EARLY 2026-27 lineup projections/discussions

[Joejitsu]

Sounding like spoiled fans. Having Kasak suck down to 49 to replace van ness who has placed 3rd/3rd/2nd

Not giving him the position... just saying that someone has to be the odd man out
SVN was 3/3/2
Kasak was 3/3

PJ Duke 3rd
Im just saying let the best man win
and I dont think that 157 is the only contested weight!

 

[McScoreley]

If Levi is eligible, big question is if he goes 174 or 184. As some pointed out, Mitch looks like he put on some weight to go 174 and he doesn't like cutting.

If Levi and Mitch both secure their original weights, then it's a 3 man race for 157 it sounds like (Duke, Kasak and Sealey) and possible Kasak would rather test his chances vs SVN than Duke.

If Levi is not eligible or goes 184, then I can see Sealey preferring to wrestle off Duke for 165 instead of going down to 157 again and Kasak settles into 157.

There will be a minimum of 2 odd man out and this isn't even counting for Asher, James greyshirting and Henckel medshirting.

 

[Fatwoodchuck]

If Levi is eligible, big question is if he goes 174 or 184. As some pointed out, Mitch looks like he put on some weight to go 174 and he doesn't like cutting.

If Levi and Mitch both secure their original weights, then it's a 3 man race for 157 it sounds like (Duke, Kasak and Sealey) and possible Kasak would rather test his chances vs SVN than Duke.

If Levi is not eligible or goes 184, then I can see Sealey preferring to wrestle off Duke for 165 instead of going down to 157 again and Kasak settles into 157.

There will be a minimum of 2 odd man out and this isn't even counting for Asher, James greyshirting and Henckel medshirting.

Henckel medshirting? I did not know. Was he hurt during freestyle? My memory is not that of an elephant.

 

[Corby2]

Henckel medshirting? I did not know. Was he hurt during freestyle? My memory is not that of an elephant.

I think I heard it was his arm he hurt if I remember right he may have been in a cast . The med RS thing would be news to me and my understanding is those aren't available anymore.

 

[Fatwoodchuck]

I think I heard it was his arm he hurt if I remember right he may have been in a cast . The med RS thing would be news to me and according to my knowledge isn't available anymore.

Oooh hmm.

Yeah the med shirt is just a quick way to say hes out for the year hurt, it has no other meaning other than that now.

 

[hohmadw1978]

Henckel medshirting? I did not know. Was he hurt during freestyle? My memory is not that of an elephant.

Saw him at a practice in mid-September. He had surgery and it not capable of wrestling at this point in time.

Has a lot of rehab to do. Not getting into what injury he has since he told me in confidence.

 

[McScoreley]

I think I heard it was his arm he hurt if I remember right he may have been in a cast . The med RS thing would be news to me and my understanding is those aren't available anymore.

There was apparently some deadline to apply for people opting into the old rules and he did is what I was told

 

[hohmadw1978]

There was apparently some deadline to apply for people opting into the old rules and he did is what I was told

Yes. See my post above yours.

@McScoreley

 

[BriantheLion]

I think I heard it was his arm he hurt if I remember right he may have been in a cast . The med RS thing would be news to me and my understanding is those aren't available anymore.

There was apparently some deadline to apply for people opting into the old rules and he did is what I was told

To my understanding, those who are STARTING college this year and subsequently, it’s 5/5, period…those who are done are done(pending litigation)..,


…for those anywhere in the middle of college, could go by new or old rules… whichever is better for the athlete… but had to decide back in July.

 

[randyl]

To my understanding, those who are STARTING college this year and subsequently, it’s 5/5, period…those who are done are done(pending litigation)..,


…for those anywhere in the middle of college, could go by new or old rules… whichever is better for the athlete… but had to decide back in July.

What did Duke decide.
I thought the plan all along was for him to redshirt this year, waiting for MM to vacate 165.

 

[Wrestleknownothing]

To my understanding, those who are STARTING college this year and subsequently, it’s 5/5, period…those who are done are done(pending litigation)..,


…for those anywhere in the middle of college, could go by new or old rules… whichever is better for the athlete… but had to decide back in July.

With the passage of the deadline to apply for a hardship waiver for a previous season, I think the rulesets have converged at this point (pending litigation).

Everyone now has a fixed amount of eligibility left with no chance to extend it (pending litigation). Some have one, some have two, all the way up to five. Some got a hardship waiver for prior years (Konner Doucet, for example) and some did not (Mo Endene) based on the old rule set. But now that there are no more hardship waivers the number is fixed.

 

[McScoreley]

What did Duke decide.
I thought the plan all along was for him to redshirt this year, waiting for MM to vacate 165.

Anyone who has never redshirted would want to opt into the new rules so Luke, Marcus and PJ all did I imagine.

Other than that, it doesn't seem like it matters. If you have a medical redshirt you want to apply for, you'll want the old rules.

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

Saw him at a practice in mid-September. He had surgery and it not capable of wrestling at this point in time.

Has a lot of rehab to do. Not getting into what injury he has since he told me in confidence.

There was a fairly recent Penn State video where he had some type of brace on one of his wrists/lower arm.

 

[Goggles Paisano]

What did Duke decide.
I thought the plan all along was for him to redshirt this year, waiting for MM to vacate 165.

I don't think the two scenarios 5/5 or grandfather matter to Duke.

If Levi came back and beat him for 174, under the new 5 for 5 he sits and then gets 3 more thereafter.

If Levi came back and PJ used his redshirt this year under the old rules, he gets 3 more thereafter.

My Crystal Ball has three facets:

(1). Under all scenarios, I do not see PJ as having any chance of getting back down to 157 after moving in the direction of 165/174.

(2) I also don't see Levi as a next topic against PJ at 174. PJ is motivated, got ripped off last year, and is about to be unleashed as a one man wreaking ball. Most of us simply assume Levi is on another level and whatever choice he makes, he gets. Not so fast my friends

(3). Ultimately despite the apparent uncertainty - My intuition tells me it's PJ at 165, MM at 174, and Levi chooses not to come back even if the law suits prevail and deem him eligible.

 

[Psalm 1 guy]

There was a fairly recent Penn State video where he had some type of brace on one of his wrists/lower arm.

Here is the video. Go to 17:39. https://www.on3.com/boards/threads/...e-fabric-of-our-society.273053/post-189044980

 

[Corby2]

There was apparently some deadline to apply for people opting into the old rules and he did is what I was told

That deadline was for filing injuries from previous seasons. Even in the old system you wouldn't file for a medical until after the fact because you need all the Dr notes and everything you couldn't get hurt and file that happens after the injury heals . The system was set up to reclaim lost seasons and that can't happen until after the season is lost

 

[McScoreley]

That deadline was for filing injuries from previous seasons. Even in the old system you wouldn't file for a medical until after the fact because you need all the Dr notes and everything you couldn't get hurt and file that happens after the injury heals . The system was set up to reclaim lost seasons and that can't happen until after the season is lost

I could be wrong and maybe Henckel is just losing the year straight up but I was told he is getting next year back

 

[Corby2]

I could be wrong and maybe Henckel is just losing the year straight up but I was told he is getting next year back

He would be the only one I know of . Imagine Crookham would've qualified for one if it was an option. Old rules didn't mean you kept an ORS and medical RS . It meant you could choose to redshirt or play 5 . Athletes were already enrolled that had taken a RS so that was an option given to new guys for the 2026 class

 

[McScoreley]

He would be the only one I know of . Imagine Crookham would've qualified for one if it was an option. Old rules didn't mean you kept an ORS and medical RS . It meant you could choose to redshirt or play 5 . Athletes were already enrolled that had taken a RS so that was an option given to new guys for the 2026 class

Why would you need to opt into old rules then? If you redshirted it basically means you lost a year.

 

[Corby2]

Why would you need to opt into old rules then? If you redshirted it basically means you lost a year.

You don't tell the NCAA I'm opting in or out you enroll and compliance tracks it.

 

[MPPosterDeuce]

(3). Ultimately despite the apparent uncertainty - My intuition tells me it's PJ at 165, MM at 174, and Levi chooses not to come back even if the law suits prevail and deem him eligible.

I agree that this is the most likely scenario. Levi coming back would make things really awkward at 174. By all accounts MM has already bulked up and there’s no going back at this point. I’m sure a Levi vs. MM wrestleoff would be epic, but then you’re going to end up with a 2-time national champ sitting on the bench either way. I know Cael is great at juggling superstars, but that would be another level lol.

 

[BriantheLion]

I don't think the two scenarios 5/5 or grandfather matter to Duke.

If Levi came back and beat him for 174, under the new 5 for 5 he sits and then gets 3 more thereafter.

If Levi came back and PJ used his redshirt this year under the old rules, he gets 3 more thereafter.

My Crystal Ball has three facets:

(1). Under all scenarios, I do not see PJ as having any chance of getting back down to 157 after moving in the direction of 165/174.

(2) I also don't see Levi as a next topic against PJ at 174. PJ is motivated, got ripped off last year, and is about to be unleashed as a one man wreaking ball. Most of us simply assume Levi is on another level and whatever choice he makes, he gets. Not so fast my friends

(3). Ultimately despite the apparent uncertainty - My intuition tells me it's PJ at 165, MM at 174, and Levi chooses not to come back even if the law suits prevail and deem him eligible.

I agree that this is the most likely scenario. Levi coming back would make things really awkward at 174. By all accounts MM has already bulked up and there’s no going back at this point. I’m sure a Levi vs. MM wrestleoff would be epic, but then you’re going to end up with a 2-time national champ sitting on the bench either way. I know Cael is great at juggling superstars, but that would be another level lol.

I don’t know Levi personally, but from what I sense about him, once he and Mendez were ruled out (again) and PJ and Mitchell put on good weight accordingly, he might not feel it’s worth upsetting the apple cart by pushing his way back into the lineup….

…but since he’s in the room working on freestyle, he’s certainly in shape to step in for anyone in his weight range that might be injured.

 

[Corby2]

I don’t know Levi personally, but from what I sense about him, once he and Mendez were ruled out (again) and PJ and Mitchell put on good weight accordingly, he might not feel it’s worth upsetting the apple cart by pushing his way back into the lineup….

…but since he’s in the room working on freestyle, he’s certainly in shape to step in for anyone in his weight range that might be injured.

According to Casey's email it sounded like if he gets the ok he will wrestle