College Wrestling Duals

[WhoRU?]

Top 16 qualify starting 2026-2026.

 

[SCNJ]

Doing it in November is a weird choice. You’re essentially inviting teams based on expectations rather than performance since the season is barely underway. It also probably wont feel like a true championship at the beginning of the season.

 

[Bobbynieds]

Doing it in November is a weird choice. You’re essentially inviting teams based on expectations rather than performance since the season is barely underway. It also probably wont feel like a true championship at the beginning of the season.

It is a start.
Hopefully these will evolve, maybe make it a XMAS Event prior to the midlands/scuffle

 

[KidDagger]

Doing it in November is a weird choice. You’re essentially inviting teams based on expectations rather than performance since the season is barely underway. It also probably wont feel like a true championship at the beginning of the season.

It’s perfect timing….by then we should have our 3-4 PSU and 1-2 Iowa transfers and hopefully Bo commits to us…. Even if only 2/3 of this ends up happening… it might be enough to move us past Ohio st in the b10 pecking order…. Daydreaming…..

 

[PessimisticallyHopefulPragmatist]

First, we need to make the top 16. I think it's a great idea as a start, but it probably needs some adjustments to the money distribution. If it is to help and promote wrestling, all of the teams should go home with some money - at least enough to cover their expense of participating. The money could be distributed differently while still allowing the top four to benefit most.

 

[rags]

First, we need to make the top 16. I think it's a great idea as a start, but it probably needs some adjustments to the money distribution. If it is to help and promote wrestling, all of the teams should go home with some money - at least enough to cover their expense of participating. The money could be distributed differently while still allowing the top four to benefit most.

Every team gets at least 20k per the tweets I have seen.

Its too early in the season and If they dont get this on free tv its not really doing that much to grow the sport.

The sport needs a real dual national championship - which will draw eyeballs and generate new revenue from fans who root for their school in any sport that makes ncaas … before the impact of NIL and revenue sharing starts seeing teams dropped to club status

 

[Leonard23]

The date is terrible and PSU and Iowa aren't participating. Anyone thinking it will evolve into something better like a true NCAA team champion is delusional and hasn't followed wrestling. The old timers and some powerhouses don't care and will kill wrestling because they only care about 3 days in March, when dual meets are the only thing that will save wrestling. More schools will drop wrestling.

 

[rags]

The date is terrible and PSU and Iowa aren't participating. Anyone thinking it will evolve into something better like a true NCAA team champion is delusional and hasn't followed wrestling. The old timers and some powerhouses don't care and will kill wrestling because they only care about 3 days in March, when dual meets are the only thing that will save wrestling. More schools will drop wrestling.

Cleveland State Dropped their program again today

 

[Leonard23]

Cleveland State Dropped their program again today

Yup. More will come and others will cut funding and schollies. But hey we still have March ...

 

[SCNJ]

The date is terrible and PSU and Iowa aren't participating. Anyone thinking it will evolve into something better like a true NCAA team champion is delusional and hasn't followed wrestling. The old timers and some powerhouses don't care and will kill wrestling because they only care about 3 days in March, when dual meets are the only thing that will save wrestling. More schools will drop wrestling.

For what it’s worth I think in the short term, Penn State and Iowa not participating is good for the sport. If Penn State enters, everyone else is wrestling for 2nd. With these two opted out, you probably have 16 teams with varying levels of realistic chances. We saw the other night that Rutgers who is a ~20th ranked team can match up and potentially upset a top 5 team.

Ultimately you’d want the top teams involved but I don’t think 2 of them opting out is a terrible thing unless the next tier of teams follow suit.

 

[KidDagger]

The date is terrible and PSU and Iowa aren't participating. Anyone thinking it will evolve into something better like a true NCAA team champion is delusional and hasn't followed wrestling. The old timers and some powerhouses don't care and will kill wrestling because they only care about 3 days in March, when dual meets are the only thing that will save wrestling. More schools will drop wrestling.

PSU probably won’t attend but y do u sound so certain on Iowa.. heard in a podcast that Brands was excited about a duals championship.

I think their logic for making the date so early is so it doesn’t interfere with wrestlers match counts when it comes near nationals.. yep Cael sets the meta, match load management era.. wrestle as few matches possible.. even tho PSU fans won’t admit it.

I’m happy a dual championship is happening next year.. we don’t need a PSU to join if they think it’s pointless… the event maybe isn’t perfect but it’s a start and can only help in growing the sport.

 

[Leonard23]

PSU probably won’t attend but y do u sound so certain on Iowa.. heard in a podcast that Brands was excited about a duals championship.

I think their logic for making the date so early is so it doesn’t interfere with wrestlers match counts when it comes near nationals.. yep Cael sets the meta, match load management era.. wrestle as few matches possible.. even tho PSU fans won’t admit it.

I’m happy a dual championship is happening next year.. we don’t need a PSU to join if they think it’s pointless… the event maybe isn’t perfect but it’s a start and can only help in growing the sport.

Just speculation...

 

[njsportsphan]

Great points SCNJ, why not send the backups if you're PSU? That could be interesting. It's not like they need the revenue though.

I think it'll be a great event. TBH, it might sway kids away from a team like PSU. If a kid grows up watching that event, then maybe they'll want to be with a team that participates in it. I know that hypothetical situation is far down the road, but I could see it happening.