Lead: On Friday night at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center, No. 1 Penn State overpowered No. 2 Ohio State 36-5, handing the Buckeyes their first loss after a program-best 17-0 start. The Nittany Lions won nine of ten bouts, with Ohio State’s two-time national champion Jesse Mendez providing the lone Buckeye victory at 141 pounds via an 18-2 technical fall. Penn State’s win clinched its sixth straight Big Ten dual meet championship and extended the program’s unbeaten dual streak that dates to 2020. The margin and manner of victory underlined Penn State’s continued favoritism for a fifth straight NCAA team title.
Key Takeaways
- Penn State beat Ohio State 36-5 on Friday at Bryce Jordan Center, winning nine of 10 matches and recording multiple bonus-point wins.
- Ohio State entered the dual 17-0 before the loss; Jesse Mendez (141) remained unbeaten at 18-0 after an 18-2 technical fall.
- Penn State produced four bonus-point results: tech falls at 149 and 174, a fall at 157, and a major decision at 165.
- Early tight matches swung the dual: 125 (Lilledahl def. Bouzakis, SV-1) and 133 (Marcus Blaze def. Ben Davino, TB) went to Penn State in sudden-death/tiebreak scenarios.
- No. 1-ranked Penn State clinched its sixth consecutive Big Ten dual title and remains unbeaten in duals since 2020.
- Ohio State’s résumé still includes wins over most other top programs, but Friday highlighted specific gaps the Buckeyes must address before postseason.
- Ohio State finishes the regular season at Maryland on Sunday (2 p.m., B1G+), providing one last tune-up before conference and NCAA championships.
Background
Penn State and Ohio State entered the matchup as the nation’s top two teams, creating expectations of a close, high-stakes dual. Over the last decade and a half Penn State has established sustained dominance in college wrestling, accumulating multiple NCAA team titles and an extended unbeaten run in dual competition that stretches back to 2020. Ohio State built momentum early in 2026 with a 17-0 start and notable wins over several top-10 opponents, positioning the Buckeyes as the clear second contender nationally.
The rivalry also reflects program trajectories and roster depth: Penn State fields a deep lineup with multiple No. 1-ranked starters, while Ohio State’s strength centers on elite individual performers such as two-time champion Jesse Mendez. Conference implications were on the line as well — Big Ten dual rankings and seed positioning for the postseason can be shaped decisively by head-to-head results in meetings like this one.
Main Event
The dual opened with immediate drama at 125 pounds, where No. 1 Luke Lilledahl edged No. 2 Nic Bouzakis in sudden victory on a late takedown, giving Penn State an early edge. At 133, No. 4 Marcus Blaze prevailed 3-2 over No. 2 Ben Davino with a reversal during the second tiebreak period, extending Penn State’s lead and deflating an Ohio State upset path before the Buckeyes could build momentum.
Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez restored some hope at 141, delivering an 18-2 technical fall over No. 12 Braeden Davis to move to 18-0 on the year and add five points to the Buckeyes’ scoreboard. That effort was an isolated offensive outburst; Penn State seized control after that bout and did not relent.
Penn State produced a sequence of bonus victories: No. 1 Shayne Van Ness recorded a 20-5 tech fall at 149, PJ Duke pinned Daxton Chase at 157 in 3:28, No. 1 Mitchell Messenbrink registered a 12-2 major decision at 165, and No. 1 Levi Haines closed the late lineup with a 16-1 tech fall at 174. Those bonus results transformed a close early tally into a commanding team margin.
At 184, No. 1 Rocco Welsh — a transfer familiar with Ohio State faces — delivered a takedown in the final 10 seconds to beat No. 8 Dylan Fishback 7-6, preserving Penn State’s run of narrow, clutch wins. No. 1 Josh Barr added an 11-2 major decision at 197, and heavyweight No. 12 Cole Mirasola stunned No. 3 Nick Feldman 4-1 in sudden victory to finalize the 36-5 outcome and push the final margin beyond the usual expectations for a No. 1 vs. No. 2 meeting.
Analysis & Implications
Penn State’s depth and ability to secure bonus points against a top opponent is the defining takeaway for the national picture: tech falls, majors and pins supply the kind of team points that drive dual-meet dominance and are especially damaging in conference standings. Winning nine of ten matches — and accumulating multiple bonus wins — demonstrates the Nittany Lions are optimized not only for close decisions but for overwhelming results when matchups favor them.
For Ohio State the loss exposes matchups and late-match execution as primary areas for improvement. Several contested bouts went to sudden victory or late takedowns; tighter situational defense and end-match strategy could change those outcomes. The Buckeyes’ roster has shown it can beat the rest of the country’s top teams, but closing the gap on Penn State will require more than isolated ace-level performances — it will require targeted development across weight classes.
National seeding and momentum heading into the Big Ten and NCAA championships will be shaped by duals like this. Penn State’s clinch of a sixth straight Big Ten dual title reinforces their status as heavy favorites for a fifth consecutive NCAA team championship and their 13th in 15 seasons. Ohio State’s path back to the top will depend on tactical adjustments, recovery from any minor injuries, and maintaining confidence against the other national contenders.
Comparison & Data
| Wt. | Result | OSU | PSU |
|---|---|---|---|
| 125 | No. 1 Luke Lilledahl (PSU) def. No. 2 Nic Bouzakis (OSU), SV-1, 4-1 | 0 | 3 |
| 133 | No. 4 Marcus Blaze (PSU) def. No. 2 Ben Davino (OSU), TB, 3-2 | 0 | 6 |
| 141 | No. 1 Jesse Mendez (OSU) def. No. 12 Braeden Davis (PSU), TF, 18-2 | 5 | 6 |
| 149 | No. 1 Shayne Van Ness (PSU) def. Brogan Fielding (OSU), TF, 20-5 | 5 | 11 |
| 157 | No. 4 PJ Duke (PSU) def. Daxton Chase (OSU), F, 3:28 | 5 | 17 |
| 165 | No. 1 Mitchell Messenbrink (PSU) def. No. 16 Paddy Gallagher (OSU), MD, 12-2 | 5 | 21 |
| 174 | No. 1 Levi Haines (PSU) def. T.J. Schierl (OSU), TF, 16-1 | 5 | 26 |
| 184 | No. 1 Rocco Welsh (PSU) def. No. 8 Dylan Fishback (OSU), D, 7-6 | 5 | 29 |
| 197 | No. 1 Josh Barr (PSU) def. No. 10 Luke Geog (OSU), MD, 11-2 | 5 | 33 |
| HWT | No. 12 Cole Mirasola (PSU) def. No. 3 Nick Feldman (OSU), SV-1, 4-1 | 5 | 36 |
The table above reproduces bout-by-bout results and shows how bonus-point outcomes (TF = technical fall, F = fall, MD = major decision) created a large team gap despite several very close matches. Bonus victories at 149, 157, 165 and 174 were decisive; three of those included tech falls or a pin, each worth extra team points versus a narrow decision.
Reactions & Quotes
Social and institutional reactions underscored both Penn State’s dominance and Ohio State fans’ frustration with the timing of tight losses. Short social posts from the Buckeyes’ program captured the emotion after Mendez’s technical fall and the dual’s trajectory.
Just relentless.
Ohio State Wrestling (official Twitter)
General fan commentary across social platforms echoed the themes of Penn State’s depth and Ohio State’s need to adjust late-match strategy.
Dominant night at Bryce Jordan Center.
Fans on social media
Unconfirmed
- Whether Ohio State will retain the No. 2 national ranking after this loss is not finalized and will depend on polls and selection committee evaluations before NCAA seeding.
- Any minor physical issues or lingering injuries from Friday’s match affecting specific Ohio State or Penn State starters were not widely reported immediately after the dual and remain unconfirmed.
- How much tactical changes Ohio State will implement before the Big Ten and NCAA championships — and whether those changes will close the gap with Penn State — is speculative until coaches make adjustments and results follow.
Bottom Line
Penn State reaffirmed why it is the standard-bearer in college wrestling: depth across the lineup, the ability to convert close matches into bonus points, and a consistent track record of dual-meet success. The 36-5 scoreline was emphatic and virtually ensured conference bragging rights heading into the postseason.
For Ohio State, the result is a clear diagnostic: the Buckeyes possess top-tier individual talent and a strong résumé against most national opponents, but overcoming Penn State will require strategic refinement, better late-match execution, and more bonus-point production across weights. The Buckeyes’ match at Maryland on Sunday offers the last regular-season benchmark before the Big Ten tournament and NCAA selection, and it will be watched closely for signs of adjustment.