Penn State Wrestling Dominates Michigan in 38-3 Rout

Nate Desmond's sudden-victory win highlights the Nittany Lions' thrashing of the Wolverines.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 8:47pm

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Penn State's wrestling team went on the road and routed Michigan, 38-3, inside the Crisler Center in Ann Arbor. The Nittany Lions were led by impressive performances from true freshman Nate Desmond, who filled in at 141 pounds, and several other top-ranked wrestlers who earned technical falls and major decisions.

Why it matters

This dominant win on the road against a top-10 opponent showcases the depth and talent of the Penn State wrestling program, which has been a national powerhouse for years. The Nittany Lions' ability to overcome injuries and get contributions from lesser-known wrestlers like Desmond demonstrates their coaching staff's skill in developing talent.

The details

Penn State jumped out to an early 10-0 lead with technical falls from Luke Lilledahl (125 pounds) and Marcus Blaze (133). Nate Desmond, filling in for the injured Braeden Davis, then pulled off the biggest upset of the night, defeating No. 26 Dylan Ragusin 8-5 in sudden victory at 141 pounds. The Nittany Lions cruised from there, getting major decisions and technical falls from several of their top-ranked wrestlers to secure the lopsided victory.

  • The match took place on Friday, February 7, 2026 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

The players

Nate Desmond

A true freshman wrestler who filled in for the injured Braeden Davis at 141 pounds and pulled off a big upset victory over a ranked opponent.

Cael Sanderson

The head coach of the Penn State wrestling team, which has been a national powerhouse for years.

Luke Lilledahl

Penn State wrestler who earned a technical fall victory at 125 pounds.

Marcus Blaze

Penn State wrestler who earned a technical fall victory at 133 pounds.

Taye Ghadiali

Michigan wrestler who earned the Wolverines' only victory of the match, defeating Penn State's Cole Mirasola at 285 pounds.

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What they’re saying

“The funny thing is wrestling for Penn State, you never know what's going to happen, but you always have to be ready to wrestle. I feel like that's something I do well, adapt to competition. Obviously, I have the best people in the world to prepare me. I'm so grateful to God, and absolutely blessed to have the opportunity.”

— Nate Desmond

“That match took a lot of being tough, and stuff I work on every day in the room. These guys prepare me for that. It was awesome. I was excited.”

— Nate Desmond

What’s next

Penn State will look to continue its dominant season when it hosts the Big Ten Championships on March 7-8.

The takeaway

Penn State's wrestling program continues to be a national powerhouse, showcasing its depth and ability to develop talent. The Nittany Lions' lopsided victory over a top-10 opponent on the road underscores their status as one of the elite programs in college wrestling.