Big Ten Wrestling power rankings: Can anyone derail Penn State train?

Dual Rank: 12
Record: 5-4 (2-4 B1G)
Ranked Wrestlers: 7
141 No. 10 Chad Red Jr.
149 No. 8 Ridge Lovett
157 No. 10 Peyton Robb
174 No. 6 Mikey Labriola
184 No. 9 Taylor Venz
197 No. 3 Eric Schultz
285 No. 12 Christian Lance

The Nebraska Cornhuskers started off the season like gangbusters in winning each of their first three dual matches and then taking home the team title in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.

But Nebraska has since cooled off from their red hot start by going 2-4 in the Big Ten regular-season dual meets. The losses to both Michigan (20-13) and Penn State (21-13) are understandable since those are two of the top teams in the entire country.

But losses to both Minnesota (19-13) and Purdue (18-15) are borderline inexcusable for a wrestling program like Nebraska. And yes, I do know Chad Red Jr. was out against Purdue and Taylor Venz missed the Minnesota dual. Even without these guys, I would fully expect Nebraska to field competitive wrestlers in their place.

And even though the Cornhuskers lost to teams already seen in these power rankings, I still have them as the 5th best team in the Big Ten. Because when they are fully healthy and ready to go, they’re as good as anyone in the nation.

Next up for Nebraska is a home dual against Illinois this Sunday (2/13) at 12:00 p.m. noon.