Penn State wrestling announced its 2025 Big Ten opponents early Tuesday afternoon.
At home, Penn State will take on Iowa, Michigan State, Michigan and Maryland.
On the road, Cael Sanderson’s empire will take on Nebraska, Illinois, Ohio State and Rutgers.
We have our B1G opponents for the upcoming season! 🔥
Should be fun! 😃#PSUwr 🦁 pic.twitter.com/91mvFz4dDF— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) August 27, 2024
Of these eight opponents, Penn State wrestling took on— and conquered— seven of them last season. The only exception is Illinois, who Penn State hasn’t taken on in a dual since January 2020. Illinois, which came into that meet ranked No. 24, came closer to beating Penn State than most but fell, 22-16. PSU actually had to come from behind to win, taking the last four bouts.
Penn State’s most prominent away bout will likely be the one at Ohio State, which, like all the others, is at a date to be determined.
But Penn State’s dual meet at Nebraska could be just as challenging, if not more so.
Last season, Nebraska came closer than anybody to knocking off Penn State, taking a 10-6 lead into the intermission. But Penn State won four of the last five matches to get a 22-13 win, which locked up the Big Ten regular season dual meet championship.
This season, Nebraska returns stars such as Ridge Lovett, Silas Allred and Lenny Pinto.
At home, Penn State’s two top opponents are Iowa and Michigan, who each would be the top team in most wrestling conferences.
The last time Iowa and Michigan each came to Happy Valley was during the 2023 season.
Both of those dual meets were won by Penn State and held at a packed Bryce Jordan Center.
The dates for this year’s BJC Dual(s) and every other meet will be announced later.
