On Friday at the Covelli Center, No. 2 Ohio State rallied to defeat No. 5 Iowa 24-9 before a reported record crowd of 4,749, improving the Buckeyes to 17-0 for the first time in program history. The dual opened with Iowa taking the first three matches, but a pivotal overturned call at 184 pounds swung momentum to Ohio State. The Buckeyes collected bonus points across the middle weights and closed with a sudden-victory win at 149 to seal the victory. Two of Ohio State’s six all-time wins over Iowa have now come this season, following a 27-12 triumph in November.
Key Takeaways
- Ohio State won the dual 24-9 and moved to 17-0 overall — the program’s best start ever.
- The Covelli Center drew a reported record crowd of 4,749 for Ohio State’s final home dual of the season.
- Iowa won the first three matches (157, 165, 174) to open the dual before Ohio State rallied.
- At 184, No. 7 Dylan Fishback was awarded a review-overturned takedown after a coach’s challenge, yielding a three-point swing that energized Ohio State.
- Ohio State collected two bonus-point wins: Jesse Mendez (141) by 18-3 tech fall and Luke Geog (174) with a 13-4 major decision.
- No. 2 125-pounder Nic Bouzakis scored seven first-period points en route to a 9-5 decision over No. 6 Dean Peterson.
- Ben Davino improved to 22-0 on the season with a 4-2 win at 133; Nick Feldman’s 3-2 decision at 184 gave OSU its first lead of the dual.
- The Buckeyes head to No. 1 Penn State next Friday (Feb. 13, 7 p.m., Big Ten Network) before closing the regular season at Maryland on Feb. 15 (2 p.m., B1G+).
Background
The Buckeyes entered 2025-26 with a lopsided historical record against Iowa: prior to this season Ohio State was 4-44 versus the Hawkeyes. That gap has narrowed this year after Ohio State posted wins in November (27-12) and Friday’s 24-9 victory, bringing the program’s all-time win total over Iowa to six. Ohio State’s wrestling program, under coach Tom Ryan, has emphasized depth across the lineup; the roster now features multiple nationally ranked starters and two-time champions who can swing dual scores with bonus-point victories.
Iowa came into the dual ranked No. 5 and relied early on its strength in the upper weights to seize momentum. The Hawkeyes have long been a conference power with a style built on late-match control and pressure, and their early three-match sweep on Friday followed that template. For Ohio State, the Covelli Center environment and home support were cited as factors in the comeback, with the crowd amplifying momentum swings during tightly contested bouts.
Main Event
The dual began at 157 pounds with Victor Voinovich III edging Maddox Shaw, 5-1, followed by No. 3 Michael Caliendo defeating e’Than Birden 8-2. No. 3 Patrick Kennedy then beat No. 5 Carson Kharchla 2-1, giving Iowa a 9-0 advantage after three matches. Those early decisions left Ohio State needing a momentum-changing result in the middle weights.
At 184 pounds, No. 7 Dylan Fishback and Gabe Arnold went to sudden victory after a tied regulation score. An apparent Fishback takedown in overtime was initially not awarded; Ohio State coach Tom Ryan immediately challenged. After a brief review officials overturned the call and credited Fishback with the takedown, producing three crucial team points and a shifting atmosphere in Covelli.
Fueled by that reversal, No. 10 Luke Geog posted a 13-4 major decision over Brody Sampson, scoring takedowns in every period and narrowing the deficit to 9-7. After intermission, No. 3 Nick Feldman — facing No. 8 Ken Kueter, who had beaten him three times last year — used a second-period takedown to take a 3-2 decision and give Ohio State the first lead of the dual, 10-9.
The Buckeyes extended the margin when No. 2 125-pounder Nic Bouzakis opened with seven first-period points, including a four-point near fall, and held on for a 9-5 win over No. 6 Dean Peterson to push the score to 13-9. At 133, No. 2 Ben Davino improved to 22-0 by beating No. 9 Drake Ayala 4-2, and two-time NCAA champion Jesse Mendez (141) closed with an 18-3 technical fall, delivering a five-point bonus and putting Ohio State out of reach.
With the Buckeyes leading 21-9, No. 7 Ethan Stiles and No. 18 Ryder Block battled at 149. The match was tied through regulation on mutual escapes before Stiles secured the sudden-victory takedown one minute into overtime, producing the final dual score: Ohio State 24, Iowa 9.
Analysis & Implications
Ohio State’s comeback illustrates the value of middle-weight depth and bonus-point capability in dual meets. While Iowa controlled the early matches, the Buckeyes accumulated four bonus-team points (major and tech fall) and converted a critical challenge at 184, turning a two-match deficit into a multi-point advantage. In Big Ten dual format, those swings are decisive: a single review or a bonus decision can alter the dual’s trajectory.
Statistically, Ohio State’s 17-0 start is unprecedented for the program and positions the Buckeyes as a national title contender if they can sustain health and consistency. The victory also highlights Ohio State’s ability to produce both narrowly decided matches and dominant bonus performances, an uncommon combination that complicates scouting and match-up planning for opponents like Penn State and Iowa.
For Iowa, the loss underscores vulnerability when bonus opportunities elude the Hawkeyes. The early lead showed Iowa’s talent at certain weights, but the team could not convert that advantage into sustainable momentum when a key call was overturned and Ohio State strung together consecutive wins. How Iowa adjusts in lineup strategy and match tactics before the conference tournament will be a storyline to watch.
Looking ahead, the Buckeyes face No. 1 Penn State on Feb. 13, a test that will reveal whether Ohio State’s unbeaten run is stylistic dominance or a product of favorable matchups and home-crowd energy. A strong showing at Penn State would validate Ohio State’s national standing; a loss would still leave the Buckeyes in position to control their seeding but raise questions about depth under pressure.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Before 2025–26 | 2025–26 Season | All-time (post-Friday) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ohio State vs. Iowa wins | 4 | 2 | 6 |
| Final dual score (Feb. 6/7) | — | 24–9 | — |
| Covelli Center attendance | — | 4,749 (reported) | — |
The table above shows the historical shift: two wins this season moved Ohio State from four all-time wins over Iowa to six. The 24-9 margin on Friday was built on two bonus wins and a pivotal overturned call at 184. Attendance of 4,749 was reported as a Covelli Center record for a wrestling dual, an indicator of growing local engagement with the program.
Reactions & Quotes
“No. 7 Dylan Fishback with the sudden victory for @wrestlingbucks”
Big Ten Wrestling (social post)
Coverage from the event noted the crowd’s energy surged after the overturned call and stayed with the Buckeyes through their bonus-point performances.
Eleven Warriors (match report)
Fans and local observers described the atmosphere as a focal factor in the comeback, with standing-room intensity when Ohio State began its comeback.
Event observers / attendees (reported)
Unconfirmed
- Whether the reported attendance of 4,749 is the official, finalized Covelli Center record pending athletic department confirmation.
- Specific rationale language used by referees during the overturned 184-pound call has not been published in full by officials.
- Any undisclosed minor injuries or niggles to starters that could affect the Penn State dual have not been publicly confirmed.
Bottom Line
Friday’s 24-9 victory over No. 5 Iowa gave Ohio State both a signature win and a confidence boost ahead of a crucial trip to face No. 1 Penn State. The outcome reflected a combination of depth, timely reviews, and bonus-point wrestling that turned an early deficit into a decisive home triumph. Two wins over Iowa this season have narrowed a long historical gap and signaled that Ohio State is competing among the Big Ten elite this year.
How the Buckeyes perform at Penn State will be the clearest indicator of whether this unbeaten record reflects true national-title-level strength or a peak driven by favorable home conditions and match-to-match dynamics. For now, Ohio State’s program can claim a milestone start — and a community energized enough to fill Covelli Center to a reported record crowd of 4,749.