Penn State Wrestling Dominates Ohio State for 6th Straight Big Ten Title

The Nittany Lions crushed the Buckeyes 36-5 in a top-2 showdown at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The No. 1 Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling team thoroughly defeated the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes 36-5 on February 13, 2026, to capture their sixth consecutive Big Ten regular season title. The dual meet was held at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pennsylvania, where Penn State set an NCAA indoor wrestling dual meet attendance record with 16,006 fans in attendance.

Why it matters

Penn State's wrestling program has been a dominant force in the Big Ten and nationally for years, and this latest conference title extends their reign at the top of the sport. The lopsided victory over their biggest rival Ohio State also solidifies Penn State's status as the clear favorite heading into the postseason tournaments.

The details

Penn State won 9 of the 10 individual weight classes, including technical falls, major decisions, and pins. Standout performances came from Luke Lilledahl (125 pounds), Marcus Blaze (133 pounds), Shayne Van Ness (149 pounds), PJ Duke (157 pounds), and Mitchell Mesenbrink (165 pounds). The Nittany Lions' depth and talent were on full display as they dominated the Buckeyes in front of the raucous home crowd.

  • The dual meet took place on February 13, 2026 inside the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pennsylvania.
  • Penn State set an NCAA indoor wrestling dual meet attendance record with 16,006 fans in attendance.

The players

Penn State Nittany Lions

The No. 1 ranked NCAA Division I wrestling team, who have now won 6 consecutive Big Ten regular season titles.

Ohio State Buckeyes

The No. 2 ranked NCAA Division I wrestling team, who were defeated handily by Penn State in this top-2 showdown.

Levi Haines

A senior on the Penn State wrestling team who helped lead the Nittany Lions to victory and their 6th straight Big Ten title.

Pat Kraft

The Athletic Director at Penn State University who congratulated the wrestling team after their dominant performance.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Nittany Lions will look to carry this momentum into the Big Ten and NCAA Wrestling Championships, where they will aim to capture national titles and cement their status as one of the all-time great college wrestling programs.

The takeaway

Penn State's wrestling dominance continues, as they have now won 6 straight Big Ten regular season titles and solidified their position as the top team in the country with this decisive victory over their biggest rival Ohio State. The Nittany Lions' depth, talent, and coaching have made them the team to beat in college wrestling.