The top-ranked Penn State wrestling team showed Friday night that the gulf between No. 1 and 2 in the 2025 dual rankings is as wide as it was at the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships — a veritable Grand Canyon.

I spent a few thousand words the other day breaking down the Iowa wrestling team’s possible paths to competing somewhat-closely on Friday night with the juggernaut that is #1 Penn State. My (long-winded) conclusion?

The Hawkeyes and Nittany Lions are both off to 9-0 starts, with 3-0 records in Big Ten duals. Across the 10 bouts tonight, there are seven top-10 or better individual matches and four of Intermat's top-ranked wrestlers. Stick here for live updates, analysis and highlights from the dual.

Penn State wrestling is a 20.5-point favorite for tonight’s showdown with No. 2 Iowa. The line initially opened there, spent most of Thursday at 21.5, and then dipped back to where it started Friday morning.

FIRST PERIOD: Penn State's returning national champion Greg Kerkvliet picks up the first takedown of the match to earn a 3-0 with over two minutes to go in the period. He notched another takedown to end the period with a 6-1 lead in short time and assert his dominance at the start of this final match.

Today, we’re talking about the offseason’s early winner, Brian Kelly’s do-or-die year at LSU and changes to the College Football Playoff. Let’s go:

What an environment for the Penn State freshman to compete in at State College! Luke Lilledahl's on the mat now against Iowa's ranked lightweight No. 26 Joey Cruz to kick off this dual. Lilledahl looks strong.

Penn State's Tyler Kasak lifts Iowa’s Jacori Teemer in the final seconds of their 157 pound match at the Bryce Jordan Center on Jan. 31, 2025. Kasak won 5-2. Joe Hermitt | [email protected] Joe Hermitt | [email protected]

Penn State will be well-represented in this year’s big game. The Nittany Lions have four players playing in Super Bowl LIX. The Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will meet in the title game for the second time in three seasons, with the Eagles having the most high-profile Penn State athlete in recent memory in Saquon Barkley.

Julian Peterson (2) of Winslow catches a pass and would score on the play during the NJSIAA South Jersey, Group 4 football semifinal between Winslow and Manalapan at Winslow Township High School in Atco, NJ on 11/9/24. Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media

Analyzing Thursday’s Ohio State at Penn State odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.

The No. 1 Nittany Lions take on the No. 2 Iowa Hawkeyes — the last team to beat Penn State — on Friday night in the Bryce Jordan Center.