BREAKING: Bo Bassett picks Big Ten rival Iowa over Penn State wrestling

The 2026 No. 1 overall wrestling recruit Bo Bassett has made his decision on where he will begin his college career. Unfortunately for Cael Sanderson and Penn State wrestling, it won’t be Happy Valley.

On Tuesday night, the Bishop McCort standout announced that he will be taking his talents to Iowa City in the fall of 2026, committing to the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Here’s @BoBassett06 announcement committing to Iowa pic.twitter.com/XEroVQqdDM

— Evan Smith (@EvanRGSmith) February 5, 2025

Bassett holds a 109-0 career record and won a PIAA state championship during his sophomore season. He is a heavy favorite to win two more PIAA titles before heading to the college ranks. The Bishop McCort product projects as a 149-pounder or higher at the collegiate level.

Iowa is back to being a national contender

Bassett’s commitment can potentially get Iowa back in the mix for more National Championships under Tom Brands. Despite last winning a title in 2021, the Hawkeyes have largely been out of the national picture since their three consecutive titles from 2008 to 2010. In addition to its 2021 championship, Iowa has only finished as a runner-up twice since 2011. 

Looking for a way to stay up-to-date with all the most important news surrounding Penn State wrestling and Nittany Lion athletics? Follow us on social media and subscribe to our free newsletter for live news and insights sent directly to your feed!

With Penn State wrestling great David Taylor rebuilding one of the sport’s blue bloods at Oklahoma State, the timing couldn’t be better for a recruiting uptick in Iowa City.

Despite the decision, Penn State wrestling has still landed the nation’s top recruiting class in the previous two cycles. In November, the No. 1 prospect for the 2025 cycle, Marcus Blaze, announced his pledge to the Nittany Lions. Of course, Penn State also landed the top wrestler in 2024, Luke Lilledahl.

Coming into the week, FloWrestling ranked the Nittany Lions as the No. 16 class in 2026.

Thank you for reading Basic Blues Nation, one of the fastest-growing outlets covering Penn State athletics. Part of the Full Ride network, we are an alumni-owned and operated, credentialed media outlet dedicated to providing you with updated and reliable insights for all your favorite Nittany Lion sports. Whether it’s Penn State football, basketball, wrestling, or anything in between, you can find it all on Basic Blues Nation!

Please follow us on our social channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, and subscribe to our newsletter on Substack for breaking news and notifications. For feedback, questions, or concerns, please email us at [email protected] or direct message us on social media.