Penn State Wrestling Faces Its Toughest Test Yet Against No. 6 Nebraska
It’s not often you say this about a team riding an NCAA-record winning streak, but Friday night at the Bryce Jordan Center might just be a gut check for Penn State wrestling.
Yes, the Nittany Lions are still the heavy favorites. Yes, they’ve outscored opponents by a jaw-dropping 480-19 this season.
And yes, they haven’t lost a home dual meet in over a decade. But when the No.
6 Nebraska Cornhuskers roll into State College, they’ll bring more than just a ranking-they’ll bring legitimate firepower in a couple of key weight classes that could test Penn State like no one has this season.
Two Bouts to Watch: 141 and Heavyweight
If Nebraska is going to make things interesting, it starts at 141 pounds and heavyweight-two weight classes where the Cornhuskers will trot out No. 4-ranked wrestlers. That’s Brock Hardy at 141 and A.J. Ferrari at heavyweight, both proven, high-level competitors.
They’ll be facing Penn State’s Braeden Davis and Cole Mirasola, respectively-two wrestlers with talent, no doubt, but still finding their footing in starting roles. These are the swing matches, the spots where Nebraska could steal momentum and give the top-ranked Lions something to think about.
Levi Haines vs. Christopher Minto: Match of the Night
Circle 174 pounds on your lineup card. That’s where you’ll find the headliner: No.
1 Levi Haines against No. 4 Christopher Minto.
Haines, Penn State’s lone senior and a former national champion, has been rock solid all season. He hasn’t lost a match, and he’s been the kind of leader you’d expect from someone with championship experience.
But Minto is no pushover. The Florida native is 14-3 and presents the toughest challenge Haines has seen so far this season. This is a matchup between two elite wrestlers at the top of their game-and it could go a long way in setting the tone for the dual.
Mitchell Mesenbrink: The Bonus Point Machine
While Haines headlines the card, Mitchell Mesenbrink might be the engine behind Penn State’s dominance.
The top-ranked 165-pounder has been nothing short of electric. He’s undefeated, racking up bonus points like it’s a hobby, and leading the race for the Hodge Trophy-the wrestling equivalent of the Heisman.
Mesenbrink doesn’t just win; he overwhelms. His matchup against No.
7 LJ Araujo is another chance to showcase why he’s the most dangerous man in college wrestling right now.
Freshman Phenoms: Blaze and Duke Keep Rolling
Penn State’s youth movement has been just as impressive as its veterans, thanks in large part to true freshmen Marcus Blaze and PJ Duke.
Blaze, ranked No. 4 at 133 pounds, is coming off a pair of dominant wins that earned him Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. He’s 15-0 and looking to keep that streak alive against Nebraska’s No. 10 Jacob Van Dee-a matchup that pits two of the country’s best young lightweights against each other.
Duke, ranked No. 3 at 157, faces a huge test of his own in Antrell Taylor, a reigning national champ. This one should be a battle of styles and grit, and it’ll be a great measuring stick for the freshman phenom.
Projected Lineups: Penn State vs. Nebraska
Here’s how the dual is expected to shake out, with national rankings via InterMat:
- 125 pounds: No. 1 Luke Lilledahl (PSU) vs.
Alan Koehler or Kael Lauridsen
- 133 pounds: No.
4 Marcus Blaze (PSU) vs. No.
10 Jacob Van Dee
- 141 pounds: No.
12 Braeden Davis (PSU) vs. No.
4 Brock Hardy
- 149 pounds: No.
1 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) vs. No.
18 Chance Lamer
- 157 pounds: No.
3 PJ Duke (PSU) vs. No.
5 Antrell Taylor
- 165 pounds: No.
1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (PSU) vs. No.
7 LJ Araujo
- 174 pounds: No.
1 Levi Haines (PSU) vs. No.
4 Christopher Minto
- 184 pounds: No.
1 Rocco Welsh (PSU) vs. No.
6 Silas Allred
- 197 pounds: No.
1 Josh Barr (PSU) vs. No.
9 Camden McDaniel
- Heavyweight: No.
12 Cole Mirasola (PSU) vs. No.
4 A.J. Ferrari
When and Where to Watch
- Date: Friday, Jan. 30
- Time: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: Bryce Jordan Center, State College, PA
- TV: Big Ten Network
- Streaming: Fox Sports Go (with TV login), Fubo (free trial available)
A Look at Penn State’s 2025-26 Dominance
Penn State hasn’t just been winning-they’ve been steamrolling. Here’s a look at their season so far:
- Nov. 14: OKLAHOMA, W 45-0
- Dec. 5: at Drexel, W 43-3
- Dec.
7: LEHIGH, W 36-6
- Dec. 13: at Wyoming, W 40-7
- Dec. 20: vs. North Dakota State, W 46-0
- Dec. 22: vs. Stanford, W 42-0
- Jan. 10: RUTGERS, W 46-0
- Jan. 16: at Iowa, W 32-3
- Jan. 18: at Northwestern, W 51-0
- Jan. 23: INDIANA, W 48-0
- Jan. 24: at Maryland, W 51-0
Next up after Nebraska? A road trip to Michigan on Feb. 6, followed by marquee home duals against Ohio State (Feb. 13) and Princeton (Feb.
20). Then it’s on to the postseason, with the Big Ten Championships hosted right in the Bryce Jordan Center (March 7-8), and the NCAA Championships in Cleveland (March 19-21).
The Bottom Line
Penn State’s wrestling machine keeps humming, but Nebraska has the tools to at least test the gears. With top-five matchups at multiple weights and a few toss-ups that could swing either way, this dual has the potential to be one of the most competitive of the season.
If the Nittany Lions come out of Friday night with another dominant win, it’ll be just the latest reminder that we’re witnessing one of the most complete and unstoppable teams in college wrestling history. But if Nebraska can land a few punches? Well, we might just get the kind of drama that makes dual meets like this so special.