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Wyoming jumps into NWCA Top 25 after Top 10 upset; Penn State streak stands at 80 and counting

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by National Wrestling Coaches Association

NWCA Division I Men's Coaches Poll for January 20, 2026

NWCA Division I Men's Coaches Poll for January 20, 2026

Manheim, Pennsylvania - Penn State remained No. 1 in this week's NWCA Coaches Poll following a results-heavy week that included several ranked matchups, a notable upset, and one new team entering the Top 25.
 
Penn State went 2-0 on the weekend, defeating then-No. 4 Iowa 32-3 before shutting out Northwestern, 51-0. The win over Northwestern extended Penn State's dual-meet winning streak to 80.
 
The biggest upset of the week came when Wyoming defeated then-No. 10 South Dakota State 24-18. South Dakota State also recorded a 19-16 win over Utah Valley earlier in the week. Wyoming's victory moved the Cowboys into the poll at No. 23.
 
Michigan posted two ranked wins, defeating Rutgers 21-12 and Illinois 18-14. Nebraska defeated then-No. 9 Minnesota 20-12 in the week's lone ranked matchup involving the Gophers. NC State went 2-0, edging Stanford 21-20 before defeating CSU Bakersfield 43-3. Virginia Tech defeated Appalachian State 39-0 in a non-conference dual at the Moss Arts Center, while Pittsburgh recorded wins over West Virginia (17-15) and Duke (40-0).

Elsewhere among ranked teams, Wisconsin defeated Northwestern 28-12. Missouri went 2-0 with wins over Arizona State (22-17) and Utah Valley (31-9). Lehigh defeated Navy 20-15 and Princeton 30-9. Indiana defeated Maryland 26-12.
 
Several ranked teams are scheduled to compete over the upcoming weekend as conference action continues.
 
Friday, January 23 includes a full slate of ranked matchups. No. 2 Ohio State is scheduled to wrestle No. 9 Minnesota, while No. 11 North Carolina visits No. 8 NC State. No. 25 Indiana is slated to face No. 1 Penn State. Additional ranked matchups Friday include No. 5 Oklahoma State at No. 18 Missouri, No. 4 Iowa against No. 6 Nebraska, No. 24 Stanford at No. 7 Virginia Tech, and No. 15 South Dakota State hosting California Baptist.
 
Saturday, January 24 includes dual competition involving ranked teams, with No. 24 Stanford scheduled to wrestle at Virginia and No. 23 Wyoming traveling to face No. 19 West Virginia.
 
Sunday, January 25 includes several additional ranked matchups. No. 1 Penn State is scheduled to wrestle at Maryland. No. 16 Wisconsin is set to face No. 9 Minnesota, while No. 2 Ohio State is scheduled to wrestle No. 6 Nebraska. Additional ranked contests Sunday include No. 3 Iowa State meeting No. 15 South Dakota State and No. 17 Rutgers at No. 12 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
JANUARY 20, 2026
RankTeam (First)RecordPointsConferencePrevious
1Penn State (14)(9-0)398Big Ten1
2Ohio State (2)(12-0)386Big Ten2
3Iowa State(6-1)368Big 123
4Iowa(8-3)350Big Ten4
5Oklahoma State(9-1)338Big 125
6Nebraska(9-3)320Big Ten6
7Virginia Tech(6-2)302ACC7
8NC State(11-3)284ACC8
9Minnesota(7-3)269Big Ten9
10Michigan(7-2)240Big Ten13
11North Carolina(8-1)233ACC12
12Illinois(8-4)219Big Ten11
13Northern Iowa(8-4)209Big 1214
14Pittsburgh(9-2)185ACC15
15South Dakota State(9-2)179Big 1210
16Wisconsin(10-1)148Big Ten18
17Rutgers(7-4)135Big Ten17
18Missouri(8-6)114Big 1219
19West Virginia(8-3)105Big 1222
20Lehigh(7-6)102EIWA20
21Oklahoma(7-3)89Big 1216
22Cornell(3-4)63Ivy League21
23Wyoming(4-3)48Big 12NR
24Stanford(3-5)45ACC24
25Indiana(6-2)34Big Ten23
 

Others Receiving Votes: Oregon State 14, Penn 8, SIU Edwardsville 8, Drexel 6, Purdue 1.


Dropped Out: #25 Oregon State.

 
2025-26 Division I Men's Wrestling Coaches Poll Release Dates
Jan. 27
Feb. 3, Feb. 10, Feb. 17, Feb. 24
 
2025-26 Division I Mid-Major Men's Wrestling Coaches Poll Release Dates
Jan. 21
Feb. 11, Feb. 25