Penn State wrestling has established itself as the dominant force in college sports, with a legacy that rivals any in the history of American athletics. Under the leadership of head coach Cael Sanderson, the Nittany Lions have become synonymous with excellence, and their continued success raises the question: how can this program maintain its dominance and push even further?

The No. 1-ranked Penn State team is heavily favored to win its fifth consecutive national championship and 13th in the past 15 years during the 2025-26 season. Their performance at the NCAA Championships last spring was nothing short of historic, as they achieved an impressive 10 All-American selections and broke the all-time team points record for the second year in a row.

Before even beginning their Big Ten schedule, the Nittany Lions made headlines by breaking the NCAA win streak record in a single January dual meet. They followed that up with a shocking loss for top-five Iowa, marking one of the Hawkeyes’ worst home defeats in their storied history.

The Nittany Lions have not lost a single dual meet in six seasons and have maintained an unbeaten home record for an incredible 10 years. This consistency is a testament to the program’s depth, coaching, and overall culture.

This season, the team is led by several standout wrestlers, including previous NCAA champions Mitchell Mesenbrink (165 pounds) and Levi Haines (174), NCAA finalist Josh Barr (197), and All-Americans Luke Lilledahl (125), Shayne Van Ness (149), and Ohio State transfer Rocco Welsh (184). The team also welcomes two world champion freshmen, Marcus Blaze and PJ Duke, who are expected to make an immediate impact.

Here’s a breakdown of the Penn State wrestling schedule and key results for the 2025-26 season:

2025-26 Penn State Wrestling Schedule

Oklahoma at Penn State, Nov. 14, W, (45-0)

The Nittany Lions dominated the No. 15 Oklahoma Sooners, securing five technical falls and a pin. True freshman Marcus Blaze and backups Joe Sealey and Connor Mirasola played key roles in the victory. Senior Levi Haines secured the only pin of the match after overcoming a hard hit and concussion protocol. Josh Barr was sidelined due to a rib injury.

Penn State at Black Knight Invitational, West Point, N.Y., Nov. 23 (9 a.m.)

Penn State at Drexel, Dec. 5, W, (43-3)

A sell-out crowd in Philadelphia witnessed the Lions win nine of 10 bouts, all for bonus points. True freshmen Marcus Blaze and PJ Duke each recorded pins, while No. 1 Shayne Van Ness, No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, and backup Connor Mirasola added tech falls. The only loss came at 141 pounds when Carl Nasdeo dropped a decision.

Lehigh at Penn State, Dec. 7, W, (36-6)

The Lions edged closer to the NCAA Division I dual meet win streak record with a strong performance in Rec Hall. They won eight of 10 bouts, including a pin from No. 1 Levi Haines and two tech falls. The team started with two lopsided victories from sophomore Luke Lilledahl and freshman Marcus Blaze.

Penn State at Wyoming, Dec. 13, W, 40-7

Wyoming saw a record crowd of 4,686 watch the Lions dominate early with pins from Marcus Blaze, Shayne Van Ness, PJ Duke, and Mitchell Mesenbrink. The match began with a technical fall from Luke Lilledahl, and the Lions added another from Levi Haines. Wyoming managed to win the final two bouts against the Mirasola brothers at 197 and heavyweight.

Penn State vs. North Dakota State (Collegiate Wrestling Duals, Nashville, Tennessee), Dec. 20, W, 46-0

The Lions tied their record with their 76th consecutive dual meet victory, shutting out North Dakota State in a dominant performance. They had a 29-1 takedown advantage, with pins from Levi Haines and Cole Mirasoloa, along with four technical falls from Van Ness, Mesenbrink, Welsh, and Barr.

Penn State vs. Stanford (Collegiate Wrestling Duals, Nashville, Tennessee), Dec. 20, W, 42-0

In a historic moment, the Nittany Lions broke the NCAA Division I win streak record by defeating Stanford 42-0. They yielded just one takedown in the match, with pins from Blaze and Mesenbrink and tech falls from Barr and Cole Mirasola.

Rutgers at Penn State, Jan. 10, W, 46-0

The Nittany Lions secured their third straight shutout, making it their 78th overall win in a row. The 46-0 victory over Rutgers included pins from No. 1 wrestlers Shayne Van Ness, Mitchell Mesenbrink, and Levi Haines.

Penn State at Iowa, Jan. 16, W, 32-3

The Lions delivered a crushing blow to Iowa, winning nine of 10 matches and recording their worst home loss ever. Despite the lopsided score, Iowa was competitive in most matches. Penn State’s bonus point victories, led by Van Ness, Mesenbrink, and Josh Barr, proved too much for the Hawkeyes.

Penn State at Northwestern, Jan. 18 (TBD)

Indiana at Penn State, Jan. 23 (7 p.m.)

Penn State at Maryland, Jan. 25 (Noon)

Nebraska at Penn State, Jan. 30 (8 p.m.)

Penn State at Michigan, Feb. 6 (6 p.m.)

Ohio State at Penn State, Feb. 13 (7 p.m.)

Princeton at Penn State, Feb. 20 (7 p.m.)

Big Ten Championships, March 7-8 (State College, Bryce Jordan Center)

NCAA Championships, March 19-21 (Cleveland)

Frank Bodani covers Penn State wrestling for the York Daily Record and USA Today Network. Contact him at fbodani@ydr.com and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @YDRPennState.