Rutgers Wrestling Upsets No. 6 Minnesota

Scarlet Knights earn first-ever dual meet victory over Golden Gophers

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Rutgers Wrestling pulled off a major upset on Friday night, defeating No. 6 ranked Minnesota 23-15 in their first ever dual meet victory over the Golden Gophers. The Scarlet Knights won six bouts, including two by major decision and one by pin, in front of over 3,700 fans at Jersey Mike's Arena.

Why it matters

This win is a significant accomplishment for the Rutgers wrestling program, as they were able to take down a highly ranked opponent for the first time in program history. It showcases the continued growth and development of the Scarlet Knights' wrestling team and could be a momentum-building victory as they look ahead to the rest of their season.

The details

Rutgers got off to a strong start, with Ayden Smith (125 lbs.) and Andrew Clark (149 lbs.) earning decision wins. The Scarlet Knights then picked up major decision victories from Dylan Shawver (133 lbs.) and Lenny Pinto (174 lbs.), as well as a pin from Remy Cotton (197 lbs.) to secure the upset win. Anthony White (157 lbs.) also earned a sudden victory decision for Rutgers.

  • The dual meet took place on Friday, February 7, 2026.
  • Rutgers will next face Michigan State on Friday, February 14, 2026 at 6:30pm ET.

The players

Rutgers Wrestling

The wrestling team from Rutgers University, a Division I program that competes in the Big Ten Conference.

Minnesota Golden Gophers

The wrestling team from the University of Minnesota, a Division I program that is ranked No. 6 nationally.

Ayden Smith

A wrestler for Rutgers who won his 125-pound match against a top 10 ranked opponent.

Andrew Clark

A wrestler for Rutgers who won his 149-pound match.

Remy Cotton

A wrestler for Rutgers who secured the dual meet victory with a pin at 197 pounds.

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What they’re saying

“This win is a major accomplishment for our program and shows the progress we've made. Our guys came out focused and executed their game plans to perfection.”

— Scott Goodale, Head Coach, Rutgers Wrestling (on3.com)

What’s next

Rutgers will look to build on this upset victory when they travel to East Lansing to take on Michigan State on Friday, February 14, 2026 at 6:30pm ET. The match will be streamed on BTN Plus.

The takeaway

Rutgers Wrestling's upset win over the No. 6 Minnesota Golden Gophers is a significant milestone for the program, showcasing their continued growth and development as they aim to establish themselves as a top contender in the highly competitive Big Ten Conference.