The No. 4 Iowa Hawkeyes fell to the No. 1 Penn State Nittany Lions in the highly anticipated Top-Five matchup at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. The Nittany Lions defeated the Hawkeyes 32-3.
The dual commenced at 125 pounds with Iowa’s No. 6 Dean Petersen battling against Penn State’s No. 2 Luke Lilledahl. Lilledahl led early in the first period with a takedown against Petersen, starting the score 3-0. Petersen countered quickly with a reversal, gaining two points for a 3-2 score, but was followed by an escape from Lilledahl, ending the first period with a 4-2 score. In the second period, Petersen escaped from his starting bottom position to bump the score up 4-3 but was quickly countered with a shot from Lilledahl. Leading into the third period, Lilledahl led 7-4 but added to the lead with an escape and takedown to defeat Petersen with a 11-5 decision.
At 133 pounds, Iowa’s No. 8 Drake Ayala and No. 4 Marcus Blaze went head to head. With no score in the first period, Blaze scored first with an escape from bottom position to a takedown against Ayala; starting the match 4-0 before an escape from Ayala for a 4-1 score by the conclusion of the second period. In the third period, Ayala with an early escape attempted to score for the remaining time, however was unsuccessful and defeated by Blaze by 4-2 decision.
Iowa’s No. 11 Nasir Bailey clinched the only victory for the Hawkeyes of the dual with a 3-2 decision over Penn State’s No. 7 Braeden Davis. In the first period, Bailey started with an early takedown against Davis, starting the score 3-0. Davis, in a dangerous spot, was nearly turned by Bailey in a cradle, however was able to fight to his stomach. Davis escaped, bumping the score 3-1 into the second period. The match ended with a 3-2 score with riding time, Bailey taking the victory for the Hawkeyes.
Penn State’s No. 1 Shayne Van Ness defeated Iowa No. 17 Ryder Block with a 13-4 decision. Although with an early takedown by Block, Van Ness escaped quickly and followed through with a counter takedown. In the second period, Block, choosing bottom position, was unable to escape Van Ness’s offense. In the third period, Van Ness escaped and countered an attempted takedown from Block into a takedown and turn. With the collected back points and riding time, Van Ness defeated Block by major decision.
At 157 pounds, Iowa’s No. 12 Jordan Williams was defeated by Penn State’s No. 3 PJ Duke with a 4-2 decision. With a scoreless first period, Williams started the match with an escape and ended the second period 1-0. In the third period, Duke escapes from bottom position to tie the match 1-1. Duke secured a takedown followed by a Williams’ escape as time expired, ending with a 4-2 decision for the Nittany Lions.
Iowa’s No. 3 Michael Caliendo once again falls to rival Penn State No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink in the 165 pound match. In the 2025 NCAA Championship rematch, Mesenbrink led early with a takedown followed by an escape by Caliendo, 3-1. Starting in bottom position in the second period, Caliendo escaped but was countered once again by Mesenbrink with a takedown, 6-2. Mesenbrink escaped in the third period and ended the match 11-7 over Caliendo.
Iowa’s Gabe Arnold went face-to-face against Penn State’s No. 1 Levi Haines at 174 pounds. Haines led early in the first period with a takedown but was soon countered by Arnold, 3-1. In the second period, Haines escaped, increasing his lead 4-1. Arnold started the third period with an escape but was unable to score, ending the match 4-2 for Penn State.
Penn State’s No. 4 Rocco Welsh upsetted Iowa’s No. 1 Angelo Ferrari with a 2-1 decision in tie breaker period #1. Angelo escaped from bottom position, securing the only points made in the first two periods. In the third period, Welsh escaped from bottom position, tying the score 1-1 as time expired; leading the match into overtime. With no action or score, the two battled into tie-breaker #1 period. Welsh escaped in the final seconds of the period, upsetting the red-shirt freshman 2-1.
At 197 pounds, Penn State’s No. 1 Josh Barr defeated Iowa’s Brody Sampon by fall in the second period.
At the conclusion of the dual, Penn State’s No. 12 Cole Mirasola upsetted Iowa’s No. 5 Ben Kueter with a 4-3 decision. With an early escape in the second period from Kueter, Mirasola fought back offensively for a takedown to lead 3-2 at the conclusion of the second period. Mirasola continued the lead with an escape from bottom position however later received a stalling call, bumping the score 4-2. Mirasola fought off the Hawkeye’s last chance of victory by defeating Kueter, 4-3.
The No. 4 Hawkeyes are set to battle the No. 6 Nebraska Cornhuskers at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln, Nebraska on Friday, Jan. 23, 2026 at 8:00 PM.
