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No. 3 Oklahoma State Hosts No. 7 Iowa in Top Wrestling Dual
Two Olympic champion coaches lead their teams in a highly anticipated matchup on ESPN
Feb. 21, 2026 at 7:48pm
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The No. 7 Iowa Hawkeyes will travel to Stillwater to face the No. 3 Oklahoma State Cowboys in a highly anticipated college wrestling dual meet. This matchup features two traditional powerhouse programs led by Olympic champion head coaches with unique styles and personalities. The dual is set to air on ESPN at 6pm ET.
Why it matters
This is a marquee matchup between two of the top wrestling programs in the country, with both teams looking to gain momentum heading into the postseason. The outcome could have major implications for the national rankings and conference standings as the teams gear up for the Big 12 and NCAA Championships.
The details
The dual will feature several highly-ranked individual matchups, including 125 lbs between No. 6 Dean Peterson of Iowa and No. 7 Troy Spratley of Oklahoma State, and 133 lbs between No. 9 Drake Ayala of Iowa and No. 6 Jax Forrest or Ronnie Ramirez of Oklahoma State. Other key bouts include 141 lbs with No. 2 Sergio Vega of Oklahoma State against Kale Petersen of Iowa, and 165 lbs between No. 4 Mikey Caliendo of Iowa and No. 2 Ladarion Lockett of Oklahoma State.
- The dual is scheduled for Sunday, February 23, 2026 at 6pm ET.
- The last time these two teams met, Oklahoma State defeated Iowa 18-16 earlier this season.
The players
Tom Brands
Head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes wrestling team and 1996 Olympic gold medalist.
David Taylor
Head coach of the Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestling team and 2012 Olympic gold medalist.
Dean Peterson
Iowa's No. 6 ranked wrestler at 125 lbs.
Troy Spratley
Oklahoma State's No. 7 ranked wrestler at 125 lbs.
Drake Ayala
Iowa's No. 9 ranked wrestler at 133 lbs.
What’s next
The outcome of this dual could have major implications for the national rankings and conference standings as both teams gear up for the Big 12 and NCAA Championships in the coming weeks.
The takeaway
This highly anticipated matchup between two of college wrestling's traditional powerhouses led by Olympic champion coaches promises to deliver high-intensity, high-stakes action that will captivate fans and set the stage for an exciting postseason push.
