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Uneasy Lies The Head That Wears The Crown - Defending National Champions

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Wrestleknownothing

All-Conference
Oct 30, 2021
1,691
4,485
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I noticed that 4 of 5 defending national champions failed to successfully defend this year and wondered what the normal experience of defending national champions has been.

Since 1952, when we went to 10 weights:
  • an average of 4.3 champions have returned to defend their title the next year
  • an average of 2.4 of them were successful
  • the average success rate is 55% (median = 60%)
  • 1983 and 1992 were the best years for defenders - both went 4 for 4
  • 1972 was the worst year for defenders - 0 for 2
  • 2022 had the most defending champions - 8 (5 were successful)
  • 1985 was the only year without a defending champion.
Turns out it has been a rough three year stretch for defending champions. 2024, 2025, and 2026 all rank among the worst 13 years.



And as runs go only the four years from 2008-2011 was worse.
 
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Nashville_Hawk

Nashville_Hawk

All-Conference
Dec 31, 2015
706
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Wrestleknownothing said:
I noticed that 4 of 5 defending national champions failed to successfully defend this year and wondered what the normal experience of defending national champions has been.

Since 1952, when we went to 10 weights:
  • an average of 4.3 champions have returned to defend their title the next year
  • an average of 2.4 of them were successful
  • the average success rate is 55% (median = 60%)
  • 1983 and 1992 were the best years for defenders - both went 4 for 4
  • 1972 was the worst year for defenders - 0 for 2
  • 2022 had the most defending champions - 8 (5 were successful)
  • 1985 was the only year without a defending champion.
Turns out it has been a rough three year stretch for defending champions. 2024, 2025, and 2026 all rank among the worst 13 years.



And as runs go only the four years from 2008-2011 was worse.
Click to expand...
Brother, you re amazing with those stats…thank you! :)
 
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Wrestleknownothing

All-Conference
Oct 30, 2021
1,691
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EvilMonkeyInTheCloset said:
But Penn State returns everyone next year and will put UConn women's basketball dominance to shame!!!!

Just ask Penn State fans. They'll remind you even when nobody asked for it..........
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Penn State is not immune. In 2023, 5 of 7 defended. The two that did not were Roman Bravo-Young and Max Dean. In 2025 it was Levi Haines and Greg Kerkvliet.
 
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Sir Pin Alot

All-Conference
Jun 25, 2025
393
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JBJRFL said:
Yes, they are all musicians, they like to toot their own horn.
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Is it any different when Iowa was rolling all over everyone? Dynasties come and go and it will be very interesting what happens over the next couple of years with OSUs meteoric rise.
 
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Cidhawkeye

All-Conference
Jan 1, 2023
1,066
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JBJRFL said:
Yes, they are all musicians, they like to toot their own horn.
Click to expand...
Not sure I would use
‘Toot their own horn’ for Penn State. Their immediate reaction would be to deflect, deny and diminish and let us know Joe Pa did what was required and the statue should return.
 
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SJP80

Junior
Oct 12, 2021
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Sir Pin Alot said:
Is it any different when Iowa was rolling all over everyone? Dynasties come and go and it will be very interesting what happens over the next couple of years with OSUs meteoric rise.
Click to expand...
It is different. There was no internet or instantaneous trolling when Iowa was rolling all over everyone. All the Iowa chest pounding and horn tooting never made it too far out of Iowa.
 
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