The biggest collegiate dual of the year is approaching as #2 Ohio State takes on #1 Penn State at Rec Hall this weekend in what some are calling the “Super Bowl of College Wrestling.” PSU has a 42 match winning streak with two undefeated seasons in 2016 and 2017, the longest since Iowa’s “unbeaten” 84-0-1 win streak from 2008-2012. Their last loss came from Oklahoma State in February of 2015, which was also the last season that the Buckeyes beat the Nittany Lions by a score of 22-15. Both PSU and OSU have phenomenal teams this year, and that is shown by the stats of their head coaches, individuals, and teams.
Head Coaches
Source: Getty Images
Since 2009 the two head coaches of these prestigious programs have faced off against each other. Tom Ryan joined Ohio State’s staff in 2006, while Cael Sanderson did not head PSU until 2009. Ryan has a record at OSU of 147-49-0 to Sanderson’s 123-14-2 at PSU. From ‘09-‘17 the Nittany Lions went 6-2 against the Buckeyes, with losses in ’10 and ’15; furthermore, PSU outscored OSU 221-105 in the eight total matches. These coaches share 5 Big Ten Conference Championships and 7 NCAA Championships between them. Since 2011, the only years that Penn State did not win either a Big Ten Title or NCAA Championship, it was won by Ohio State. Also shared between the coaches are 27 individual National Champions. Ryan has coached multiple-time champions, including Logan Stieber (4X), Kyle Snyder (2X), and J Jaggers (2X). Under Sanderson’s tutelage have been greats such as Ed Ruth (3X), David Taylor (2X), Quentin Wright (2X), and Zain Retherford (2X). Of course, Sanderson is recognized for coaching 5 NCAA Champions in one year during the ‘16-’17 season. Needless to say, these two coaches are some of the best in DI college wrestling, and it will be great to see them go at it on Saturday.
Projected Lineups
#2 Ohio State
125 Natan Tomasello (#4)
133 Luke Pletcher (#2)
141 Joey McKenna (#11)
149 Ke-Shawn Hayes (#6)
157 Micah Jordan (#5)
165 Te-Shan Campbell (#14)
174 Bo Jordan (#3)
184 Myles Martin (#2)
197 Kollin Moore (#1)
Hwt Kyle Snyder (#1)
#1 Penn State
125 Devin Schnupp
133 Corey Keener
141 Nick Lee (#6)
149 Zain Retherford (#1)
157 Jason Nolf (#1)
165 Vincenzo Joseph (#1)
174 Mark Hall (#2)
184 Bo Nickal (#1)
197 Shakur Rasheed (#7)
Hwt Nick Nevills (#6)
Individual Stats
Source: The Mat Board
These are the two most stacked lineups in the country right now. Shared between these two teams are: 15 HS State Champions with 40 titles, 4 HS Prep Champions with 11 titles, 9 Conference Champions with 14 titles, 8 National Champions with 10 titles, and 1 Hodge Trophy winner. Only 4 of the 20 wrestlers have not qualified for the NCAA tournament; however, none of those four have even had the opportunity to qualify yet. OSU brings in 7 NCAA placers, while PSU brings in 6. Each team also brings one multiple-time NCAA Champion in Retherford and Snyder. Between these two teams there are 18 ranked wrestlers. 6 of the #1 ranked wrestlers in the country will be wrestling in the dual this weekend. Additionally, there are 5 undefeated Nittany Lions (Retherford, Nolf, Joseph, Hall, Nickal) and 4 undefeated Buckeyes (Pletcher, Martin, Moore, Snyder). After this weekend, there will be one less undefeated wrestler when #1 Bo Nickal (20-0) and #2 Myles Martin (22-0) wrestle at 184 lbs. Those two wrestlers have a strong rivalry in matches that are always close. Martin beat Nickal in the 2016 NCAA championship at 174 lbs. and in the 2017 Big Ten semifinals; however, Nickal has won every dual meet encounter. Another fun fact about the dual is that there are 7 wrestlers from Pennsylvania, with 4 of those from the WPIAL, and 4 from Ohio combined from both teams.
Team Dual Stats
As far as the teams as a whole, each is undefeated in dual meets this season. Both squads defeated Indiana, Maryland, Michigan State, Minnesota, Purdue, Rutgers. Ohio State has scored an average of about 34 points per match in 12 matches to Penn State’s 37 points in 11 matches. The Buckeyes have outscored their opponents 410-88, while the Nittany Lions have scored 411 to their opponent’s 80 points. Ohio State has wrestlers than can get decisions, but Penn State has a team full of pinners. In fact, PSU has 75 pins this year -- more than half coming from Retherford, Nolf, and Nickal -- to OSU’s 29. The rest of the points scored are pretty equal: PSU has 22 tech falls, 33 majors, and 35 decisions; OSU has 34 tech falls, 34 majors, and 55 decisions. Overall, the starting roster at Penn State has a collective record of 163-27; unfortunately for them, 14 of those losses come from redshirt freshman Devin Schnupp at 125 lbs. On the flip side, Ohio State has totalled individual records of 152-16.
Overall
Source: The Lantern
Penn State has had some challenges this year with Lehigh and Rutgers, but they have come out on top. The team is going to have to step it up against the Buckeyes because Coach Ryan is hungry for a dual meet win and NCAA team title. Ohio State will earn easy wins at 125, 133, and 285. Penn State will win 149 and 165. 157 should also be a win if Nolf recovers from his knee injury in last week’s match against Rutgers. If he cannot wrestle, PSU has three backup choices: 1) bump up Verkleeren (FR, PA State Champ), 2) wrestle Berge (FR, undefeated 3X MN State Champ), or 3) drop Manville (FR, World Team Member, Prep Champ). The rest of the weights are going to be tough matches that could go either way. Ohio State has a full team, from top to bottom, of high-caliber wrestlers, lead by Olympic gold medalist Kyle Snyder. Penn State, on the other hand, has a powerhouse of five returning NCAA Champions from 149 to 184. Both Penn State and Ohio State are incredible teams this season, and this match is going to be one for the ages. Whether you’re a Nittany Lion, Buckeye, or wrestling enthusiast, this is a great time to be a fan of college wrestling. Check out the match this Saturday, February 3 at 8:00 PM E.T. by watching on the Big Ten Network, getting live updates from FloWrestling, or listening live through Go PSU Sports.
Make your own guesses for the match with your friends and family by downloading the PSU vs. OSU Stat & Prediction Sheet found here:
Sources: FloWrestling, Penn State Wrestling, Ohio State Wrestling
Cover Photo Source: Centre Daily Times