Big Ten Wrestling Championships 2025: Latest News and Updates
Big Ten Wrestling Championships 2025: Latest News and Updates
The 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships are officially underway, kicking off today, March 8, 2025, at Northwestern University’s Welsh-Ryan Arena in Evanston, Illinois. As one of the most anticipated events in collegiate wrestling, this two-day tournament (March 8-9) promises high-stakes action as the conference’s top teams and wrestlers vie for individual titles, team glory, and coveted spots in the NCAA Championships later this month. Here’s the latest news as the mats heat up on Day 1.
Penn State Enters as Heavy Favorites
No surprise here—top-ranked Penn State arrives as the team to beat. The Nittany Lions, fresh off a perfect 15-0 regular season (8-0 in Big Ten play), are aiming for their third consecutive Big Ten team title. With five wrestlers earning No. 1 pre-seeds—Braeden Davis (125 lbs), Levi Haines (157 lbs), Mitchell Mesenbrink (165 lbs), Carter Starocci (174 lbs), and Greg Kerkvliet (285 lbs)—and all 10 starters seeded in the top four, Penn State is poised to dominate. Coach Cael Sanderson’s squad has been a juggernaut, and their depth is unmatched, with eight wrestlers seeded first or second. Day 1 will be critical as they look to advance their stars through the early rounds.
Iowa, Minnesota, and the Chase Pack
No. 2 Iowa (14-1 overall, 7-1 Big Ten) and Minnesota are among the top challengers looking to dethrone Penn State. Iowa’s Stephen Buchanan (197 lbs) enters with an undefeated 19-0 record and a No. 1 seed, making him a favorite to claim an individual title. The Hawkeyes also bring exciting postseason debuts from Joey Cruz (125 lbs), Cullan Schriever (141 lbs), Gabe Arnold (184 lbs), and Ben Kueter (285 lbs). Meanwhile, Minnesota’s Gable Steveson (285 lbs), a heavyweight legend with an 11-0 record this season, is another No. 1 seed and a clear contender for the title at his weight class. Teams like Ohio State, Nebraska, and Rutgers are also in the mix, each boasting standout wrestlers who could shake up the brackets.
Tournament Highlights and Day 1 Schedule
The action kicked off at 11 a.m. ET today with Session I, featuring the first round, quarterfinals, and wrestlebacks. The semifinals are slated for 6:00 p.m. ET, setting the stage for tomorrow’s finals at 3:30 p.m. ET. Fans can catch every match live, with the Big Ten Network (BTN) and BTN+ broadcasting the championship rounds, while a BTN Plus subscription offers streaming access to all mats. This year’s field is stacked, with 12 returning Big Ten individual champions and nine NCAA individual champions among the competitors, ensuring a national tournament-level intensity.
Pre-Seeds and Bracket Buzz
The Big Ten released pre-seeds earlier this week, sparking plenty of discussion. Penn State’s five No. 1 seeds lead the way, but other notable top seeds include Rutgers’ Dylan Shawver (133 lbs), Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez (141 lbs), Iowa’s Michael Parco (149 lbs), and Nebraska’s Ridge Lovett (125 lbs). The brackets, finalized and released today, show tough early matchups—like Penn State’s Luke Lilledahl (No. 8 seed at 125 lbs) potentially facing Purdue’s top-seeded Matt Ramos (23-0) in the semifinals if both advance. The depth of talent is staggering, with 44 of Intermat’s top-10 ranked wrestlers hailing from the Big Ten, including eight at 157 pounds alone.
How to Watch and Follow Along
For those tuning in from home, here’s the breakdown:
Session I (March 8, 10 a.m. ET): First Round, Quarterfinals, Wrestlebacks – BTN+ streaming
Session II (March 8, 6 p.m. ET): Semifinals – Big Ten Network and BTN+
Session III (March 9, 3:30 p.m. ET): Finals – Big Ten Network
Check out FloWrestling for full brackets and real-time updates, or join the conversation on X, where fans are already buzzing with predictions and reactions using hashtags like #B1GWrestling and #MarchMatness.
What’s at Stake
Beyond conference bragging rights, the Big Ten Championships are a gateway to the NCAA Wrestling Championships, set for March 20-22 in Philadelphia. The Big Ten earned 87 of the 287 allocation spots for nationals, reflecting the conference’s unrivaled depth. Every wrestler ranked in the top 20 nationally is favored to qualify, but they’ll need to finish within their weight class’s allocated spots this weekend to punch their ticket.
Closing Thoughts
As of 8:23 p.m. IST (9:53 a.m. ET) on March 8, the first session is wrapping up, and the wrestling world is glued to Evanston. Will Penn State continue its dynasty? Can Iowa or Minnesota pull off an upset? Day 1 is already delivering thrills, and with the semifinals just hours away, the 2025 Big Ten Wrestling Championships are living up to the hype. Stay tuned for more updates as the champions emerge!
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