Manheim, Pa. – The National Wrestling Coaches Association has released its preseason Division I Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll, with NCAA champion Penn State opening the year as the nation’s No. 1 team. The Nittany Lions received all 16 first-place votes after finishing last season 15-0 in duals and capturing their 12th national title under head coach Cael Sanderson and 13th overall.

Nebraska, last year’s NCAA runner-up, starts at No. 2, followed by Iowa, Ohio State, and Oklahoma State. The top 10 also includes Iowa State, NC State, Lehigh, Minnesota, and Virginia Tech, representing four different conferences.

The Big Ten Conference once again leads all leagues with eight teams ranked in the preseason Top 25, including seven in the top 15. The Big 12 also places eight programs in the poll, highlighted by Oklahoma State at No. 5 and Iowa State at No. 6. The ACC follows with five, while the EIWA has two teams and both the Ivy League and Pac-12 claim one apiece.

Historically Streaking
Penn State returns nine All-Americans and its 71-match win streak is the longest in the NCAA’s Division I era (since 1973) and is the sixth longest in college wrestling history regardless of division. Oklahoma State holds the major college record of 76, set from 1937-1951.

The NCAA record is 77 in a row, set by Division II St. Cloud State from 2017-2022. NAIA Grand View has the all-time collegiate streak at 117 in a row, set from 2013-2022.
 
Methodology: The NWCA Division I Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll is voted on by two coaches from each Division I wrestling conference. Each first-place vote is worth 25 points, 24 points for a second-place vote, 23 points for a third-place vote, and so on, through to one point for a 25th-place vote. The poll is based on dual meet results.

Rank

Team (First)

24-25 Record

Points

Conference

1

Penn State (16)

(15-0)

400

Big Ten

2

Nebraska

(11-3)

379

Big Ten

3

Iowa

(14-1)

363

Big Ten

4

Ohio State

(13-3)

330

Big Ten

5

Oklahoma State

(13-1)

328

Big 12

6

Iowa State

(12-5)

321

Big 12

7

NC State

(11-2)

279

ACC

8

Lehigh

(7-4)

274

EIWA

9

Minnesota

(10-2)

263

Big Ten

10

Virginia Tech

(9-2)

257

ACC

11

Michigan

(7-5)

215

Big Ten

12

Cornell

(11-1)

214

Ivy League

13

Northern Iowa

(14-1)

199

Big 12

14

Stanford

(10-5)

198

ACC

15

Rutgers

(14-5)

189

Big Ten

16

Illinois

(9-4)

187

Big Ten

17

South Dakota State

(14-4)

135

Big 12

18

Missouri

(5-10)

123

Big 12

19

Oklahoma

(8-4)

104

Big 12

20

West Virginia

(10-7)

83

Big 12

21

Pittsburgh

(10-6)

81

ACC

22

Little Rock

(17-3)

78

Pac-12

23

North Carolina

(9-6)

55

ACC

24

Army West Point

(8-3)

38

EIWA

25

Wyoming

(12-6)

29

Big 12

Others Receiving Votes: Purdue 20, Penn 19, Wisconsin 11, Arizona State 5, Navy 5, Indiana 4, Lock Haven 4, Cal Poly 3, Columbia 3, Maryland 2, Oregon State 1, Rider 1.

2025-26 Division I Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll Release Dates
Nov. 4, Nov. 11, Nov. 18, Nov. 25
Dec. 2, Dec. 9, Dec. 16
Jan. 6, Jan. 13, Jan. 20, Jan. 27
Feb. 3, Feb. 10, Feb. 17, Feb. 24

2025-26 Division I Mid-Major Men’s Wrestling Coaches Poll Release Dates
Jan. 7, Jan. 21
Feb. 11, Feb. 25 

Questions related to historical polls can be sent to Jason Bryant at jason@bryantwrestling.com.