Top-Ranked Penn State Wrestling Gets Key Advantage Ahead of Showdown with No. 2 Ohio State
Friday night’s dual between No. 1 Penn State and No.
2 Ohio State at the Bryce Jordan Center was already billed as one of the biggest matchups of the season - a clash of two undefeated powerhouses. But now, the Nittany Lions are heading into the meet with a significant edge, as the Buckeyes are dealing with a wave of injuries at critical weight classes.
Let’s break down what’s happening - and why this could tilt the scales even more in Penn State’s favor.
Buckeyes Down Key Starters Across the Board
The biggest news came out of Columbus when it was confirmed that Brandon Cannon, the top-ranked wrestler at 157 pounds, will miss the dual due to an injury he suffered back in January against Minnesota. That’s a huge blow for Ohio State.
Cannon’s absence means Penn State freshman PJ Duke, currently ranked No. 4 in the country, won’t have to go through the usual gauntlet to secure a statement win. Instead, he’ll likely face either Landon Desselle or Daxton Chase - both unranked and relatively untested at this level.
And Cannon isn’t the only Buckeye sidelined.
Ohio State is also expected to be without Carson Kharchla, the No. 5 wrestler at 174 pounds. That scratches a highly anticipated showdown between Kharchla and Penn State’s Levi Haines - the nation’s No. 1 at that weight class.
Instead of a top-five battle, Haines will now face one of two unranked Buckeyes: Boede Campbell or Carter Chase. Neither has seen much action this season, and neither has competed in a Big Ten dual.
Campbell enters the night with a 1-4 record, while Chase is 3-2. Haines?
He’s undefeated and has been nothing short of dominant all year.
Then there’s the situation at 125 pounds, where Nic Bouzakis - ranked No. 4 - is listed as doubtful. That throws another wrench into Ohio State’s lineup.
Bouzakis was slated to face Penn State’s Luke Lilledahl, the No. 1 wrestler at 125. If Bouzakis can’t go, the Buckeyes will have to turn to one of three backups: Peyton Fenton (who hasn’t wrestled this season), Vincent Kilkeary (20-4 on the year), or Brendan McCrone (9-1 overall, 4-1 in duals).
While Kilkeary and McCrone have solid records, neither brings the same level of firepower or experience as Bouzakis. That gives Lilledahl - also undefeated - a clearer path to another marquee win.
Spotlight Match: Feldman vs. Mirasola, Round Two
While much of the buzz is around Ohio State’s depleted lineup, one matchup still promises fireworks: the heavyweight rematch between Cole Mirasola and Nick Feldman. Feldman, ranked third in the nation, got the better of Mirasola last February with a convincing 10-3 win. But Mirasola, now ranked eighth, has been on a mission this season and will be looking for redemption on home turf.
This bout could be one of the few toss-ups in a dual that’s suddenly leaning heavily toward the Nittany Lions. With Feldman and Mirasola both healthy and ready to go, expect a hard-fought battle that could still swing momentum - even if the overall team outlook favors Penn State.
Bottom Line
Penn State was already the favorite heading into Friday night’s marquee matchup, but Ohio State’s injury report has widened the gap. Missing top-tier talent like Cannon and Kharchla, and possibly Bouzakis, leaves the Buckeyes scrambling to fill major holes in the lineup - and gives Penn State a chance to make a statement on the national stage.
With the Bryce Jordan Center set to be electric and the Nittany Lions at full strength, the nation’s top-ranked team has a golden opportunity to reinforce why they’re sitting at No. 1.