Penn State wrestling reveals Big Ten duals for 2024-25 season

The path for Penn State wrestling to win a fourth consecutive National Championship got a little clearer on Tuesday afternoon with the release of the Nittany Lions‘ Big Ten opponents for the 2024-25 season. Cael Sanderson and the Nittany Lions will be the clear favorites to repeat as Big Ten Dual Season Champions and are expected to once again enter March in the driver’s seat for postseason glory.

There is no question that Penn State wrestling is the team that everyone looks at on their schedule and knows it will be an uphill climb. It is sort of the same line of thinking that many Big Ten football programs feel about Ohio State football. That is, an upset generally relies just as much on what Penn State puts out on the mat as it does on anything other programs can do to force Sanderson and the Nittany Lions’ hand.

Penn State wrestling receives a balanced schedule

This year, Penn State wrestling will face Iowa, Michigan State, Michigan, and Maryland at home and will make trips to Nebraska, Illinois, Ohio State, and Rutgers. Overall, it is a fairly balanced schedule, with the Nittany Lions facing four of the top five teams who finished behind them in the standings a year ago.

We have our B1G opponents for the upcoming season! 🔥
Should be fun! 😃#PSUwr 🦁 pic.twitter.com/91mvFz4dDF

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) August 27, 2024

The Iowa Hawkeyes will return to State College in what could very well be the Bryce Jordan Center dual, but that may depend on the date and time of the match. Whether that highly anticipated matchup falls on a weekend and or conflicts with the basketball team or THON will decide the location. Penn State took down then-No. 3 Iowa 29-6 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena in February.

Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports

The Cael Sanderson-led Nittany Lions will also be making difficult road trips to face most likely two top-10 ranked teams in Ohio State and Michigan.

The Buckeyes finished eighth at the NCAA Championships in 2024, but had a young roster and should be a contender for a top three spot this season. The Wolverines had a third-place finish in 2024. Michigan always finds a way to get wrestlers through the transfer portal and should repeat as a top contender in 2025.

Earlier this month, reports indicated that Penn State wrestling will face American on February 21. That is currently the only non-conference opponent that has been revealed, and the only bout with a potential date attached to it. The Nittany Lions’ full schedule is expected to be released in the coming weeks.

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