By Brian Reinhardt
USA Wrestling

One of the top duals of the season will take place this weekend in Stillwater, Oklahoma, as #2 Oklahoma State and #3 Nebraska meet for the third time in the last 12 months.

Dual of the Weekend 

#3 Nebraska at #2 Oklahoma State - Friday at 8 PM on ESPNU

The two teams met twice last season in duals, a rare occurrence, but it might become more common now with the National Duals every year in the first semester.

At the National Duals, Oklahoma State came out on top 33-6 in the third-place dual by winning eight of the 10 battles. The outcome was closer the second time around, one month later, but the Cowboys still prevailed 22-12 in Lincoln.

Here is a quick look at each weight class.

125: #7 Troy Spratley/Rocklin Zinkin vs. #4 Vince Robinson

A potential top-10 battle to start the dual if it begins at 125 pounds, but we have not seen Troy Spratley this year for Oklahoma State. In his place, freshman Rocklin Zinkin, who was the California and West Region winner of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame's Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award (DSHSEA) in 2026, has been impressive, and he was the #7 overall recruit in the 2026 class.

Two-time All-American Robinson transferred from NC State to fill the need for the Cornhuskers. He was the 2025 NCAA champion and placed fourth last year.

Spratley and Robinson have met five times already, all while Robinson was at NC State. They split a pair of matches at last year’s NCAA Championships, and their most famous bout came in the 2025 NCAA final, which Robinson won 2-1 in ride outs.

133: #1 Jax Forrest vs. #8 Jacob Van Dee

The returning NCAA champion Jax Forrest, who won it as a freshman last year and later was the Pennsylvania winner of the DSHSEA in 2026, versus Jacob Van Dee, a 2025 and 2026 All-American in his final season.

141: #15 Jayden Raney vs. #30 Jake Hockaday

A battle of first-year competitors making their way into the lineup. Jayden Raney, who along with his twin brother Jordyn was the co-winner of the DSHSEA for Kentucky in 2026, was the #6 overall recruit in the 2026 class, while Jake Hockaday, who was the Indiana winner of the DSHSEA in 2025, redshirted last year and scored five falls in his nine bouts.

149: #2 Sergio Vega vs. #5 Anthony Echemendia

Both are moving up from 141 pounds to 149 this year. Sergio Vega, who was the Arizona winner of the DSHSEA in 2025, was the NCAA champion as a freshman, while Anthony Echemendia transferred from Iowa State, where he was an All-American in both 2024 and 2026.

The two met twice last year, with Vega taking a close decision both times. First, it was 4-2 in the Oklahoma State-Iowa State dual, then 2-1 in ride outs at the Big 12 Championship.

157: #1 Landon Robideau vs. #3 Antrell Taylor

The showcase bout featuring the 2025 champion Antrell Taylor vs. the 2026 champion Landon Robideau, who was the Minnesota winner of the DSHSEA in 2025. Also, a rematch of last year’s NCAA final, won by Robideau, 4-2.

They also faced off in the December dual last year, with Taylor coming out on top, 3-2, in ride outs.

165: #3 Casey Swiderski vs. Meyer Shapiro

A match-up we did not think we would see at 165 pounds, as both squads have made recent changes to their lineup.

For Nebraska, #10 LJ Araujo, who was the North Dakota winner of the DSHSEA in 2024, suffered an injury at the U23 World Championships and has been out of action. In stepped three-time All-American Meyer Shapiro, who transferred from Cornell and originally planned to take the year off. Shapiro is moving up from 157 pounds and scored a tech last weekend in his first action as a Cornhusker.

For Oklahoma State, many penciled in LaDarion Lockett, who was the Oklahoma and Central Region winner of the DSHEA in 2025 and ranked in the top five for much of last season as a freshman. But he lost the wrestle-off to Swiderski, who is coming up from 149 pounds, where he was a two-time All-American, including last year in his first year in Stillwater.

174: #12 Alex Facundo vs. #2 Christopher Minto

The returning NCAA finalist Christopher Minto faces last year’s Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, Alex Facundo, who was the Michigan and National winner of the DSHSEA in 2021. They split the two matches in the two duals last year. Facundo first won 2-1, then Minto got revenge with a 4-1 win.

184: #11 Mikey White vs. #18 Lucas Cochran/Ethan DeLeon

Another recent lineup change for the Cowboys: the #9 overall recruit in his class, Mikey White, who was the Illinois winner of the DSHSEA in 2026, has taken the spot from 2024 All-American Bennett Berge, who was the Minnesota winner of the DSHSEA in 2022 and transferred from South Dakota State to Oklahoma State for his final season.

Lucas Cochran, who as the Utah winner of the DSHSEA in 2021, was penciled in as the starter after he transferred from Penn State for his final campaign. But he missed the opening dual against Wyoming as Ethan DeLeon got the start.

197: #2 Cody Merrill vs. #5 Camden McDanel

A top-five battle, as both are very familiar with each other. Merrill won both dual matchups last year, both by 2-1 scores.

285: #1 Konner Doucet/Dreshaun Ross vs. #14 Cade Ziola

Who steps onto the mat for Oklahoma State? Konner Doucet, who was the Oklahoma winner of the DSHSEA in 2020, was awarded an extra year of eligibility, and as the highest returning NCAA finisher from last year (fourth place), he was the preseason #1. He was a practice partner at the Senior World Championships, and in his place, freshman Dreshaun Ross, who was the Iowa and Midwest Region winner of the DSHSEA in 2026, got the start, the #3 overall recruit in the class.

There is zero doubt about the Cornhuskers’ heavyweight, as Ziola is one of the top upcoming youngsters in the weight class.

Other Notable Duals/Tournaments 

Navy at #15 NC State – Thursday at 5:30 p.m. on ACC Network Extra

Columbia at #12 Michigan – Friday at 7 p.m. on B1G+

Tiger Style Invite with Missouri, Little Rock, Purdue and Oregon State, among others – Saturday on FloWrestling

Sunshine Duals with #10 Iowa State, #24 Penn, North Dakota State, and Wisconsin – Saturday on FloWrestling

Air Force at Army – Sunday at 1 p.m. on FloWrestling

#13 Lehigh at #16 Rutgers – Sunday at 1 p.m. on B1G+

#20 Wyoming at #7 Stanford – Sunday at 4 p.m. on ESPN+

Penn State Lineup Update 

During a weekly press availability, Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson, a Distinguished Member inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011, provided some clarity on the Nittany Lions’ lineup ahead of their first dual of the season Thursday against Bloomsburg.

It was announced that after finishing fourth at 133 pounds as a freshman last year, Marcus Blaze, who was the Ohio and National winner of the DSHSEA in 2025, will move up to 141 pounds. He recently represented the U.S. at the Senior World Championships and will take some time adjusting to the new weight before competing for Penn State this year.

In his place at 133 pounds, it could be Japan’s 2024 Senior World champion Masanosuke Ono (depending on when he becomes eligible) or Nate Desmond, who competed at 125 and 141 pounds last year.

The Nittany Lions will also make a move at heavyweight, as Connor Mirasola will move up from 197 pounds and replace his brother Cole, who will not be on the roster this season due to a religious mission.

In addition, last year’s NCAA Qualifier at 141 pounds, Braeden Davis, is no longer listed on the Penn State roster.

Where the Top 10 are Competing 

#1 Penn State – Season-opening action. Thursday hosting Bloomsburg and Sunday at #18 Oklahoma.

#2 Oklahoma State – Hosts #3 Nebraska Friday night.

#3 Nebraska – At #2 Oklahoma State Friday night.

#4 Iowa – Season-opening action. Hosts Bellarmine Friday night.

#5 Virginia Tech – Not in action.

#6 Ohio State – Hosts Columbia Sunday afternoon.

#7 Stanford – At CSU Bakersfield Friday night and then hosts #20 Wyoming Sunday afternoon.

#8 Minnesota – At Appalachian State’s Mountaineer Invite on Sunday.

#9 Missouri – Hosts the Tiger Style Invite on Saturday.

#10 Iowa State – Will compete at the Sunshine Duals in Bradenton, Fla., facing North Dakota State and Penn on Saturday.

Note: These schedules are pulled from the school’s official website; some wrestlers might also be in action at various tournaments not on their official schedule.

Editor’s Note: Weekend schedules were compiled by Earl Smith of InterMat. All times listed are Eastern