Most Iowa wrestling fans knew their team was going to lose to Penn State Friday night.
But when the No. 2 team in the country loses by 22 points— even if it is to the most dominant force in college sports— fans of that team are going to be mad.
The standard at Iowa wrestling is always going to be high, and losses are not to be accepted.
Here’s how Hawkeye nation reacted to the loss.
Tom Brands After Iowa vs Penn State pic.twitter.com/9WCKnQlA1I
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) February 1, 2025
It’s time for brands to go. I’m so tired of just being average.
— Mike Ralf’s (@ralfys1988) February 1, 2025
Tom is going to keep Gabe from taking Ls as long as possible…..Long gone are the days of the tough grinding Iowa style. Sad.
— Sam Yoder (@Samjyoder) February 1, 2025
Dudes gonna cry 😂
— nebraska cubbie (@NebraskaCubbie) February 1, 2025
NCAA wrestling rankings:
1. Penn State
*Gap the size of space which is expanding infinitely*
2. Iowa
— Viva la Tino (@vivalatino17) February 1, 2025
Recap of tonight’s PSU vs. Iowa dual: pic.twitter.com/fGsmpllzml
— The Wrestling Room (Pat Mineo) (@MrPatMineo) February 1, 2025
Guess Iowa doesn’t like tough wrestling anymore.
— Dylan Ness (@Dness10) February 1, 2025
Anyone want to sign my petition to hire Cael as coach of Iowa?
— no (@hellyeah1979) February 1, 2025
For the rest of my life Penn St. is unstoppable. Even with all the upgrades Iowa and the rest of the country fell even further behind. It is like a college team taking out a high school team. Who wants to compete for 2nd place? There is nothing left for the fans.
— David (@ztexaseagle) February 1, 2025
Eirman, woods, parco, teemer, iowa gets these talented guys to transfer and they just don’t get better in that wrestling room
— TheGrizzlyIowan (@TheGrizzlyIowan) February 1, 2025
Iowa Wrestling effort tonight could put Dan Gable in his grave.
Brands isn’t new to this, if he can’t get it done against Cael, Iowa needs to find someone who can. No disrespect to Tom, hell of an athlete, but Iowa should never be down this long.
Wrestling used to mean Iowa.
— Joe Hugen (@Joe_Hugen) February 1, 2025
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us."Iowa wrestling you gotta beat Penn State eventually to win a natty again"
Iowa: pic.twitter.com/lIgbfSzONB— Wichita Wheat Freak (@EatDaWheaties) February 1, 2025
Easy night for the Iowa wrestling social media person
— Virtual NCAAs (@VNcaas) February 1, 2025
What’s frustrating is that even when we have gotten in big transfers recently they aren’t seeing more success at Iowa than their previous schools? Am I wrong in my thinking back ? If we are an elite program then when you come in you should improve and I haven’t seen it? Sucks
— Troy Barthelman (@BarthelmanTroy) February 1, 2025
Couldn’t agree more. It’s a high standard with higher expectations
— Tony Pigatti (@tonypigatti) February 1, 2025
David Taylor to the hawkeyes would have been great!!!!! Oklahoma State is gonna be dangerous in a few years
— Lifeafterthejob 👮♂️ (@honzy911) February 1, 2025
Iowa fans are weird man… pic.twitter.com/9ZU9Fzi1ur
— The Wrestling Room (Pat Mineo) (@MrPatMineo) February 1, 2025
Tbf it’s all the same burner group. Just stupid college kids
— cyclONE nation (@istatenation) February 1, 2025
What the hell is Iowa Wrestling even doing?
This isn’t Iowa Wrestling, and shouldn’t be acceptable. Not competitive at the top end of where Iowa expects to be, this can’t continue.
I hate how Penn State wrestles, but tonight it’s just an old fashioned beat down.
— Joe Hugen (@Joe_Hugen) February 1, 2025
They’re the Floyd Mayweather of wrestling. That being said, tonight they’re just kicking Iowa’s ass.
— Joe Hugen (@Joe_Hugen) February 1, 2025
Iowa getting out worked and gassing is shocking. When do they drop the Brand brothers?
— Truth (@GoatUpNxt) February 1, 2025
Brands is horrible. 1 team natty in the last 15, years is nothing close to Iowa standards or shouldn't be. He's turned a Lamborghini into a Mustang. He's lucky he has portal and NIL now. 20 coaches could have done what he done at Iowa and probably 5 or more a better job.
— Hawkeye Harry (@HawkCraz) February 1, 2025
1 natty in 15 years. You must not have watched Iowa in the 80s and 90s. I understand it'll never be the same but one in fifteen years,lol? At a program like Iowa, lol? Your coaching assessment is on par with Barta's, lol.
— Hawkeye Harry (@HawkCraz) February 1, 2025
It may not happen soon. But eventually Iowa will return to being the kings of college wrestling!:)
— Matt in a hat (@Mattinahat45926) February 1, 2025
