Sometime over the last few years, the Penn State wrestling team unofficially became a dynasty.
Maybe it was this year. Or maybe it was 2022, ’23 or ’24. Take your pick.
The Nittany Lions have become the modern-day version of UCLA men’s basketball in the 1960s and ’70s, when the Bruins made winning national championships routine. Penn State has won the last four national championships and 12 national titles since 2011.
As the 2025-26 college wrestling season is about to begin, Penn State is the fan favorite to add to those numbers with national championship. But fans of other schools are getting a fresh start and, at least in theory, have hopes of a national championship. Here’s a preseason look at the top 25:
KINGS OF THE HILL
1. Penn State, 2. Nebraska, 3. Ohio State, 4. Iowa, 5. Oklahoma State, 6. Minnesota, 7. NC State, 8. Michigan
Once again, the Nittany Lions are loaded. Penn State coach Cael Sanderson had a 159-0 record and won four NCAA individual titles as a college wrestler at Iowa State, has a bunch of wrestlers that aren’t far off his standard. Seven Nittany Lions are ranked among the nation’s top 25 wrestlers by NCAA.com. That list is headed by Mitchell Mesenbrink (165 pounds) and Levi Haines (174 pounds), who are both high on the list of fan favorites to win the Hodge Trophy as the nation’s top wrestler.
Messenbrink won the national title in his weight class last season and finished third in the Hodge Trophy voting, has won 98.18 percent of matches in his college career. Haines was a 204 NCAA champion and finished second in 2023 and third in 2024. Both are prime candidates to make the 2028 U.S. Olympic team.
The Nittany Lions already were super rich, but they got even wealthier when 184-pounder Rocco Welsh arrived in State College. A Pennsylvania native, Welsh began his college career at Ohio State and finished second in the nation in 2024 at 174 pounds. Welsh announced his transfer to Penn State in the spring and is another legitimate contender for a national title. Other Penn State wrestlers that are among fan favorites for national titles are Josh Barr (197 pounds) Tyler Kasak (157 pounds), Shayne Van Ness (149 pounds) and Luke Lilledahl (125 pounds).
The top fan favorite to unseat Penn State as national champions is Nebraska. The Cornhuskers are led by a trio of elite wrestlers. Perhaps the most colorful is social-media darling A.J. Ferrari (285 pounds), who transferred to Nebraska after finishing third in the nation for Cal State Bakersfield last year. Antrell Taylor (157 pounds) and Brock Hardy (141 pounds) also are among fan favorites to win national championships in their weight classes.
Ohio State doesn’t have the sheer volume of talent as Penn State and Nebraska. But the Buckeyes do have Jesse Mendez, who many fans consider to be the top wrestler in the nation. He’ll enter the season as the nation’s only multiple-time returning NCAA champion. Mendez won the national title at 141 ponds in 2024 and 2025. NC State’s Vincent Robinson (125 pounds) won a national championship as a freshman in 2025.
Fans beyond Iowa will be rooting for the Hawkeye’s Drake Ayala, who is something of an underdog story. Ayala has finished second in the nation each of the last two years and fans are hoping he can take the next step. Teammate Michael Caliendo is also a fan favorite to compete for a national title at 165 pounds. Minnesota will be led by Max McEelly (184 pounds), who was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year last season,
NOT FAR OFF
9. Iowa State, 10. Michigan, 11. Northern Iowa, 12. Lehigh, 13 Cornell, 14. Illinois, 15. Virginia Tech, 16. West Virginia
Iowa State’s Rocky Elam (197) pounds his one of the nation’s most experienced wrestlers. He’s a four-time All-American. The only thing missing is an NCAA title — and injuries have played a role in that — and he’ll be a fan favorite to accomplish that this year. Lehigh’s Ryan Crookham (133 pounds) missed all of last season due to an injury, but he’s a fan favorite to contend for a national title after finishing third in 2024. Illinois has a returning national champion in Lucas Byrd (133 pounds). Lehigh has another elite wrestler in Luke Stanich who will directly follow Byrd in the lineup at 141 pounds. Stanich is rising fast in the eyes of many fans after winning the gold medal at the U20 World Championships this summer.
Cornell’s Meyer Shapiro (157 pounds) is one of the nation’s most athletic athletes. Shapiro has third- and fifth-place national finishes in his background and looks to advance further this year. But he faces one very big obstacle — a very strong 157-pound weight class. Although Virginia Tech will be strong this year, the Hokies have their eyes focused on the 2026-27 season. That became obvious when coach Tony Robie recently announced that 149-pounder, who won a national title in 2024 and was runner-up last season, will sit out this season as a redshirt. Robie said the decision was made in part because the Hokie’s will not be losing any wrestlers to graduation after this season and Hokies could be a favorite to contend for a national title in the 2026-27 season.
BEST OF THE REST
17. Stanford, 18. Purdue, 19. Missouri, 20. Pennsylvania, 21. Little Rock, 22. Navy, 23. Arizona State, 24. Maryland, 25. Indiana
Stanford will be led by 133-pounder Tyler Knox and 165 pounder Hunter Garvin. Missouri also has a pair of potential national championship contenders in Cameron Steed (165 pounds) and Keegan O’Toole (174 pounds).
One of the fastest-rising athletes among wresting fans is Purdue’s Joey Blaze (165 pounds). After a rather ordinary freshman season in 2024, Blaze caught fire late last year. He rattled off wins against All-American’s Ethan Stiles and Peyten Keller and defeated Penn State’s Taylor in the Big Ten Tournament before losing a national championship match to Nebraska’s Taylor. Purdue also has a potential All-American in Matt Ramos at 125 pounds.
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