Nebraska Wrestler Brock Hardy Addresses 'Altercation' with Penn State's Braeden Davis

Hardy takes accountability for incident, says opponent's reaction was justified

Published on Feb. 10, 2026

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Nebraska wrestling standout Brock Hardy addressed the altercation that occurred between him and Penn State's Braeden Davis during a recent dual meet. Hardy took responsibility for the incident, acknowledging that his gesture of tapping Davis on the chest after the bout was perceived as belittling, and said his opponent's reaction was justified. The senior wrestler, who is competing in his final season with the Big Red, reflected on his collegiate career and the bittersweet emotions of his final home match.

Why it matters

The altercation between Hardy and Davis highlights the intense rivalries and emotions that can arise in collegiate wrestling. Hardy's willingness to take accountability and clarify his intentions sets a positive example for sportsmanship and conflict resolution in the sport.

The details

During the dual meet against Penn State in late January, Hardy pinned Davis to give Nebraska momentum. After the bout, Hardy tapped Davis on the chest, prompting the Penn State wrestler to storm back. Officials had to separate the two, and Davis was penalized a point for the altercation. In a recent press conference, Hardy took responsibility for the incident, saying his gesture was not meant to be belittling, but he understood how it could be perceived that way. He apologized to Davis and acknowledged that his opponent's reaction was justified.

  • On January 24, 2026, Hardy earned his team's first win with a 1–0 decision over Iowa's Nasir Bailey at 141 pounds, becoming the 33rd wrestler in the program's history to reach the 100-win milestone.
  • In late January 2026, the altercation between Hardy and Davis occurred during the dual meet between Nebraska and Penn State.
  • On February 8, 2026, Hardy competed in the final home match of his collegiate career at the Bob Devaney Sports Center, as his team took on Northwestern.

The players

Brock Hardy

A senior wrestler for the Nebraska Cornhuskers, competing in his final season with the program. He is one of the most promising wrestlers in the Nebraska program, with over 100 wins and three All-American honors.

Braeden Davis

A wrestler for the Penn State Nittany Lions, who was involved in the altercation with Brock Hardy during a recent dual meet.

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What they’re saying

“The altercation afterwards, I apologise to Braeden because I patted him on the belly, but it wasn't meant to be like in a way of like, you know, belittling. It wasn't supposed to be belittling whatsoever, but I can see how it was taken that way. It's like I said, he reacted, but I understand the reaction.”

— Brock Hardy, Nebraska Wrestler

What’s next

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The takeaway

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