No. 1 Penn State tops No. 3 Iowa wrestling 29-6 (2024)

The Penn State Nittany Lions just continue to impress this season, as they rolled past Iowa 29-6 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Friday night.

Iowa looked better against the Nittany Lions than the Hawks did last weekend in Ann Arbor, but it’s hard to stop at Nittany Lion team with this much talent. Drake Ayala and Caleb Rathjen were the lone Black and Gold winners this night, as Penn State’s Aaron Nagao, Beau Bartlett, Levi Haines, Mitchell Mesenbrink, Carter Starocci, Bernie Truax, Aaron Brooks and Greg Kerkvliet picked up wins at 133, 141, 157, 165, 174, 184, 197 and 285 pounds.

Nagao, Haines, Starocci, Truax and Kerkvliet were particularly impressive in their matches with all five winning by bonus for a collective 53-6 result over their opponents.

Penn State’s performance once again proves that this is a team that could not only break the all-time scoring record but potentially crown more national champions in one tournament than any team in history.

Complete results from the dual

THIRD PERIOD:Kerkvliet starts the third period on the bottom, and he's out quickly. Another shot and takedown from the Nittany Lions gives him three more points. Kerkvliet takes the win 9-1 with riding time to finish out the dominant dual for Penn State.

A quick takedown from Kerkvliet 🔥#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/t4wQgqHPxP

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) February 10, 2024

SECOND PERIOD: Kueter starts the second period on the bottom, and Kerkvliet begins to bury the Hawkeye with his powerful mat returns.Kerkvliet stays in the lead 3-1 but now also has 2:40+ of riding time.

FIRST PERIOD: Ben Kueter came to Iowa with significant hype as two-sport athlete (Kueter also plays for the Iowa football team), and this match against Penn State'sGreg Kerkvliet will be a real "Welcome to the Big Leagues" moment for the freshman.Kerkvliet picks up an early takedown to secure the 3-0 lead. Kueter escapes. Ninety seconds to go. Kerkvliet will carry his 3-1 lead into the second period.

THIRD PERIOD: Glazier elects to go down to start the third. That's a risky move, given Brooks' elite riding time, but his decision suggests he's felt enough in that second period to strategize how to get out. Glaizer is out, and now he needs a takedown and more. One minute to go. Thirty seconds. This was a tough match for the Hawkeye, but he ends these seven minutes as the only athlete to stop Brooks from scoring bonus so far this year. The Nittany Lion takes the win 5-1.

197: No. 1 Aaron Brooks dec. No. 11 Zach Glazier IA, 5-1
Penn State 25, Iowa 6#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/wWdfS3BTuP

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) February 10, 2024

SECOND PERIOD: Brooks starts down to begin the second period and gets out quickly. He's on the board first with the one-point escape. Shot from Glaizer. Brooks fends him off tough and convert into three points of his own to take the 4-0 lead. Glaizer is fighting hard to get out, but Brooks isn't giving him any room and rides him out for the remainder of the period.

FIRST PERIOD: Zach Glaizer has been spectacular for the Iowa Hawkeyes this year, but this match against three-time Aaron Brooks will be a different test. One minute down. Two minutes down. Glaizer is doing a nice job slowing down the offense and strength of Brooks here early in this match. The first period ends scoreless.

THIRD PERIOD: Riggins chooses neutral to start the third and takes a shot, but Truax fights him off. Despite not scoring through the first five minutes, Riggins has been battling. He's shown that he's not afraid to scramble with the All-American Nittany Lion. Takedown Truax! A shot from space puts the Nittany Lion ahead 7-0. He's got Riggins in a dangerous cradle position, but he'll ultimately just stay on top and secure the 8-0 win over the Hawkeye.

184: No. 6 Bernie Truax PSU maj. dec. Aidan Riggins IA, 8-0
Penn State 22, Iowa 6#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/WkqcaMWqRx

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) February 10, 2024

SECOND PERIOD: Truax goes down to start the second period and escapes quickly, extending his lead 4-0. No additional points were scored by either athlete in the remainder of the period.

FIRST PERIOD: Penn State All-American Bernie Truax puts himself in the lead quickly with a fast three-point takedown to get rolling in the first period. He now launches into a tough ride against Iowa's Aiden Riggins that runs through nearly the entire first period to hold over 2:30 of riding time heading into the second period.

THIRD PERIOD: Starocci is called for locked hands to start the third period, but Penn State tosses the brick. Call is confirmed. Kennedy escapes. Starocci leads 13-4. Ninety seconds to go. Kennedy, despite trailing by nine points, is fighting hard. He wants to be the first guy to take Starocci down this season. One minute to go. Shot from Starocci. Defended by Kennedy. Stall warning against Starocci. Kennedy is now driving the pace and takes another shot. Starocci's defense is just too good. Starocci hit for stalling again, giving Kennedy another point. Shot from Kennedy, but he runs out of time. Starocci will hold on for the 13-5 major decision. What an effort from Kennedy there at the end though. He's going to be someone to watch come March.

No. 1 Carter Starocci PSU maj. dec. No. 7 Patrick Kennedy IA, 13-5
Penn State 18, Iowa 6#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/xrjvtCXcFu

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) February 10, 2024

SECOND PERIOD: Starocci chooses bottom to start the second and gets a quick escape. Kennedy boldly goes in for a shot and looks good, but Starocci responds, spins behind Kennedy and turns Kennedy's offense into a shot of his own. Kennedy escapes, but the Nittany Lion leads 10-2. Shot from Kennedy! Scrambling. Wow. That was a close call there for Starocci. Starocci ends the position on top. The second period ends with Starocci leading 13-2.

FIRST PERIOD: This is where the Penn State lineup gets particularly dangerous. Here comes Carter Starocci! Last week, Ohio State's Rocco Welsh kept Starocci to a 4-2 decision, and Kennedy will similarly look to avoid bonus against the veteran star. Takedown Starocci. He's controlling this match early as expected. Starocci releases Kennedy with a little over one minute to go in the period. Short-time takedown for Starocci to finish out the first period with a 6-1 lead.

THIRD PERIOD: Mesenbrink chooses down to start the third period. He's in the driver's seat now. Escape Mesenbrink. Shot from Caliendo, but the move is called potentially dangerous. Stalemate. Another shot from Caliendo. No points. We're scrambling! Another stalemate. Credit to both athletes for the action here in the final two minutes. More scrambling! Takedown Caliendo. He's keeping himself out of bonus danger with that move. Three seconds. Mesenbrink takes the 12-6 with riding time! Look for the Nittany Lion to rise in the rankings next week after yet another top-ten win.

No. 7 Mitchell Mesenbrink PSU ded. No. 6 Michael Caliendo IA, 12-6
Penn State 17, Iowa 6#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/8elaUDYknW

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) February 10, 2024

SECOND PERIOD:Caliendo escapes quickly, and he's now within four points of the Nittany Lion. Caliendo is hit with stalling again though, giving Mesenbrink another point. Shot from Mesenbrink! That's another takedown. Mesenbrink is now in bonus territory with a 10-3 lead over All-American Caliendo to end the second period after a late escape from the Hawkeye.

FIRST PERIOD: What an action-packed first period! Penn State's Mitchell Mesenbrink goes to work early with two takedowns to propel himself to a 6-1 lead after an escape from Iowa's Michael Caliendo. The Hawkeye is warned for stalling. Mesenbrink is too tough on top, and he'll end the period with those two takedowns and 1:09 of riding time.

THIRD PERIOD: Franek chooses neutral (a good move) to start the third period. He's going to need to get to his attacks and get to them fast, and that's exactly what he does. He takes a shot, but Haines' defense is too good. He squares up and once again tries to convert Franek's momentum into his own offense. Both guys get back to their feet and reset. One minute to go. Shot from Haines. Takedown. He now leads 11-0 over a 2023 All-American. Fifteen seconds. He'll take the 12-0 win with the addition of riding time.

Levi Haines just picked up a top-five major decision for @pennstateWREST! 🙌

No. 1 at 157 @LeviHainespsu defeats No. 5 Jared Franek of Iowa 12-0. pic.twitter.com/KkLKF202ml

— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 10, 2024

That was Haines' most impressive win of the year, just a dominant result for the Nittany Lions.

SECOND PERIOD:Haines chooses bottom to start the second period, and he's out quick. Franek gets in on a shot, but Haines fends him off and gets in on a shot of his own. That's another takedown for Levi Haines. The Nittany Lion has a 7-0 lead with 1:12 to go in the second period. Haines looks so good on top — Franek is stuck underneath him. Franek is hit for stalling again, giving Haines yet another point. The Nittany Lion's riding time is up to nearly three minutes as time expires in the second period.

FIRST PERIOD: With the Hawkeye fans back on their feet after the Rathjen win, Iowa's Jared Franek will look to give them even more to cheer about as he takes on 2023 NCAA finalists Levi Haines. Penn State's Haines gets on the scoreboard first with an early takedown, and now he'll have a chance to do some damage on top. What a punishing ride from Haines! Thirty seconds to go. Franek is warned for stalling on bottom. Ten seconds. Haines finishes the first period on top with a 3-0 lead and over 90 seconds of riding time.

SUDDEN VICTORY: Kasak has all the momentum right now, but it's anyone's match. Shot from Rathjen. He gets it! That's an upset win for the Hawkeye. That was a gritty match from two guys that could be bracket busters come March.

CALEB RATHJEN!!!

149 – #12 Caleb Rathjen (I) vs. #10 Tyler Kasak, 11-8 SV1

Penn State 7, Iowa 6#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/7YydjBUdz1

— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling) February 10, 2024

THIRD PERIOD:Rathjen chooses bottom to start the third period. Kasak releases Rathjen and goes in for a shot, putting Rathjen in trouble on his back. The Nittany Lion will settle for the three-point takedown. An escape from Rathjen makes the score 8-5. This is a one-takedown match, and Kasak gets it! He's tied the match 8-8. Riding time is not a factor, but an escape for Rathjen could win it. Kasak holds Rathjen down to push the match into sudden victory. What a third period from Penn State to stay in this one!

SECOND PERIOD: Kasak escapes to pick up his first point of the dual. Rathjen leads 3-1. One minute to go. Another shot from Rathjen! That's three more points for the Hawkeye. He's been the most offensive Black and Gold wrestler of the night so far. Kasak escapes on the edge. Rathjen leads 6-2. Ten seconds to go. Rathjen will hold his four-point lead and 50 seconds of riding time into the third period.

FIRST PERIOD: After Penn State taking the last two matches, Iowa needs Caleb Rathjen to come up big and reinspire the Hawks. The first two minutes have been quiet with neither athlete managing any points. The first period takedowns have been key in this dual, with every athlete who scored those early points ultimately winning the match, and here's Rathjen in on a shot. He gets it! The Hawk is on the board. He finishes the first period on top with a 3-0 lead.

THIRD PERIOD: Bartlett elects to start down in the third. A rideout from Woods would tie the match, but he has a ways to go. Bartlett escapes — he leads the Hawkeye 4-2. One minute to go. Bartlett gets in on a shot, but Woods fends him off. Thirty seconds. Woods needs something quick. Bartlett with another takedown attempt. The Nittany Lion has absolutely increased his offensive output this year, and it's paying off. He notches three more points in short time and secures the 7-2 win over the No. 2 wrestler in the country. He's left no doubt in his last two matches: Beau Bartlett is that guy.

141: No. 1 Beau Bartlett PSU dec. No. 2 Real Woods, 7-2
Penn State 7, Iowa 3#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/SO4IyxtkXB

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) February 10, 2024

SECOND PERIOD: Woods chooses down to begin the second period and escapes within 30 seconds to avoid letting Bartlett push his riding time up over a minute. Bartlett looks more confident than he's looked throughout the season. He's the top guy in the country for the first time in his career in college, and he's looking like it. Neither athlete managed another takedown here in the second period, so Bartlett will push his 3-2 lead into the final two minutes.

FIRST PERIOD: Penn State's Beau Bartlett puts himself on the board first with a smooth takedown within the first 90 seconds of the match, and that first takedown could be key in this match against a strong, credentialed Real Woods. Bartlett finished third last season at NCAAs, but, as the No. 1 wrestler in the country right now, he's developed himself into a title favorite. Woods escapes, narrowing Barlett's lead 3-1. Bartlett will carry his 3-1 into the second period.

THIRD PERIOD: Schriever smartly chooses neutral to start the final period, but Nagao picks up a second, early takedown from his feet to extend his lead 7-0. He's locked up riding time as well, all but securing bonus. Schriever is once again stuck on bottom, as Nagao goes to work again on top. He was not able to get a turn against Schriever in the first period, but he gets the back points here, nearly pinning Schriever. He pushes his lead to 10-0 in the final seconds. The riding time point gives Nagao the 11-0 win and four team points for the Nittany Lions.

Nagao takedown to seal in the win in Iowa 🤝#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/UAiBxwMX8q

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) February 10, 2024

SECOND PERIOD: Nagao chooses down to start the second and escapes to extend his lead 4-0. Neither athlete managed any additional points in this period, so Nagao will carry the advantage into the third period. He's looking strong and tough in front of this opposing Hawkeye crowd.

FIRST PERIOD: The momentum is on Iowa's side after that 125-pound match, but Penn State's Aaron Nagao will be a tough test for Iowa'sNo. 20 Cullan Schriever. Nagao puts himself on the board first with an early takedown a little over a minute into the match, and he'll now go to work on top. This is a dangerous position for Schriever to be in against the Nittany Lion. Nagao rides out Schriever for the remainder of the period to push riding time up to 1:51.

THIRD PERIOD: Davis elects to go down to start the third period. He needs to get out fast and create some action. He escapes within 25 seconds, narrowing Ayala's lead 4-2. The Nittany Lion could win this with a takedown. One minute to go. The crowd is looking for more for both athletes as time ticks down. Thirty seconds. Ayala is warned for stalling. Ten seconds. Ayala takes the win 4-2.

Ayala's first period takedown proved to be the difference-maker as he survives and holds off No. 2 Brayden Davis to give Iowa the 3-0 lead to kick off this rivalry dual.

Hand Raised.

125 – #7 Drake Ayala (I) dec. #2 Braeden Davis (P), 4-2

Iowa 3, Penn State 0 #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/3CmmelN4k6

— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling) February 10, 2024

SECOND PERIOD: Davis defers to start the second period, and Ayala will choose down. Ayala surges off the whistle, but Davis refuses to let him up easily. The Hawkeye ultimately works his way out in a little 20 seconds, and he'll take the lead 4-1.

No additional offense points through the next 9 seconds of the second period, but both guys have stayed active. Ayala will hold his 4-1 through the first five minutes.

FIRST PERIOD: This is the match that could set the tone of the Hawkeyes if Drake Ayala can pick up an early upset win his home gym. And he's on the board first! Iowa takes the 3-1 lead after Ayala's takedown and Davis' fast escape. Ayala looks calm and composed, setting a comfortable pace in this match through the first 90 seconds.

It's a sold-out night in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, and this is not a friendly place for opposing athletes to compete, particularly for opposing freshman. Penn State's Davis is undefeated on the season, but he'll head into the second period trailing to the Hawkeye.

Date:Friday, Feb. 9
Time: 9p.m. ET
TV channel:Big Ten Network

No. 1 Penn State and No. 3 Iowa will take center stage this Friday night on the Big Ten Network for a classic top-5 showdown between two of the biggest powerhouse programs in the conference.

We're taking a look at Max Dean's win to clinch victory in @pennstateWREST's last visit to Iowa. 🦁#WinningWednesday x @daxmean

Watch No. 1 Penn State at No. 3 Iowa at 9 p.m. ET Friday on @BigTenNetwork. pic.twitter.com/LSdIBNtz8Y

— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 7, 2024

125 pounds: No. 7 Drake Ayala vs. No. 2 Braeden Davis

The Penn State vs. Iowa duals have a solid history of starting at 125 pounds, and if this dual does indeed start with the lightweights, fireworks will begin early. Penn State true freshman Braeden Davis has been one of the breakout stars of the year at 125 pounds, holding an undefeated 14-0 record that pushed him into the No. 2 spot in the country.

Two weeks ago, Davis took down Michigan's No. 6 Michael DeAugustino 5-1, and this win is even more relevant and notable ahead of the Iowa match given that Iowa's No. 7 Drake Ayala just dropped to DeAugustino in sudden victory in Iowa's 24-11 loss to Michigan. Transitive properties don't always work in wrestling, and they certainly haven't been predictive at 125 pounds this year, but Davis' win is significant as he preps for the sophom*ore Hawkeye.

133 pounds: No. 20 Cullan Schriever vs. No. 6 Aaron Nagao

Unlike Davis, Penn State All-American Aaron Nagao will not come into his bout against Iowa undefeated after dropping to Ryan Crookham earlier this semester and more recently taking losses to Dylan Ragusin and Nic Bouzakis, but Nagao is still the favorite at 133 pounds in this matchup. He's battle-tested and tough, and he'll be looking for bonus against whoever Iowa sends on the mat.

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The Hawks currently have Cullan Schriever listed in the probables, and he's been the guy for Iowa against Purdue, Illinois, Northwestern and Michigan.Schriever's only two losses so far this season have come against Ragusin and Nebraska's Jacob Van Dee, though he did finish behind teammate Brody Teske at the Solider Salute. Teske, meanwhile, bumped up to 141 pounds for the Illinois and Northwestern duals but is not listed in the probables now the Real Woods is back. Iowa's depth will be a factor later in the lineup as well, as the Hawks have talented backup options at a number of weights, but stopping the Nittany Lions will still be unlikely, even with multiple national qualifier-caliber guys at several weights.

141 pounds: No. 2 Real Woods vs. No. 1 Beau Bartlett

For the second week in a row, the biggest match for the Nittany Lions will be at 141 pounds. Last weekend, Penn State's No. 2 Beau Bartlett topped Ohio State's No. 3 Jesse Mendez in a high-profile top-five matchup in sudden victory, and now Bartlett will once again have a notable test in No. 2 Real Woods. Bartlett, however, will come into this meeting with all the momentum. He slid into the No. 1 spot nationally after Woods lost by major to Michigan's Sergio Lemley last weekend, and now Bartlett will have the chance to defend that spot in enemy territory.

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A defensive and positionally-sound wrestler, Bartlett competes smart. Woods' style is slightly different, with the Hawkeye typically showcasing a more aggressive and fast-paced approach, though that pace has slowed recently with Woods wrestling more strategic matches. Carver-Hawkeye is where Woods would like to reclaim his top spot, so look for him to come off the whistle hard and work for a turn. His path to victory will likely require back points.

149 pounds: No. 12 Caleb Rathjen vs. No. 10 Tyler Kasak

Many of these Penn State vs. Iowa matches feature familiar storylines: a top-ranked wrestler vs. an All-American or a breakout transfer vs. a veteran. The athletes are known, the expectations are more universal. None of those things are present at 149 pounds.

Penn State will come into this match with the advantage, as the Nittany Lions are expected to field No. 10 Tyler Kasak, a true freshman who has put together a stellar season after stepping in for All-American Shayne Van Ness after Van Ness' injury. Kasak's only loss this year came against teammate Beau Bartlett at 141 pounds, and he's fresh off a win against All-American Dylan D'Emilio of Ohio State, looking ready to roll.

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Iowa's Caleb Rathjen, a third-year Hawkeye but first-year starter, has been solid too and is improving as the season progresses. He's 9-3 on the year with his best wins coming against teammate Victor Voinovich at the Soldier Salute to earn the starting spot. This will be a match between two first-year starters, meaning anything could happen, but the result of this match will have key Big Ten tournament seeding implications.

157 pounds: No. 5 Jared Franek vs. No. 1 Levi Haines

This is a winnable match for Iowa’s Jared Franek, but he’s going to need to wrestle sharp, even sharper than he did against Michigan’s Will Lewan. If Iowa wants to stay in this weight, the Hawks are going to need some magic from Franek.

Levi Haines, a 2023 NCAA finalist, is 11-0 on the year with a 63+% bonus rate. Franek, meanwhile, is 13-2 with his only losses coming against Michigan's Lewan and Minnesota's Michael Blockhus, both of which were decided by one point.

For Franek to stay in this battle, he's going to need to slow down Haines and keep the match defensive.

165 pounds:No. 6Mikey Caliendo vs.No. 7Mitchell Mesenbrink

There's a chance Penn State shuts out the Hawkeyes, but, much like fellow North Dakota State All-American transfer Jared Franek, Mikey Caliendo has the potential to help stop that result. He'll even come into this bout with the rankings advantage, though Penn State's Mitchell Mesenbrink is likely still considered the favorite in this 165-pound bout. Mesenbrink, a California Baptist transfer, has quickly become a Penn State fan favorite this year as he continues to work his way up the rankings with statement wins. The middleweight redshirt freshman is 15-0 on the year with 80% bonus, but his recent wins over All-American Cameron Amine, Caleb Fish and Bryce Hepner are really what have shown Mesenbrink's potential as a title contender.

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Caliendo is certainly someone Iowa expects to end up on the podium, so getting an opportunity to measure up against Mesenbrink is a good thing, regardless of the result.

174 pounds:No. 7Patrick Kennedy vs.No. 1 Carter Starocci

The Nittany Lions are elite from top to bottom, but it's the upperweights where Penn State really shines. Three of the four last Penn State wrestlers in the lineup are ranked No. 1 in the country, so the Hawks are going to need to either win some of the lightweight matches or play a little gamesmanship with the lineup to stay competitive here in the back half of the dual.

Iowa has No. 7 Patrick Kennedy listed as the probable starter for the Hawks at 174 pounds, and Kennedy has shown he can compete. He's taken just three losses this year, one to teammate Mikey Caliendo down at 165 pounds, one to Nick Incontrera early in the season and one last weekend to Shane Griffith by bonus. The Griffith loss was not a Kennedy's best performance, but he's had moments this year where he looked strong, competitive and impressive at weight, most notably in his 5-1 win over No. 8 Edmond Ruth of Illinois.

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Penn State's Carter Starocci, though, is going to take the mat against Kennedy in Iowa City looking for bonus. He's ruthless and competitive, demolishing nearly everyone in his path. Ohio State's Rocco Welsh held Starocci to a decision last weekend in State College, and Starocci no doubt wants to quiet any speculation that he might be beatable. After all, this is a guy who said after the NCAA press conference that his mindset when wrestling an opposing guy is to "drag him in deep waters and feel his soul leave of his body and just keep coming after him...That kind of gets me going. I like that feeling."

Starocci is a self-described "straight killer." Look for him to come out hard and attack for points through the final whistle. Kennedy's task of fending off those shots will a be a tough one.

184 pounds:Aiden Riggins vs.No. 6Bernie Truax

Iowa doesn't have to use Kennedy at 174 pounds, though, and the Hawks don't have to use probable starter Aiden Riggins at 184 pounds. They can be creative. Against Iowa State, Iowa slated Kennedy in at 174 pounds and bumped up true freshman Gabe Arnold to 184 pounds. Kennedy beat Iowa State's No. 19MJ Gaitan in that dual, and Arnold beat No. 8 Feldkamp. Arnold has several duals left in which he can compete attached for the Hawks without burning his redshirt, and this would not be a bad dual to field the freshman, as whoever Iowa elects to wrestle will have a shot against three-time All-American Bernie Truax.

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Truax, a Cal Poly transfer, is 8-2 on the year with a loss to All-American Trey Munoz and a loss by fall last weekend to RyderRogotzke of Ohio State. Aiden Riggins, meanwhile is 7-8, though he is coming off two wins against Northwestern and Michigan. Can Riggins beat Truax? Anything can happen, certainly, but Arnold's resume this year suggests he'd be a better matchup, though Arnold did say on The Bader Show earlier this year that he does not expect to bump up to 184 pounds again. Given that comment, and given Iowa's probables, there's a high likelihood that Riggins gets the nod, suggesting that this could be another bonus opportunity for Penn State simply based on Truax's history.

197 pounds:No. 11 Zach Glazier vs.No. 1 Aaron Brooks

At the start of the season, this match between Aaron Brooks and Zach Glazier may not have gotten a lot of hype. And certainly Brooks is still a large favorite. But, Glazier deserves some credit here.

In his fifth year in the Iowa program, Glazier finally earned his starting spot. He's now 14-0 with 78+% bonus, and he has wins over Big Ten champion Silas Allred (by bonus) and two wins over No. 20Garrett Joles. He's looked like every bit of an All-American.

These are the matches you want#Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/0lV3WKiDI1

— Iowa Hawkeye Wrestling (@Hawks_Wrestling) February 7, 2024

Brooks, though, is a three-time champ and someone who could quickly put an end to Glazier's undefeated streak. Nine of Brooks' ten matches this year have ended early, either by fall or tech fall, and this one could follow the same pattern. This is an important match for Glazier though because he hasn't had a test like this all season. Staying competitive with Brooks and working to keep the match to a decision could give him great experience heading into the postseason.

Plus, Carver is known for its magic. How might Glazier be able to maximize this moment?

285 pounds:No. 29 Bradley Hill vs.No. 1 Greg Kerkvliet

Much like 197 pounds, the edge here belongs to Penn State in a significant way. Nittany Lion junior Greg Kerkvliet is 9-0 with wins over No. 6 Lucas Davison, No. 7 Nick Feldman, No. 9 Nathan Taylor, No. 15 Owen Trephan, No. 24Boone McDermott. He's a favorite to win a national title this year and contribute to what could be one of the best programs in NCAA history.

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Iowa's Bradley Hill will have a tough time here, but Hill isn't someone to scoff at. The Hawkeye starter is 11-4 with solid performances in his victories against four-time national qualifier Cole Urbas and Nebraska's Nash Hutmacher. Iowa also has options here and could send out true freshman Ben Kueter, but, regardless of which Hawkeye takes the mat, fending off Kerkvliet may be difficult.

Iowa will want to do everything it can to have some momentum and some points on the board going into these last four weights. No team has scored more than ten points against the Nittany Lions so far this year, so that's the first bar to clear as Iowa chases the biggest upset of the season.

Probable starters for Penn State-Iowa

Let’s take a look at the probable lineups for each team: