No. 2 Ohio State beats No. 4 Iowa on Senior Night

The Buckeyes wrestling team defeated the Hawkeyes 24-9 in a Big Ten dual meet.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 9:31pm

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The second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes wrestling team defeated the fourth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes 24-9 on Friday night in a Big Ten dual meet held at the Covelli Center. The Buckeyes won 7 of the 10 matches, including a technical fall victory by top-ranked Jesse Mendez at 141 pounds that clinched the team win for Ohio State.

Why it matters

This matchup between two of the top wrestling programs in the country was an important Big Ten dual meet that could have implications for the conference and NCAA championships later in the season. Ohio State's dominant performance at home on Senior Night showed their strength and depth across multiple weight classes.

The details

Ohio State got wins from several of their top-ranked wrestlers, including Nic Bouzakis (125 lbs), Ben Davino (133 lbs), Jesse Mendez (141 lbs), Dylan Fishback (184 lbs), and Luke Geog (197 lbs). The Buckeyes also won close matches at 174 lbs and heavyweight to secure the team victory over the Hawkeyes.

  • The dual meet took place on Friday, February 7, 2026.

The players

Ohio State Buckeyes

The second-ranked wrestling team in the country, competing in the Big Ten Conference.

Iowa Hawkeyes

The fourth-ranked wrestling team in the country, competing in the Big Ten Conference.

Jesse Mendez

The top-ranked wrestler at 141 pounds for Ohio State, who won by technical fall to clinch the team victory.

Ben Davino

The second-ranked wrestler at 133 pounds for Ohio State, who defeated the 10th-ranked wrestler from Iowa.

Dylan Fishback

The eighth-ranked wrestler at 184 pounds for Ohio State, who won in sudden victory overtime.

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What they’re saying

“This was a big win for our team on Senior Night. We came out and competed hard across the lineup against a very tough Iowa squad.”

— Tom Ryan, Ohio State Head Wrestling Coach

What’s next

The Buckeyes will look to build on this win as they prepare for the Big Ten and NCAA Wrestling Championships in the coming months.

The takeaway

Ohio State's dominant performance against a top-5 Iowa team at home on Senior Night demonstrates their status as one of the elite wrestling programs in the country this season.