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Iowa is unanimous No. 1 in first NWCA Division I Coaches Poll of the season

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by Jason Bryant, NWCA

Manheim, Pennsylvania - With the lion’s share of the abbreviated NCAA Division I wrestling season starting this weekend, the NWCA has released its first Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll for the 2020-21 season. Released weekly, the NWCA Division I Coaches Poll is based on dual meet results throughout the season.

After an undefeated dual season in 2019-20 and returning most of its starting lineup, Iowa received all 14 first-place votes and starts the season ranked No. 1 in the nation. As usual, the Big Ten dominates the Top 25 with 11 of its 14 teams ranked. The ACC and Big 12 Conferences each have four schools represented in the Top 25, while the EIWA, Mid-American Conference and Pac-12 each have two apiece.

Methodology: The NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll is voted on by two coaches from each Division I wrestling conference. Each first-place vote is worth 25 points, 24 points for a second-place vote, 23 for a third-place vote and so on through to one point for a 25th-place vote. The poll is based on dual meet results. Teams who are not competing this season are not included in the voting process.

NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll
January 1, 2021

Rank

Team (First)

19-20 Record

Points

Conf.

19-20 Final Dual Rank

1

Iowa (14)

(13-0)

350

Big Ten

1

2

Penn State

(12-2)

326

Big Ten

2

3

Michigan

(7-6)

315

Big Ten

22

4

NC State

(15-0)

302

ACC

3

5

Nebraska

(11-3)

290

Big Ten

4

6

Oklahoma State

(13-3)

277

Big 12

11

7

Ohio State

(10-4)

273

Big Ten

5

8

Virginia Tech

(11-3)

230

ACC

9

9

Iowa State

(10-5)

225

Big 12

21

10

North Carolina

(14-3)

198

ACC

7

11

Arizona State

(15-2)

195

Pac-12

6

12

Missouri

(12-7)

189

MAC

23

13

Minnesota

(9-8)

167

Big Ten

13

14

Pittsburgh

(10-4)

159

ACC

8

15

Rutgers

(10-7)

126

Big Ten

25

16

Purdue

(12-5)

116

Big Ten

15

17

Lehigh

(12-3)

113

EIWA

10

18

Stanford

(11-4)

106

Pac-12

24

19

Wisconsin

(11-6)

104

Big Ten

14

20

Oklahoma

(5-7)

81

Big 12

NR

21 (tie)

Central Michigan

(8-4)

51

MAC

NR

21 (tie)

Michigan State

(8-10)

51

Big Ten

NR

23

Northwestern

(6-7)

50

Big Ten

NR

24

Northern Iowa

(8-4)

41

Big 12

16

25

Army West Point

(10-3)

34

EIWA

17

Others Receiving Votes: Northern Colorado 33, Illinois 30, Virginia 29, Rider 22, Campbell 21, Appalachian State 17, Wyoming 13, Hofstra 5, South Dakota State 4, Navy 3, North Dakota State 2, Northern Illinois 1, West Virginia 1.

2020-21 Poll Dates: January 1, January 5, January 12, January 19, January 26, February 2, February 9, February 16, February 23.