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Top-ranked Nittany Lions set new Division I win streak record; Second-ranked Buckeyes handle third-ranked Cyclones in Nashville

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by Jason Bryant, NWCA

Manheim, Pennsylvania - A major college record that stood since the early 1950s fell over the weekend as top-ranked Penn State improved to 6-0 and won the program’s 77th dual meet in a row at the Journeymen Collegiate Duals in Nashville, Tennessee.


Penn State (6-0) shutout North Dakota State and then-No. 23 Stanford and remained atop the most recent NWCA Division I Men’s Coaches Poll released on Tuesday. The Nittany Lions are now tied with Division II St. Cloud State for the longest win streak in NCAA wrestling history. The Nittany Lions can take hold of the NCAA mark on January 10 at Rec Hall when they host Rutgers.


No. 2 Ohio State continued its perfect start, moving to 10-0 with wins over Little Rock, 34-9, and Iowa State, 21-13 also at the Collegiate Duals.


Iowa State split its weekend, defeating then-No. 20 Lehigh 26-11.


Fifth-ranked Oklahoma State added another ranked win with a 22-12 victory over No. 6 Nebraska in Lincoln. The dual drew 7,094 fans, setting a new home attendance record for the Huskers. Nebraska picked up a ranked win on Friday, defeating then-No. 16 North Carolina 27-9. North Carolina would pick up a solid win on the road in Cedar Falls, beating then No. 12 Northern Iowa 19-13. The Tar Heels (7-1) jumped to No. 13 this week, the highest the program has been ranked since it checked in at No. 7 in the final poll of the 2019-20 season.


No. 8 South Dakota State moved to 3-0 with a 45-3 win over Campbell. No. 9 NC State went 3-0 on the week, defeating The Citadel, George Mason and Buffalo.


Back in Nashville, No. 10 Illinois earned two ranked wins, edging then-No. 18 Cornell 21-18 and defeating Lehigh 24-12.


Other ranked teams in action saw No.14 Pittsburgh earn a 23-12 win over Edinboro. Oklahoma posted two wins, defeating SIU Edwardsville 23-13 and Duke 40-6.


Cornell split its weekend, picking up a win over Little Rock. Wisconsin (8-0) remained unbeaten with three wins, defeating Lock Haven, Utah Valley and Arizona State.


Stanford earned a win over North Dakota State, while Oregon State defeated Northern Illinois.


Methodology: The NWCA Division I Men’s 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 points 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.

NWCA DIVISION I MEN’S WRESTLING COACHES POLL
DECEMBER 23, 2025

RankTeam (First)RecordPointsConferencePrevious
1Penn State (14)(6-0)398Big Ten1
2Ohio State (2)(10-0)386Big Ten2
3Iowa State(3-1)368Big 123
4Iowa(7-2)351Big Ten4
5Oklahoma State(8-1)337Big 125
6Nebraska(6-3)320Big Ten6
7Virginia Tech(4-2)297ACC7
8South Dakota State(3-0)286Big 128
9NC State(8-3)267ACC9
10Illinois(7-2)257Big Ten10
11Minnesota(6-2)249Big Ten11
12Michigan(4-2)195Big Ten13
13North Carolina(7-1)191ACC16
14Pittsburgh(7-1)187ACC14
15Oklahoma(6-1)183Big 1215
16Northern Iowa(3-3)158Big 1212
17Rutgers(6-2)136Big Ten19
18Missouri(6-6)129Big 1217
19Wisconsin(8-0)111Big Ten21
20Cornell(1-3)102Ivy League18
21West Virginia(5-2)69Big 1222
22Lehigh(3-6)61EIWA20
23Oregon State(2-0)43Pac-1224
24Stanford(2-3)40ACC23
25Indiana(5-1)36Big Ten25

Others Receiving Votes: Purdue 20, Penn 10, Wyoming 5, Utah Valley 4, Rider 3, Columbia 1.

Dropped Out: None


2025-26 Division I Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll Release Dates

Jan. 6, Jan. 13, Jan. 20, Jan. 27

Feb. 3, Feb. 10, Feb. 17, Feb. 24


2025-26 Division I Mid-Major Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll Release Dates

Jan. 7, Jan. 21

Feb. 11, Feb. 25