Ohio State Wrestling Defeats Iowa, Sets Up Undefeated Showdown with Penn State

Buckeyes coach Tom Ryan says team's success is result of 'dogged persistence' and strong team culture

Feb. 7, 2026 at 7:55am

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The No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes wrestling team defeated the No. 8 Iowa Hawkeyes 24-9 at home on Friday night, setting up an undefeated showdown with the top-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions next week. Ohio State head coach Tom Ryan praised his team's hard work and strong team culture, saying there's "no such thing as a quantum leap" and the Buckeyes' success is the result of "dogged persistence" since last season.

Why it matters

Ohio State and Penn State are two of the top wrestling programs in the country, and their upcoming matchup will be a highly anticipated showdown between undefeated teams. The Nittany Lions have dominated college wrestling in recent years, winning 84 consecutive dual meets, so Ohio State will have a major challenge in trying to end that streak.

The details

Against Iowa, the Buckeyes won the final seven bouts to secure the victory. Ohio State has several highly ranked individual wrestlers, including No. 1 Jesse Mendez at 141 pounds and No. 2 Nic Bouzakis at 125 pounds. Coach Ryan praised his team's strong relationships and alignment, saying "they care about each other" and "they're in unison."

  • The Ohio State vs. Penn State dual meet will take place next week.

The players

Tom Ryan

Head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes wrestling team.

Jesse Mendez

Ohio State's top-ranked wrestler at 141 pounds.

Nic Bouzakis

Ohio State's second-ranked wrestler at 125 pounds.

Tom Brands

Head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team, who has led the program for two decades.

Terry Brands

Associate head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team, who has worked alongside his brother Tom for two decades.

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What they’re saying

“I think the biggest thing is, you know, you see a season like this, and people think sometimes it's like this quantum leap happened. And you know, there's no such thing as quantum leap, we know that. There's just dogged persistence. And it's a team that, since the season ended last year, has worked hard all spring, all summer, all fall. They care about each other. They're in unison. The culture is good. They're all in alignment. Swim in the right, same direction. And we got some real superstars, you know, that love the sport. They care about each other. So super, super happy.”

— Tom Ryan, Head Coach, Ohio State Buckeyes (on3.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.