Penn State Wrestlers Surge in Rankings After Ohio State Wins

Two Nittany Lions jump multiple spots following key victories against rival Buckeyes.

Feb. 18, 2026 at 7:31pm

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Two Penn State wrestlers, Cole Mirasola and Marcus Blaze, surged in the latest media rankings after picking up big wins against Ohio State last Friday night. Mirasola, the heavyweight, moved up to No. 5 nationally after upsetting the Buckeyes' Nick Feldman, while Blaze jumped to No. 2 at 133 pounds following his 3-2 decision over Ohio State's Ben Davino.

Why it matters

Penn State's wrestling program is one of the most dominant in the country, and these rankings jumps for Mirasola and Blaze show the Nittany Lions' continued strength heading into the final dual meet of the regular season against Princeton.

The details

Mirasola's win over Feldman, who was previously ranked No. 6, puts the Penn State heavyweight inside the All-American threshold across the major media rankings. Blaze's victory over Davino, who had been the No. 2-ranked 133-pounder, came down to a reversal in tiebreaker two to secure the 3-2 decision win for the Nittany Lion.

  • Penn State took down Ohio State 36-5 last Friday night at the Bryce Jordan Center.
  • The Nittany Lions will face Princeton this Friday, February 17, 2026, to close out the regular season.

The players

Cole Mirasola

A Penn State wrestler who moved up to No. 5 nationally in the heavyweight division after upsetting Ohio State's Nick Feldman.

Marcus Blaze

A Penn State wrestler who jumped to No. 2 in the 133-pound weight class after defeating Ohio State's Ben Davino 3-2.

Cael Sanderson

The head coach of the Penn State wrestling team, which clinched the Big Ten dual meet title with the win over Ohio State.

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What they’re saying

“Cole Mirasola moves to #5 after defeating #6 Nick Feldman. Despite wins over #3 AJ Ferrari, Feldman drops to #6 because of losses on the year to #4 Taye Ghadiali and Mirasola. Mirasola is kept from rising higher because of losses on the year to Ghadiali, #7 Christian Carroll, and #10 Nathan Taylor.”

— Jon Kozak

“Though Carroll defeated Taye Ghadiali and Cole Mirasola this year, Carroll's losses to Koy Hopke, Jimmy Mullen, and Nick Feldman keep him at the #7 spot.”

— Jon Kozak

What’s next

Penn State seeks its 86th consecutive dual meet triumph when it takes on Princeton on Friday, February 17, 2026 to close out the regular season.

The takeaway

Penn State's wrestling dominance continues, as the Nittany Lions maintain six of the top 10 spots in the latest media rankings. The surge of Mirasola and Blaze following big wins against rival Ohio State shows the depth and talent of this Penn State squad heading into the postseason.