NCAA Wrestling 2026

[LostArra]

I'll start the new thread.

There is no team race except for second place. Penn St could have 5 to 7 champs.

133 could be a historic battle from the first round. Possible champs Davino, Forrest, Blaze, Seidel. Plus Ayala, Byrd and Larkin are dangerous. ESPN will probably put this weight class on separate pay-per-view.

157 should be exciting but Duke appears to be pulling away. Taylor will want revenge but he doesn't seem to be able to wrestle the pace of Duke. Larkin will be fun to watch but Duke has too much power plus skill.

165, 174 and 197 These weight classes provide a good time to tend to the grill. MM, Levi and Barr have no competition. I would love to see Caliendo score a few takedowns on MM seeing as how this will be their 9th meeting.

184 If McAnelly or Sinclair force the pace and make Rocco wrestle they could win but if he drags it into OT it will be tough.

125, 141 a fight for second? Will Vega pull out more Spiderman wins to face Mendez in the final?

149 SVN but not without some close calls.

285 Bastida with Ferrari begging for attention.

 

[98XJRC]

As a PSU fan SVN and Welsch looked the weakest this weekend out of their champs although SVN finally turned it on for the finals. Blaze will need to put on the gas to keep up at Nationals and honestly the way Forrest is wrestling I think he will be the one to beat. I believe head to head Blaze has the win but that holds zero weight moving forward.

Should be a good tournament, but I'd be shocked is PSU doesn't walk out with 4 champs at a minimum.

 

[jmez]

Hardy vs Vega in the semis will be must see tv!

I don't think Rocco wins it. He needs to pick up the pace and wrestle like PSU. Van Ness needs to wrestle from the whistle rather than wait until he's down 7-1.

The only way Lilidahl and Duke don't win is if the moment gets a little big for them. Don't see that happening with the amount of international success they have had.

I think the Lions get 5. 125, 157,165,174,197. Messenbrink and Barr Bonus way through.

 

[Hunter26]

Not going to give any prediction but man it will be fun to watch!

 

[Okie-hunter]

I have no predictions I’m just happy to see DT getting the Cowboys back on track.

 

[LostArra]

Hardy vs Vega in the semis will be must see tv!

Vega beating Hardy three times in one season will be tough but I didn't think Vega would take Echemendia the second time around either.

 

[jmez]

One thing is certain. It will be a scramble fest.

Read an interesting take on the Rocco McAnelly match. I thought it should have been 3 but they didn't ask me! The "reaction" time rewards the defensive wrestler not the offensive as they are trying to change. A TD should be scored when it happens, not an arbitrary time later accounting for reaction time. I can see both sides but an interesting take I hadn't thought about.

 

[ResearchinStuff]

SVN has looked vulnerable a few times this year, most notably against Maryland. Rocco had a poor showing and still won, he's on upset watch for sure. The rest of the psu champs from last weekend sure look the part