Cleveland, Ohio – Penn State enters the NCAA Wrestling Championships as the prohibitive favorite, with Cael Sanderson’s program on the verge of yet another historic milestone.
The Nittany Lions are seeking their 13th national championship under Sanderson and a fifth consecutive NCAA team title, a feat accomplished by only two of the sport’s most iconic programs: Iowa and Oklahoma State.
In an era where Penn State has become the gold standard of college wrestling, the question is no longer whether the Nittany Lions are the team to beat. It is how the rest of the country plans to close the gap.
That reality was on display when two of the sport’s most accomplished coaches in Ohio State’s Tom Ryan and Oklahoma State’s David Taylor, were asked about trying to chase down Penn State.
For Ryan, the pursuit is both obvious and necessary.
Ohio State raised eyebrows at the Big Ten Championships by sweeping three major conference awards. Ryan was named Coach of the Year, Jesse Mendez earned Wrestler of the Year honors and Ben Davino was selected Freshman of the Year. It was a reminder that the Buckeyes remain one of the nation’s premier programs even as Penn State continues to dominate the national picture.
Ryan’s resume speaks for itself.
He led Ohio State to the 2015 national championship, has guided the Buckeyes to five national runner-up finishes in 2008, 2009, 2017, 2018 and 2019, and has coached 13 individual national champions.
Still, Ryan made it clear that while Penn State is the target, the mission at Ohio State runs deeper than simply obsessing over one program.
“I think everyone in life needs something to chase and pursue,” Ryan said. “Penn State has provided something for every Division I program to chase and pursue.”
Ryan’s perspective reflects both respect and realism. He acknowledged the challenge Sanderson has built in Happy Valley while emphasizing that a program’s worth cannot be measured only by whether it topples Penn State.
“The plan is to beat them,” Ryan said. “But I don’t consider not doing that anything less worthy. I want to get the most out of my student-athletes. I want to see them attain the things they want to attain. I want to make sure our program is run the right way.”
That balance is important.
Ryan understands that competing with Penn State requires much more than motivation. It takes the right athletes, donors aligned with the vision, support in the NIL era and relentless work. He was direct in praising Sanderson for building a powerhouse while also expressing confidence that Ohio State can again rise to the top.
At Oklahoma State, the task of chasing Penn State belongs to a familiar face.
Add Nittany Sports Now as a preferred source in Google! Click here to add us.Taylor, one of the foundational stars of Sanderson’s dynasty, is now trying to restore one of wrestling’s blue-blood programs.
Oklahoma State’s tradition is unmatched in many ways, with 34 national championships and a lineage that remains the envy of college wrestling.
But in the modern era, Penn State has become the sport’s dominant force.
Taylor understands exactly what it takes to build a champion because he lived it. One of the greatest wrestlers in Penn State history, Taylor won two Hodge Trophies, two NCAA titles and played a central role in the first four Penn State team championships from 2011 through 2014 under Sanderson.
He also knows what it means to chase greatness, having been part of one of the sport’s fiercest rivalries with Cornell legend Kyle Dake.
Now, as a head coach, Taylor’s message sounds strikingly similar to the culture that helped Penn State rise.
“We’re trying to prepare for the national tournament. We’re trying to have 10 national champions. You’re trying to be national champions as a team,” Taylor said. “That’s the pinnacle of what you’re doing.”
Like Ryan, Taylor stressed that the primary focus is not on obsessing over one rival, but on maximizing his own roster.
“I’m not laser-focused on one individual or one individual program,” Taylor said. “I’m focused on helping my guys be the best that they possibly can be.”
Taylor said the foundation begins with standards. Coaches and wrestlers sit down before the season and define what they want to accomplish. From there, the staff’s role is to help them reach it. For Taylor, the thrill of competing in a meaningful team race is part of what drives improvement.
“That’s competition, and we want to compete at the highest level,” Taylor said. “Competing at the national tournament, this is exciting. Competing in a competitive team race, that’s exciting. That’s what drives people to become better versions of themselves.”
That may be the clearest measure of Penn State’s dominance. The Nittany Lions are not just winning championships. They are shaping the ambition of every other elite program in the sport.
As the NCAA Championships begin, Penn State once again stands atop the mountain. Ohio State and Oklahoma State, led by two accomplished coaches with very different ties to the dynasty, are among those trying to climb toward it.
For now, Penn State remains the standard. And until someone proves otherwise, the road to a national title still runs through Sanderson’s dynasty.
