. Mesenbrink, the top-rated pound-for-pound wrestler in the country, defeated Caliendo in both bouts, winning the NCAA title with an 8-2 decision and the Big Ten crown with a tight 4-1 victory. Mesenbrink finished last season with a perfect 27-0 record. Caliendo, an All-American, had an impressive 24-3 record and won the U23 national title over the summer. He’ll be hungry for revenge on his home mat. 
• No. 1 Levi Haines (PSU) vs. No. 2 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) at 174: Another colossal rematch. Haines, the reigning Big Ten Champion, defeated Kennedy twice last postseason. He secured a 10-3 decision in the Big Ten semifinals on his way to the title and then controlled an 11-3 major decision in the NCAA third-place match. Kennedy will be looking to close the gap. 
• No. 2 Rocco Welsh (Penn State) vs. No. 3 Angelo Ferrari (Iowa) at 184: This will be the first-ever meeting between these two top contenders. Ferrari is one-half of the dynamic Ferrari brothers, while Welsh is another elite talent from the Penn State wrestling machine. This match will be a key indicator for the 184-pound weight class. 

Nebraska at Penn State – January 30^th at 8 p.m. on BTN 

A battle of the nation’s top two teams. No. 1 Penn State hosts No. 2 Nebraska in a dual that could very well decide the Big Ten regular season title. Both rosters are absolutely loaded with pound-for-pound talent. Penn State has five of the nation's best, while Nebraska boasts three (via FloWrestling). 

• No. 1 Antrell Taylor (NEB) vs. No. 2 Tyler Kasak (PSU) at 157: This is a certified grudge match. Taylor is the defending NCAA Champion, having defeated Purdue's Joey Blaze in the final. Kasak is the defending Big Ten champion, and his path to that title included a semifinal pin against Taylor. With Taylor ranked No. 1 and Kasak No. 2 in the preseason, this bout has massive implications for national seeding. 
• No. 1 Levi Haines (PSU) vs. No. 4 Christopher Minto (NEB) at 174: Two top-five wrestlers clash in what should be a technical and high-stakes affair. Haines is the reigning Big Ten champ at 174. Minto is moving up from 165, where he finished fourth at the NCAA Championships last season. This match will test Minto's strength at the new weight against the established No. 1. 
• No. 1 Josh Barr (PSU) vs. No. 6 Camden McDanel (NEB) at 197: These two faced off twice in the Big Ten Championships last season. Barr won in the second round before McDanel pulled off an upset in the consolation bracket to finish fifth. Both placed in the top eight at NCAAs, so this bout will be key for both contenders. 

Iowa at Nebraska – January 23^rd at 9 p.m. on BTN 

This rivalry always delivers. Last season, Iowa had to rally late to secure a nail-biting 19-16 victory. Under head coach Tom Brands, the Hawkeyes are a perfect 16-0 against the Huskers. Can Nebraska finally break through? Each team has one of the Ferrari brothers on its roster, with AJ at Nebraska and Angelo at Iowa. The lineups are stacked, including three top-six matchups: 

• No. 2 Drake Ayala (Iowa) vs. No. 6 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) at 133: Ayala, one of the most consistent wrestlers with a handful of ranked wins last season, beat Van Dee in a tight 4-2 decision last February. But Van Dee improved throughout his 2024-25 campaign, finishing in the top eight at Big Tens and NCAAs. We’re excited to see them go head-to-head again. 
• No. 2 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) vs. No. 4 Christopher Minto (NEB) at 174: These middleweights have never faced one another, and they both finished fourth at the NCAA Championships in their respective weight classes (Minto bumped up from 165 for 2025-26). Coming off a strong freshman campaign, Minto will look to make his mark against the 174 vet. 
• No. 2 AJ Ferrari (NEB) vs. No. 5 Ben Kueter (Iowa) at 285: Favored in this first-ever meeting, transfer Ferrari is a former Pac-12 Champion, Big 12 Champion, and NCAA Champion. But Kueter impressed in his debut season, recording 10 ranked wins, finishing third at the Big Ten Championships, and placing eighth at NCAAs. If anyone’s going to take down the Big Ten’s top-ranked heavyweight, it might be him. 

Ohio State at Nebraska – January 25^th at 2p.m. on B1G+ 

Two top-five teams square off in Lincoln. Nebraska has won the last two meetings, but Ohio State is always dangerous. The headline match here is a monumental rematch from last year's NCAA finals: 

• No. 1 Jesse Mendez (OSU) vs. No. 2 Brock Hardy (NEB) at 141: Get your popcorn ready. This is a rematch of the 2025 NCAA final, where Mendez mounted a furious comeback from a 5-0 deficit to win his second straight national title, 12-9. It's also a rematch of the Big Ten semifinals, where it was Hardy who won a 9-8 decision on his way to the conference crown. These are the top two wrestlers at 141 and are both ranked in the top 10 pound-for-pound. This is as big as it gets. 
• No. 1 Antrell Taylor (NEB) vs. No. 8 Brandon Cannon (OSU) at 157: Taylor may be favored here, but Cannon has surprised a top seed before. He won a 9-2 decision over Maryland’s Ethen Miller in the second round of the Big Ten Championships en route to a silver finish last season. Taylor finished fourth. 
• No. 5 Silas Allred (NEB) vs. No. 6 Dylan Fishback (OSU) at 184: This one is a 2025 NCAA Championships rematch. Last season, Allred eliminated Fishback (then at NC State) with a 4-0 win to advance to the quarterfinals of the consolation bracket. We’ll see who comes out on top in their first conference clash. 

Michigan at Ohio State – February 1^st at 12 p.m. on BTN 

"The Game" on the mat. This rivalry is always heated. Their 2024 dual was an instant classic, with Ohio State winning 20-19 in a match that came down to the final bout. Since 2000, Michigan holds a 12-7 series advantage, but the Buckeyes are looking for their fourth win in a row against the Wolverines. 

• No. 1 Jesse Mendez (OSU) vs. No. 11 Dylan Ragusin (MICH) at 141: Mendez is the star here, but Ragusin is a tough veteran returning from injury. An All-American in 2024 at 133 pounds, Ragusin was undefeated in three dual meets last season before a December injury. Now up at 141, he’ll face a massive test against the two-time national champion. 
• No. 2 Lachlan McNeil (MICH) vs. No. 3 Ethan Stiles (OSU) at 149: Two All-American transfers! In their last meeting, McNeil (previously UNC) defeated Stiles (from Oregon State) in the fifth-place match of the NCAA Championships, coming out on top of an 8-4 decision. Their first fight as Big Ten foes should have some fireworks. 
• No. 4 Taye Ghadiali (MICH) vs. No. 6 Nick Feldman (OSU) at 285: We’ll see a contrast of styles here. Ghadiali relies on relentless offensive pressure, while Feldman is known for his explosive, quick, low-level attacks. The Wolverine has a 2-1 edge all time, but we’ll expect a close contest in this one. 

Iowa at Ohio State – February 6^th at 8 p.m. on BTN 

A clash of titans in Columbus. These two programs consistently finish in the top five nationally, and this dual will be a preview of postseason battles to come. Iowa holds a 12-3 advantage since 2001, but Ohio State is always tough at home. 

• No. 2 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) vs. No. 10 Carson Kharchla (OSU) at 174: Kennedy is a top contender, finishing fourth at NCAAs last year. Kharchla is a three-time Big Ten top-four finisher and a 2022 All-American who will be looking for a signature win to boost his ranking after being upset at last year's conference tournament. 
• No. 3 Angelo Ferrari (Iowa) vs. No. 6 Dylan Fishback (OSU) at 184: As a two-time NCAA qualifier, Fishback has the experience. As a freshman last season, Ferrari upset Oklahoma State's third-ranked Dustin Plott. Fishback is known for relentless pace, while Ferrari’s usually all about the attack. We’ll see how their differences shake out head-to-head. 
• No. 5 Ben Kueter (Iowa) vs. No. 6 Nick Feldman (OSU) at 285: A rematch of last year's Big Ten consolation semifinal, where Kueter won a 2-0 decision. Kueter went on to finish third, while Feldman took fifth. These two heavyweights are right next to each other in the rankings, and this match will be crucial for postseason seeding. 

Minnesota at Illinois – January 10^th at TBD on B1G+ 

Two top-20 teams open the thick of the conference schedule with a key early-season dual. Minnesota finished fifth at NCAAs last year, while Illinois took 10th. Both programs have stars that will be looking to make a statement. 

• No. 1 Max McEnelly (MINN) at 184 and No. 1 Lucas Byrd (ILL) at 133: These two don’t go head-to-head, but they give each squad its star power. McEnelly, the 2025 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a U20 World Champion, is the preseason No. 1 at 184 after finishing third at NCAAs. Byrd is the defending Big Ten and NCAA Champion at 133 pounds and enters the season as the consensus No. 1. They’ll likely take on No. 24 Chris Moore and No. 29 Chris Cannon, respectively. 
• No. 10 Kannon Webster (ILL) vs. No. 17 Charlie Millard (MINN) at 157: Webster made a surprising run to the Big Ten finals at 149 last year, upsetting Penn State’s top-ranked Shayne Van Ness. Now up at 157, he'll face a tough test in Millard. This is a big opportunity for Millard to score a top-10 win. 
• No. 8 Braeden Scoles (ILL) vs. No. 9 Andrew Sparks (MINN) at 165: Sparks defeated Scoles in the consolation semifinal match of the 2025 Big Ten Championships. With both wrestlers using a high-tempo, aggressive approach (they combined for 15 technical falls last season), this could be epic. 

More Individual Bouts to Watch 

Beyond the marquee duals, the Big Ten schedule is littered with incredible individual matchups. Here are a few more to keep an eye on: 

• No. 3 Luke Lilledahl (PSU) vs. No. 10 Dean Peterson (Iowa) at 125 – January 16 
• No. 1 Lucas Byrd (ILL) vs. No. 6 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) at 133 – February 13 
• No. 2 Brock Hardy (NEB) vs. No. 8 Vance Vombaur (MINN) at 141 – Big Ten championship rematch, January 16 
• No. 1 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) vs. No. 2 Lachlan McNeil (MICH) at 149 – February 6 
• No. 2 Tyler Kasak (PSU) vs. No. 8 Brandon Cannon (OSU) at 157 – Big Ten championship rematch, February 13 
• No. 2 Mikey Caliendo (Iowa) vs. No. 3 Joey Blaze (Purdue) at 165 – February 15 
• No. 7 Lenny Pinto (Rutgers) vs. No. 13 Beau Mantanona (MICH) at 174 – January 16 
• No. 1 Max McEnelly (MINN) vs. No. 3 Angelo Ferrari (Iowa) at 184 – January 30 
• No. 1 Josh Barr (PSU) vs. No. 11 Seth Shumate (OSU) at 197 – February 13 
• No. 2 AJ Ferrari (NEB) vs. No. 6 Nick Feldman (OSU) at 285 – January 25 

You can  see the whole wrestling schedule here . 

Key Non-Conference Duals 

The action isn't limited to the Big Ten schedule. Several teams have challenging non-conference duals that will test them against other top programs from around the country. 

• National Duals Invitational (Nov. 15-16): No. 2 Nebraska, No. 4 Iowa, No. 5 Ohio State, No. 8 Michigan, No. 10 Minnesota, and No. 13 Illinois will all travel to Tulsa to square off with a number of top 25 teams in a loaded early-season tournament. 
• No. 4 Iowa at No. 3 Iowa State (Nov. 30): The annual Cy-Hawk rivalry is always a barnburner. 
• No. 1 Penn State vs. No. 7 Lehigh (Dec. 7): A classic Pennsylvania rivalry. 
• No. 15 Rutgers at No. 9 NC State (Dec. 7): A great test for the Scarlet Knights against a top-10 ACC team. 
• No. 5 Ohio State vs. No. 9 NC State (Dec. 12): Another Big Ten vs. ACC showdown between top-10 teams. 
• No. 2 Nebraska vs. No. 6 Oklahoma State (Dec. 21): A Midwest battle between two of the top teams in the country. 

Click here for the full wrestling schedule . 

 

The Toughest Conference in the Nation 

The Big Ten wrestling season is a gauntlet. Every week presents new challenges, top-ranked opponents, and intense rivalries. The duals highlighted here are just a fraction of the exciting action that will unfold on the road to the Big Ten and NCAA Championships. The conference is deeper and more talented than ever, and wrestling fans are in for an unforgettable season of high-stakes action. Buckle up, because it’s going to be a wild ride. 

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