Nebraska wrestling rallies for top-10 win at Illinois

Huskers overcome early deficit to defeat No. 10 Fighting Illini

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

No. 6 Nebraska wrestling team overcame an early 11-0 deficit to win its final eight bouts and defeat No. 10 Illinois 28-11 in a Big Ten dual meet on Friday night. The Huskers rallied behind strong performances from several ranked wrestlers, including Brock Hardy, Chance Lamer, Antrell Taylor, and LJ Araujo.

Why it matters

This win over a top-10 opponent is an important statement for the Nebraska wrestling program, which is looking to build momentum heading into the postseason. The Huskers' ability to fight back from an early deficit and dominate the upper weights shows the depth and resilience of their lineup.

The details

Nebraska dropped the opening two bouts, falling behind 11-0, but then reeled off eight straight wins to secure the victory. Key wins came from No. 4 Brock Hardy (141 pounds), No. 20 Chance Lamer (149), No. 5 Antrell Taylor (157), and No. 7 LJ Araujo (165). In the upper weights, No. 4 Christopher Minto (174), No. 6 Silas Allred (184), and No. 9 Camden McDanel (197) all won their matches, with McDanel clinching the dual victory. No. 4 AJ Ferrari closed out the night with a major decision win at heavyweight.

  • The dual meet took place on Friday, February 14, 2026 in Champaign, Illinois.

The players

Nebraska Cornhuskers

The No. 6 ranked Nebraska wrestling team, coached by Mark Manning, defeated No. 10 Illinois in a Big Ten dual meet.

Illinois Fighting Illini

The No. 10 ranked Illinois wrestling team, led by head coach Jim Heffernan, hosted Nebraska at Huff Hall in Champaign.

Brock Hardy

The No. 4 ranked Nebraska wrestler at 141 pounds, who won his match by technical fall to help the Huskers rally.

Chance Lamer

The No. 20 ranked Nebraska wrestler at 149 pounds, who won his match 5-2 to give the Huskers momentum.

Antrell Taylor

The No. 5 ranked Nebraska wrestler at 157 pounds, who won a close 4-2 decision to tie the dual at 11-11.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What’s next

Nebraska will look to carry this momentum into its final Big Ten dual meet on Sunday, February 15 at No. 25 Indiana.

The takeaway

Nebraska's ability to rally from an early deficit and dominate the upper weights shows the depth and resilience of their lineup, which will be crucial as they prepare for the postseason.