NCAA Wrestling Championships medal round scores, bracket updates, highlights

Follow match-by-match results and highlights from the NCAA wrestling finals with USA TODAY Sports’ live updates.

It’s championship Saturday in the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships, and a familiar team will finish atop the leaderboard once again.

Following the consolation semifinals on Saturday, March 21, Penn State was already mathematically guaranteed to win a fifth straight national championship, regardless of the outcome of the seventh-, fifth-, third- and first-place matches. The Nittany Lions finished with an NCAA record-181.5 points, and were followed by second-place Oklahoma State (131 points). Nebraska (100.5), Iowa (92.5) and Ohio State (84.5) in the top five heading into the championship bouts.

Penn State had six wrestlers in the championship matches, going 4-2 in the process.

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Elsewhere, 133-pound top seed Jax Forrest finished off an undefeated freshman season with a 5-2 win against No. 2 seed Ben Davino of Ohio State in the finals nightcap. Forrest scored the first takedown against Davino all season in just the second-ever all-freshman finals match in NCAA Wrestling Championships history.

In all, Oklahoma State put four freshmen in the finals, going 3-1. Freshman Sergio Vega (141 pounds) upset two-time defending national champion Jesse Mendez in sudden victory, while 157-pounder Landon Robideau defeating defending national champion Antrell Taylor of Nebraska, 4-2. Even Oklahoma State’s one loss, 197-pounder Cody Merrill, forced a 6-3 decision against Josh Barr, who entered the match undefeated and with 100% bonus rate.

In all, there were five new champions by way of upsets on March 21, including four freshmen. Penn State may have won the title, but something seems to be brewing in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Check out USA TODAY Sports’ bracket updates, team scores and highlights from Day 3 of the NCAA Wrestling Championships:

Below are the top 10 team scores in Day 3 of the NCAA Wrestling Championships. For full team scores, click here.

Of note: Penn State is mathematically guaranteed to win the national championship following the consolation semifinals.

This section will be updated.

Place	Teams	Points
1	Penn State	181.5
2	Oklahoma State	131
3	Nebraska	100.5
4	Iowa	92.5
5	Ohio State	84.5
6	Stanford	67.5
7	Michigan	66
8	Iowa State	52
9	Minnesota	48.5
10	NC State	44.5

Updated NCAA wrestling brackets

Here is the official updated bracket from the NCAA Wrestling Championships following Session 4 on March 20.

This section will be updated.

1st-place matches

125 pounds: No. 1 Luke Lilledahl (Penn State) dec. No. 10 Marc-Anthony McGowan (Princeton), 2-1
133 pounds: No. 1 Jax Forrest (Oklahoma State) dec. No. 2 Ben Davino (Ohio State), 5-2
141 pounds: No. 2 Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State) dec. (SV) No. 1 Jesse Mendez (Ohio State), 4-1
149 pounds: No. 10 Aden Valencia (Stanford) dec. (SV) No. 1 Shayne Van Ness (Penn State), 8-5
157 pounds: No. 5 Landon Robideau (Oklahoma State) dec. No. 2 Antrell Taylor (Nebraska), 4-2
165 pounds: No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (Penn State) TF No. 3 Mikey Caliendo (Iowa), 20-4 (5:12)
174 pounds: No. 1 Levi Haines (Penn State) dec. No. 3 Christopher Minto (Nebraska), 2-1
184 pounds: No. 3 Max McEnelly (Minnesota) dec. No. 1 Rocco Welsh (Penn State), 4-3
197 pounds: No. 1 Josh Barr (Penn State) dec. No. 7 Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State), 6-3
Heavyweight: No. 2 Isaac Trumble (NC State) dec. No. 1 Yonger Bastida (Iowa State), 5-0

3rd-place matches

125 pounds: No. 7 Nico Provo (Stanford) major dec. No. 12 Vincent Robinson (NC State), 10-2
133 pounds: No. 4 Aaron Seidel (Virginia Tech) dec. No. 3 Marcus Blaze (Penn State), 5-0
141 pounds: No. 5 Luke Stanich (Lehigh) dec. No. 3 Brock Hardy (Nebraska), 7-2
149 pounds: No. 11 Lachlan McNeil (Michigan) dec. No. 20 Chance Lamer (Nebraska), 10-5
157 pounds: No. 1 PJ Duke (Penn State) TF No. 8 Brandon Cannon (Ohio State), 20-4 (6:38)
165 pounds: No. 12 Cesar Alvan (Columbia) dec. No. 4 Nicco Ruiz (Arizona State), 7-2
174 pounds: No. 5 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) dec. No. 4 Carson Kharchla (Ohio State), 9-6
184 pounds: No. 2 Aeoden Sinclair (Missouri) major dec. No. 10 Caleb Campos (American), 17-4
197 pounds: No. 3 Stephen Little (Little Rock) dec. No. 5 Joey Novak (Wyoming), 7-4
Heavyweight: No. 3 Taye Ghadiali (Michigan) dec. No. 7 Konner Doucet (Oklahoma State), 5-1

5th-place matches

125 pounds: No. 5 Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State) pins No. 14 Jacob Moran (Indiana) (10-1, 4:11)
133 pounds: No. 6 Drake Ayala (Iowa) major dec. No. 15 Tyler Knox (Stanford), 16-5
141 pounds: No. 18 Carter Nogle (Air Force) wins via medical forfeit vs. No. 4 Anthony Echemendia (Iowa State)
149 pounds: No. 4 Collin Gaj (Viginia Tech) dec. No. 15 Ryder Block (Iowa), 4-0
157 pounds: No. 7 Kannon Webster (Illinois) wins via medical forfeit vs. No. 11 Ty Watters (West Virginia)
165 pounds: No. 13 Andrew Sparks (Minnesota) wins via medical forfeit vs. No. 2 Joey Blaze (Purdue)
174 pounds: No. 7 Cam Steed (Missouri) dec. No. 15 Danny Wask (Navy), 5-3
184 pounds: No. 5 Brock Mantanona (Michigan) wins via medical forfeit vs. No. 7 Angelo Ferrari (Iowa)
197 pounds: No. 11 Camden McDanel (Nebraska) dec. No. 9 Angelo Posada (Stanford), 13-7
Heavyweight: No. 8 Ben Kueter (Iowa) wins via medical forfeit vs. No. 4 AJ Ferrari (Nebraska)

7th-place matches

125 pounds: No. 6 Jore Volk (Minnesota) major dec. No. 11 Tyler Klinsky (Rider), 14-1
133 pounds: No. 13 Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska) dec. (TB1) No. 7 Lucas Byrd (Illinois), 6-5
141 pounds: No. 11 CJ Composto (Penn) pins No. 13 Wyatt Henson (Lock Haven) (4-3, 4:05)
149 pounds: No. Cross Wasilewski (Penn) dec. No. 3 Casey Swiderski (Oklahoma State), 5-2
157 pounds: No. 15 Cameron Catrabone (Michigan) wins via medical forfeit vs. No. 3 Meyer Shapiro (Cornell)
165 pounds: No. 9 Bryce Hepner (North Carolina) major dec. No. 16 Paddy Gallagher (Ohio State), 9-1
174 pounds: No. 9 Beau Mantanona (Michigan) pins No. 11 MJ Gaitan (Iowa State) (8-5, 3:00)
184 pounds: No. 6 Eddie Neitenbach (Wyoming) wins via medical forfeit No. 22 Zack Ryder (Oklahoma State)
197 pounds: No. 27 Gabe Arnold (Iowa) dec. No. 16 Branson John (Maryland), 6-2
Heavyweight: No. 10 David Szuba (Arizona State) wins via DQ No. 18 Christian Carroll (Wyoming), 6-0

Consolation semifinals

125 pounds:

No. 7 Nico Provo (Stanford) dec. No. 14 Jacob Moran (Indiana), 8-1
No. 12 Vincent Robinson (NC State) dec. (TB1) No. 5 Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State) 3-2

133 pounds:

No. 3 Marcus Blaze (Penn State) tech fall No. 15 Tyler Knox (Stanford) 20-4, (5:46)
No. 4 Aaron Seidel (Virginia Tech) major dec. No. 6 Drake Ayala (Iowa), 11-0

141 pounds:

No. 3 Brock Hardy (Nebraska) wins via medical forfeit vs. No. 4 Anthony Echemendia (Iowa State)
No. 5 Luke Stanich (Lehigh) dec. No. 18 Carter Nogle (Air Force), 9-4

149 pounds:

No. 11 Lachlan McNeil (Michigan) dec. No. 15 Ryder Block (Iowa), 6-3
No. 20 Chance Lamer (Nebraska) dec. No. 4 Collin Gaj (Viginia Tech), 4-2

157 pounds:

No. 8 Brandon Cannon (Ohio State) dec. No. 11 Ty Watters (West Virginia), 9-6
No. 1 PJ Duke (Penn State) dec. No. 7 Kannon Webster (Illinois), 7-3

165 pounds:

No. 4 Nicco Ruiz (Arizona State) dec. No. 2 Joey Blaze (Purdue), 2-1
No. 12 Cesar Alvan (Columbia) dec. No. 13 Andrew Sparks (Minnesota), 5-2

174 pounds:

No. 4 Carson Kharchla (Ohio State) dec. No. 7 Cam Steed (Missouri), 5-2
No. 5 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) major dec. No. 15 Danny Wask (Navy), 11-1

184 pounds:

No. 10 Caleb Campos (American) wins by medical forfeit vs. No. 7 Angelo Ferrari (Iowa)
No. 2 Aeoden Sinclair (Missouri) major dec. No. 5 Brock Mantanona (Michigan), 11-3

197 pounds:

No. 3 Stephen Little (Little Rock) major dec. No. 9 Angelo Posada (Stanford), 14-4
No. 5 Joey Novak (Wyoming) dec. No. 11 Camden McDanel (Nebraska), 7-3

Heavyweight:

No. 3 Taye Ghadiali (Michigan) dec. No. 8 Ben Kueter (Iowa), 5-0
No. 7 Konner Doucet (Oklahoma State) wins by medical forfeit vs. No. 4 AJ Ferrari (Nebraska)

This section will be updated.

What time do NCAA Wrestling Championships start?

Date: Saturday, March 21
Time: 11 a.m. ET (medal rounds) | 6:30 p.m. ET (finals)
Location: Rocket Arena (Cleveland)

The final day of the NCAA Wrestling Championships will begin at 11 a.m. ET with Session 5 (medal rounds). Following that, the final championship session will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET

What TV channel are NCAA Wrestling Championships today?

The final day of the NCAA Wrestling Championships will air nationally on ESPNU (medal rounds) and ESPN (championships). Streaming options include the ESPN app (with a valid cable login) and Fubo, the latter of which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.

Another option is ESPN+, which serves as ESPN’s paid subscription service. It will offer broadcasts of action on Mats 1-4, respectively, as well as a “Matcast” broadcast.

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