Analysts: Penn State wrestling vs. Oklahoma State set to become the sport’s top rivalry

The college wrestling world tilted on its axis when David Taylor left Happy Valley and headed West to Stillwater. A homerun hire for Oklahoma State, Taylor’s departure is a situation that hasn’t yet been experienced in the Cael Sanderson era of the Penn State wrestling program. While no one expects Penn State’s dynasty to end anytime soon, the Nittany Lions may have just found a new rival in one of its own. But is Penn State-Oklahoma State now the premier rivalry in the sport? Recently, the analysts on FloWrestling Radio Live debated where the rivalry stands now, and where it is headed.

Is Penn State vs. Oklahoma State the new No. 1 Rivalry in wrestling?

When Oklahoma State hired David Taylor as its next head coach a few weeks ago, it sent shockwaves throughout the college wrestling world. For the first time since Cael Sanderson took over at Penn State, a former superstar wrestler had left the Penn State bubble and looked for an opportunity in the coaching ranks.

Shortly thereafter, Penn State wrestling assistant coach Jimmy Kennedy and NLWC member Thomas Gilman followed Taylor to fill assistant spots on the Cowboys’ staff. Although not former Nittany Lions, these were still impactful departures that we haven’t yet seen in the Sanderson era

During a recent episode of FloWrestling Radio Live, the hosts discussed whether Penn State-Oklahoma State would be the new biggest rivalry in NCAA Wrestling. They looked back at past social media posts by Penn State wrestling superstar Carter Starocci, which talked about loyalty and the hopes of having a dual inside Beaver Stadium.

“For me, if I could say you get to watch one dual next year, it is Penn State vs. Oklahoma State by a large margin,” Christian Pyles said.“Who isn’t Penn State going to kill next year? Find a competitive dual? That isn’t going to be easy.

“They are way ahead of everyone. The tension, the rivalry that will be and what is going to be coming in the next couple of years [between the two programs] is going to be insane.”

Penn State wrestling will enter as a massive favorite to win its fourth consecutive NCAA title and 12^th in 14 seasons in 2025. However, Oklahoma State has already made significant noise in the transfer portal, signing two-time All-American heavyweight Wyatt Hendrickson from Air Force this past Sunday. The Cowboy staff followed it up by signing three-time All-American Cam Amine out of Michigan on Thursday.

So, while the Nittany Lions would certainly be a heavy favorite in a dual, the storylines are more about what could build for the future. The Cowboys have a massive NIL fund to work with. If the success in the transfer portal is any indication of what David Taylor can do on the recruiting trail, it could mean a closing of the gap in three to five years.

Iowa still moves the needle

The No. 1 obstacle that stands in the way of Penn State-Oklahoma State becoming the top rivalry in the sport is Iowa. The historic program that was built by Dan Gable in the mid-1970s through the late 1990s still reigns as one of the top draws in the sport.

Christian Pyles brought up during the episode that the Hawkeyes remain at the top of the sport in views, even if they aren’t necessarily winning titles like during the Gable years.

“If you look at the viewership and all the metrics, Iowa is still there,” he argued. “Iowa finished fifth this year, and Penn State had debatably the greatest team ever. And if you look at the ratings, it is still Iowa that is moving the needle in a bigger way.

“If you look at in terms of interest, it is probably still Iowa vs. Penn State, or Iowa vs. Oklahoma State now being injected with new life [with the David Taylor hire].”

As long as Iowa is continuously a top three to five program in the country, it will be difficult for a Penn State vs. Oklahoma State matchup to rise into the top spot. But it is hard to project what Oklahoma State reclaiming its position as a top three program would do for a school such as Iowa. Even so, that may still be three years away at the earliest.

Oklahoma State is a napping giant

When Cael Sanderson arrived at Penn State to take the head coaching job, he called the program a “sleeping giant.” It was hard to see the Nittany Lions as much of anything at the time. After all, the team had just one NCAA Championship back in 1953, and never was in consistent contention for titles, despite being in one of the most talent-rich states in the country.

Sanderson turned out to be 100% correct, and the last decade-plus is the proof: 11 National Championships, a dominant RTC program, and even former wrestlers like Bo Nickal having success in the UFC.

However, the difference between what Penn State was when Cael Sanderson arrived and what David Taylor is taking over at Oklahoma State are drastically different.

“The success that [Oklahoma State] has had and what they have been makes them a bigger sleeping giant,” FRL host Tyler Meisinger added. “It’s not even fully sleeping, it might just be taking a nap.”

The statement couldn’t be truer, as the Cowboys haven’t fallen completely out of contention during Sanderson’s reign at Penn State. Oklahoma State last won an NCAA title in 2006, its fourth consecutive at the time. The Cowboys did finish runner-up in 2013 and 2016, with the former being just four points behind the Nittany Lions.

“Penn State was unrealized potential, where Oklahoma State is a historic program with a lot of talent there,” Pyles concurred.

While Penn State wrestling had the potential to be a great program, no coach had figured out a way to tap into the talented state of Pennsylvania and get the Nittany Lions to the top until Cael Sanderson arrived in State College.

Oklahoma State is easily the most accomplished program, with a record 34 NCAA titles over nine decades. If David Taylor can consistently get the Cowboys back to the top, this rivalry could easily become the No. 1 in the sport.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, the market’s fastest-growing Penn State sports outlet. Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news and insights on your favorite Penn State athletics. For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email us at basicbluesnation@gmail.com or direct message us on our social media. Also, be sure to check out our new site shop. It’s due to your support that we can proudly claim a readership of over 3.5 million in our first year of operation.