Iowa and Oklahoma State Clash in Storied Wrestling Rivalry

Top-10 teams meet in regular season finale with conference and national implications

Feb. 21, 2026 at 2:49pm

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The Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team will travel to Stillwater, Oklahoma to face the #3 Oklahoma State Cowboys in a highly anticipated regular season finale matchup. The two historic rivals have combined for 58 NCAA championships and will meet for the 60th time, with Oklahoma State holding a 29-28-2 advantage in the all-time series.

Why it matters

This dual meet represents a chance for Iowa to finish a turbulent regular season on a high note and potentially tie the all-time series against their longtime rival. For Oklahoma State, it's an opportunity to stamp their status as the top challenger to wrestling powerhouse Penn State. With both teams featuring numerous top-10 ranked wrestlers, the stakes couldn't be higher for this regular season finale.

The details

The dual meet will feature a host of potential rematches from the teams' previous matchup at the National Duals in November, which Iowa won 8-9. Key individual battles could include #6 Dean Peterson vs #7 Troy Spratley, #4 Michael Caliendo vs #2 LaDarion Locket, and #3 Patrick Kennedy vs #7 Alex Facundo. The lineup for both teams remains uncertain, with Iowa potentially missing #2 Angelo Ferrari and #11 Nasir Bailey, while Oklahoma State was recently without #9 Casey Swiderski and #9 Zach Ryder.

  • The dual meet will take place on Sunday, February 22, 2026.
  • Originally scheduled for ESPN2, the matchup has been elevated to air on the main ESPN network.

The players

Iowa Hawkeyes

The #7 ranked Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team, with 24 NCAA championships, is looking to finish the regular season strong against their longtime rival.

Oklahoma State Cowboys

The #3 ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestling team, with 34 NCAA championships, is aiming to assert their status as the top challenger to Penn State and regain supremacy in this historic rivalry.

Angelo Ferrari

Iowa's #2 ranked wrestler at 184 pounds, who has been out since January 16th.

Nasir Bailey

Iowa's #11 ranked wrestler at 141 pounds, who has been absent since January 30th.

Casey Swiderski

Oklahoma State's #9 ranked wrestler, who was recently absent from the lineup.

Zach Ryder

Oklahoma State's #9 ranked wrestler, who was recently absent from the lineup.

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What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This historic rivalry between two of college wrestling's powerhouses will come down to the wire, with both teams looking to gain the upper hand and position themselves for success in the postseason. The uncertainty surrounding key lineups for both squads only adds to the intrigue and anticipation for this highly anticipated regular season finale.