No. 14 Rutgers Wrestling Hosts Princeton After Best Big Ten Finish Since 2014

The Scarlet Knights look to continue their strong Big Ten season against in-state rival Princeton.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The No. 14 Rutgers wrestling team is coming off a strong weekend that solidified their standing as a legitimate force in the Big Ten Conference. With a 12-5 overall record and 5-3 in Big Ten competition, the Scarlet Knights are set to host in-state rival Princeton, which enters at 4-9, on Monday, February 16, 2026. The duel is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Jersey Mike's Arena and will stream live on Big Ten Plus.

Why it matters

Rutgers' recent success in the Big Ten has been historic, as they have posted back-to-back winning conference records for the first time since joining the league in 2014-15. A win over Princeton would further cement Rutgers' status as a rising power in the nation's premier wrestling conference.

The details

Rutgers is coming off a commanding 29-9 victory over Michigan State, which secured a winning Big Ten record for the second consecutive season under head coach Scott Goodale. This marks the first time since joining the Big Ten that Rutgers has posted back-to-back winning league records. Depending on how results unfold across the league, Rutgers can finish as high as tied for third place in the conference standings, which would be a program first.

  • The duel is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026.
  • Rutgers will honor ten student-athletes who have been foundational to the program's rise before the first whistle against Princeton.

The players

Scott Goodale

The head coach of the Rutgers wrestling team, who has guided the program to back-to-back winning Big Ten records.

Ayden Smith

A freshman wrestler at Rutgers who was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week after earning a 7-2 decision over then-No. 10 Jore Volk, helping Rutgers secure a 23-15 upset over then-No. 6 Minnesota.

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What they’re saying

“Big one Monday night against Princeton!”

— Rutgers Wrestling (Twitter)

What’s next

After the duel against Princeton, Rutgers will travel to Hempstead, New York, to face Hofstra on February 18. The match is scheduled for a 6 p.m. start and will stream on FloWrestling.

The takeaway

Rutgers' recent success in the Big Ten has been a testament to the program's growth and the dedication of its student-athletes. With a chance to finish as high as tied for third place in the conference standings, the Scarlet Knights have an opportunity to solidify their status as a legitimate force in the nation's premier wrestling conference.