Penn State vs Ohio State Wrestling: No. 1 hosts No. 2 in prime-time Big Ten showdown

Emerson Raymont

Published: February 13, 2026 6:56 PM ET

Penn State vs Ohio State Wrestling: No. 1 hosts No. 2 in prime-time Big Ten showdown

The most anticipated dual of the season arrives as No. 1 Penn State welcomes undefeated No. 2 Ohio State to the Bryce Jordan Center for a marquee Big Ten clash set for 7 pm ET. With multiple No. 1-ranked wrestlers in action and razor-thin margins across the card, the outcome could shape conference seeds, national title narratives and the Hodge Trophy race.

The stage and the stakes

Penn State has set the standard in recent seasons, but Ohio State enters with momentum and a spotless dual record, seeking a signature road win to cement its claim as the nation’s top team. The environment at the Bryce Jordan Center is expected to be electric, and the dual features several bouts that could swing on a single scramble. With Big Ten seeding and NCAA championship positioning on the line in February, every bout point matters — and bonus points could prove decisive.

Probable matchups and rankings

Projected bouts feature elite showdowns from 125 through heavyweight:

125: No. 1 Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) vs No. 4 Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State)
133: No. 4 Marcus Blaze (Penn State) vs No. 2 Ben Davino (Ohio State)
141: No. 13 Braeden Davis (Penn State) vs No. 1 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State)
149: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness (Penn State) vs No. 9 Ethan Stiles (Ohio State)
157: No. 4 PJ Duke (Penn State) vs Landon Desselle/Daxton Chase (Ohio State)
165: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) vs No. 14 Paddy Gallagher (Ohio State)
174: No. 1 Levi Haines (Penn State) vs No. 5 Carson Kharchla (Ohio State)
184: No. 1 Rocco Welsh (Penn State) vs No. 8 Dylan Fishback (Ohio State)
197: No. 1 Josh Barr (Penn State) vs No. 11 Luke Geog (Ohio State)
285: No. 8 Cole Mirasola (Penn State) vs No. 3 Nick Feldman (Ohio State)

The lineup underscores the dual’s depth: Ohio State counters Penn State’s top-ranked core with multiple top-10 starters and legitimate upset threats at several weights.

Swing bouts that could decide it

125: Lilledahl vs Bouzakis sets the tone. Both are bona fide title contenders. The winner gives his team the early edge and a leg up toward the top NCAA seed at 125.

133: Davino vs Blaze is a freshman-fireworks rematch on a new stage. Their age-group rivalry tilts slightly toward Blaze in freestyle history, but Davino has stacked high-quality wins this season. First takedown feels massive here.

174: Haines vs Kharchla brings experience and pace versus strength and control. If Kharchla can slow exchanges and win short-offense battles, Ohio State flips a weight where many teams fade late against Haines.

184: Welsh vs Fishback pits a top-ranked freshman against a breakout Buckeye. Ties, counters and mat returns could turn a one-score match into a momentum swing for either bench.

285: Feldman vs Mirasola is a heavyweight hammer throw. Feldman’s athleticism against Mirasola’s discipline gives Ohio State one of its best chances to snatch a late dual swing — and maybe bonus if the pace tilts lopsided.

Bonus-point watch

141: Mendez is one of the nation’s most dominant. If he rolls up near-fall or forces a third-period break, Ohio State can bank crucial cushion.

149: Van Ness often breaks matches open with relentless pressure. Stiles must stay out of extended scrambles and avoid giving up turns; keeping this to a decision would be a win for Ohio State’s team math.

165: Mesenbrink is a bonus machine. Gallagher’s task is to steal the first score, hand-fight hard and keep the match in the center to limit big-move opportunities.

157 and 197: Depth and youth collide. If either side nets unexpected bonus in these middle-upper weights, the dual calculus changes quickly.

What it means for the stretch run

For Ohio State, this is the headline test in a closing Big Ten weekend that also includes Maryland. A road win in State College would lob a loud message ahead of the conference tournament and strengthen multiple NCAA seeding cases.

For Penn State, holding serve at home preserves the program’s perch and gives its top seeds a firmer grip on No. 1 lines in March. The dual also offers a live look at how a star-studded freshman class handles high-stakes, late-season pressure against a complete contender.

However it breaks, expect razor-thin margins, tactical first periods, and a premium on riding time and mat returns. With title implications threaded through nearly every pairing, Penn State vs Ohio State wrestling delivers the heavyweight theater college fans have been waiting for — and it starts at 7 pm ET.