Nebraska Wrestlers Face Iowa and Ohio State in Key Weekend Matches

The last full weekend of January features pivotal matchups in college wrestling as No. 6 Nebraska prepares to host No. 4 Iowa and No. 2 Ohio State in Lincoln. These dual contests are crucial for determining standings in the Big Ten Conference.

Nebraska’s Key Matches: A Detailed Overview

Nebraska vs. Iowa

Following a strong victory against No. 9 Minnesota, Nebraska faces another challenging test against Iowa. The most anticipated match will be at the 184-pound weight class. Although Iowa typically fields No. 2 Angelo Ferrari, the Hawks are likely to start Gabe Arnold, a 2025 NCAA qualifier. Arnold holds a career record of 1-1 against Nebraska’s All-American, No. 7 Silas Allred.

Nebraska vs. Ohio State

On Sunday, Nebraska will confront Ohio State in another significant duel. Antrell Taylor, the defending national champion at 157 pounds, will go up against Ohio State’s top-ranked wrestler, Brandon Cannon. Cannon previously defeated Taylor 16-4 at the National Duals in November.

Additional Matches in the Big Ten

Ohio State will first compete against No. 9 Minnesota before meeting Nebraska. Elsewhere, No. 1 Penn State seeks to enhance its remarkable dual streak through matches at No. 23 Indiana and Maryland.

Notable Rivalries Renewed

In other action, No. 8 NC State will host No. 11 North Carolina on Friday, aiming for their first win over the Tar Heels since 2010. This matchup happens to coincide with the 101st anniversary of their initial contest.

Key Athlete Matchups

• Virginia Tech hosts No. 24 Stanford before a critical clash with NC State next week.
• Defending national champion No. 5 Vincent Robinson faces No. 15 Kysen Terukina in one of four ranked matchups.
• NC State’s No. 2 Isaac Trumble will defend his undefeated record against No. 28 Nolan Neves.

Iowa State’s Significant Duals

Iowa State will host two matches this weekend. They face Northern Colorado on Friday before challenging No. 15 South Dakota State on Sunday. Fascinatingly, this dual will occur outside their usual venue in Hilton Coliseum, in Humboldt, the hometown of head coach Kevin Dresser.

Ranked Wrestlers to Watch

This dual will feature Bennett Berge from South Dakota State, ranked No. 6 at 197 pounds, who is scheduled to take on No. 2 Rocky Elam from Iowa State. Both teams will present several ranked wrestlers, making this a highly competitive matchup.

Conclusion

The weekend promises to deliver outstanding collegiate wrestling action, with several top-ranked teams facing off. Nebraska’s matches against Iowa and Ohio State are anticipated to be particularly defining moments for their season.