The Nittany Lions hit the road for the first time this young season, reciprocating Oklahoma’s trip to the Bryce Jordan Center last fall. Let’s hope the Sooners field closer to their starting lineup this year than they did last – it would be far more surprising if they send out backups on their home mat, but weirder things have happened.
Penn State wrestling raised the 2026 championship banner on Thursday night and started off the season with a thrashing of in-state foe Bloomsburg, who only won one
of the ten bouts (against likely the third option at 141, hometown grappler and coach’s son Hayden Cunningham). The first dual of the year saw the folkstyle debut of world champion (and local State College celebrity) Masanosuke Ono and the return to competition for all American Tyler Kasak, as well as the other usual suspects from last year’s championship squad.
They take on an Oklahoma team that frankly feels under ranked to me, especially with a pair of transfers that will be familiar names for PSU fans in Paddy Gallagher and Brian Soldano. As of the writing of this preview, the Sooners’ most recent outing was a 9-win drubbing of future PSU opponent Northern Colorado, who won their only bout against an OU backup at 165.
This should be a fun early test for the Lions, who look to settle down and get everyone in mid-season form already after a handful of bouts were closer than some hoped in their last outing.
How To Watch
What: #1 Penn State vs #13 Oklahoma*
Where: McCasland Field House, Norman, OK
When: Sunday, November 15, 8pm EST
Audio: Free (via GoPSUSports)
Video: ESPN+ ($)
Lineup
125
Lilledahl majored Hendriksen when the two faced off last year and is the OU wrestler listed in intermat’s rankings, but Degennaro got the start in Oklahoma’s last outing, beating a UNC ranked wrestler. I still can’t Bear to make a prediction different than last year’s result, though.
Prediction: Lilledahl by major decision
Score: PSU 4, OU 0
133 LBS
Masa Ono started off with a bang but seemingly got himself over excited in his PSU singlet debut – just a takedown shy of a tech fall in the first period, he slowed down a lot in the final two periods and ended up getting taken down himself before settling for a major decision. This bout could either be a tech fall in the first, or a close decision in the third. I’m not sure it would be anything in between – so I’m going to go conservative.
Prediction: Ono by decision
Score: PSU 7, OU 0
141 LBS
With Marcus Blaze still out and Nate Desmond seemingly staying at 133 until the end of the year, this looks like, rather than my prediction of Herring, this might be Casey’s oldest again. His opponent this bout is even tougher, and points will be harder for Hayden to score. Oklahoma’s best shot will probably mean bonus for the hometown team.
Prediction: Wells by major decision
Score: PSU 7, OU 4
149 LBS
Shayne got the season’s first pin, and he looked smooth doing it. I have a feeling he’s going to approach this season, likely his last, with a chip on his shoulder – especially since he’s starting lower ranked than he’s been in a few years. His final tour continues this night.
Prediction: Van Ness by pin
Score: PSU 13, OU 4
157 LBS
Tyler was back for the first time in over a season on Thursday, and got a very late takedown to make the score close to bonus. He seems to need some time to get back into the thick of things, and I think it’ll take just a few more bouts for him to get his feel more under him.
Prediction: Kasak by decision
Score: PSU 16, OU 4
165 LBS
PJ Duke looks in mid season form already, even up another weight. He always seemed to be a large 157er, so fits right in at this weight; he’ll likely take on Ohio State transfer Paddy Gallagher, who teammate Mitchell Mesenbrink got bonus against three times last season. It’s doubtful that the new coaching staff will have had much impact on Gallagher in this short period of time; he’s still going to be a good wrestler, but PJ’s at another level.
Prediction: Duke by major decision
Score: PSU 20, OU 4
174 LBS
This is Mitchell Mesenbrink, and his baggy singlet. He’ll get a tech fall, it’s just a question of how fast he’ll get it in.
Prediction: Mesenbrink by tech fall
Score: PSU 25, OU 4
184 LBS
Rutgers transfer Soldano hasn’t yet wrestled this year; his young teammate is very good too, and will likely be ranked if the senior doesn’t crack the lineup. Rocco #1 should win over either pretty easily if he’s anywhere near where we expect him to be, but with a score just shy of bonus.
Prediction: Welsh by decision
Score: PSU 28, OU 4
197 LBS
Josh Barr will quietly once again be the most consistently dominant wrestler on the Penn State squad. The wrestler that he’s likely to face this weekend is ranked, but that doesn’t mean much.
Prediction: Barr by tech fall
Score: PSU 33, OU 4
285 LBS
Connor weighed in under 230 pounds on Thursday, and will probably keep gaining, at least a little bit, as the season goes on. Hill should be a good test, but I expect Mirasola to dominate on the mat if not the scoreboard.
Prediction: Connor by decision
Score: PSU 37, OU 4
Overall score prediction: Penn State 37, Oklahoma 4
*The Penn State athletic department, in its official capacity, usesIntermat’s Tournament Power Index in all its match literature; I’m usingIntermat’s Dual Meet Rankings because this happens to be a dual. Penn State is #1 in both rankings; Oklahoma is ranked 13 in the dual rankings, and 19 in the tournament rankings.
