Ohio State Wrestling Eyes Massive Upset vs. Penn State - But Is There Really a Path?
If you're an Ohio State wrestling fan, you're clinging to one thing heading into Friday night’s clash with No. 1 Penn State: hope.
And maybe a little bit of chaos. Because on paper, this one’s a mountain.
But in wrestling - especially in February, in the Big Ten - strange things can happen.
The Buckeyes are 17-0 and ranked No. 2 in the country. That’s no fluke.
This team is deep, talented, and confident. But Penn State?
They’re on another level - 13-0, winners of 84 straight duals over six years, and they’ve been steamrolling opponents with an absurd 544-34 scoring margin this season. In Big Ten competition alone, they’ve outscored teams 292-18.
That’s not just dominance - it’s a dynasty in full throttle.
And history hasn’t exactly been kind to the Buckeyes in this rivalry. Penn State leads the all-time series 27-12, has won 10 straight against Ohio State, and the Buckeyes haven’t left State College with a win since 2009.
So what would it take to flip the script Friday night at the Bryce Jordan Center (7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network)?
The math says Ohio State needs to win at least five bouts - six to be safe - and pick up some bonus points along the way. That’s a tall order against a lineup that features four No. 1-ranked wrestlers from 165 to 197 pounds.
But there is a path. Let’s break it down, weight by weight.
**125 lbs: No. 1 Luke Lilledahl (PSU) vs.
No. 4 Nic Bouzakis (OSU)**
This one sets the tone. Bouzakis has been wrestling like a man with something to prove since dropping from 133.
He brings power and grit, and while he’s nursing what looked like a lower back issue last week, he’s expected to go. Lilledahl, undefeated at 15-0, is a technician with elite control.
Both came out of the powerhouse Wyoming Seminary program. This is a toss-up with major implications - whoever wins could swing momentum early.
**133 lbs: No. 4 Marcus Blaze (PSU) vs.
No. 2 Ben Davino (OSU)**
Clear-cut match of the night. Both are undefeated.
Both are four-time high school state champs - Blaze from Ohio, Davino from Illinois. They’ve beaten the same top-tier opponents this season, including Iowa’s Drake Ayala.
Davino edged Blaze once before in an Ironman final via ultimate tiebreaker, so there’s familiarity and fire here. Winner likely locks up the No. 2 seed at Big Tens.
Expect fireworks.
**141 lbs: No. 13 Braeden Davis (PSU) vs.
No. 1 Jesse Mendez (OSU)**
This is where the Buckeyes need to cash in. Mendez is undefeated and has been dominant since moving up from 133.
He’s the heavy favorite and a bonus-point opportunity for Ohio State. Davis is no slouch, but Mendez has been on a different level all season.
If Ohio State can sweep these first three - and that’s a big “if” - they’ve got a real shot. But the back half of the lineup is where Penn State tightens the screws.
**149 lbs: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) vs.
No. 9 Ethan Stiles (OSU)**
Van Ness is a buzzsaw. He dismantled Iowa’s Ryder Block 13-4, while Stiles split with Block.
Stiles has the pedigree - three-time Illinois champ - but Van Ness is just more dynamic offensively. This could be a bonus-point win for Penn State.
**157 lbs: No. 4 PJ Duke (PSU) vs.
Desselle/Chase/Shaw (OSU)**
With Brandon Cannon out due to a knee injury, Ohio State’s depth is tested here.
Duke will be a heavy favorite regardless of who the Buckeyes roll out. Expect Penn State to take control in this bout.
Now we hit the murderers’ row: four straight No. 1-ranked Penn State wrestlers from 165 to 197. This is where the dual could be decided.
**165 lbs: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) vs.
No. 14 Paddy Gallagher or e’Than Birden (OSU)**
Mesenbrink is a weekly highlight reel - relentless pressure, nonstop attacks. Gallagher has been solid but lacks a signature win.
If he’s healthy, he might keep it close, but Mesenbrink is likely to stretch the lead.
**174 lbs: No. 1 Levi Haines (PSU) vs.
No. 5 Carson Kharchla (OSU)**
This one’s intriguing. Haines edged Kharchla 6-4 last season, and Kharchla is a seasoned All-American.
But Haines always finds a way - whether it’s a late takedown or a scramble finish, he’s built for close matches. If Ohio State is still in striking distance, Kharchla needs to flip this result.
**184 lbs: No. 1 Rocco Welsh (PSU) vs.
No. 8 Dylan Fishback (OSU)**
Fishback’s had an up-and-down season, splitting with Nebraska’s Silas Allred and losing to Iowa and Michigan’s top guys. Welsh, meanwhile, has beaten all of them.
He’s slick from neutral and rarely gives up points. Penn State has the edge here.
**197 lbs: No. 1 Josh Barr (PSU) vs.
No. 11 Luke Geog (OSU)**
Barr has been dominant - and he’ll be hunting bonus points. Geog hasn’t beaten a top-10 opponent this season and was handled by Nebraska’s Camden McDanel, whom Barr majored.
Penn State likely pads the lead in this one.
**285 lbs: No. 8 Cole Mirasola (PSU) vs.
No. 3 Nick Feldman (OSU)**
This could be a sneaky-good finisher. Feldman has the size and experience edge, and he’s already beaten A.J.
Ferrari - who took out Mirasola. But both have similar resumes against common opponents like Iowa’s Ben Keuter and Michigan’s Taye Ghadiali.
Expect a low-scoring, tactical match where one takedown could decide it.
The Bottom Line
Yes, the odds are stacked. But Ohio State isn’t walking into State College to roll over.
They’ve got elite lightweights, a top-tier heavyweight, and enough firepower to make things interesting. The key is a fast start - they need to win at least two of the first three, steal one in the middle, and hope for a Feldman clincher at the end.
Will that be enough to end Penn State’s streak? Maybe not. But as Ohio State coach Tom Ryan said after last week’s win over Iowa: “Life’s about big challenges, and I love the guy who steps out and wants this type of challenge in his life.”
Friday night is that kind of challenge. And if the Buckeyes pull it off, it won’t just shake up the Big Ten - it’ll send shockwaves across the entire college wrestling landscape.