Penn State wrestling has dominated the 2025-26 season so far. While that's not necessarily surprising, the level and amount of success the Nittany Lions (11-0, 5-0 Big Ten) is jaw-dropping, even to wrestling commentators across the country.
Penn State wrestling caps off weekend with back-to-back shutouts
Sports broadcaster and Big Ten wrestling play-by-play Shane Sparks commented on the incredible season the blue and white led by head coach Cael Sanderson is having.
"They won two Big Ten duals in a span of 24 hours, which is incredible — but listen to this. Ninety-four takedowns to five. Ninety-four takedowns in two dual meets. That is incredible. It is their seventh shutout of the season, four in the Big Ten," Sparks said on Big Ten Today. "Wrap your head around this. There are five Big Ten dual meets, that is 50 individual matchups . . . The most crazy stat I've ever maybe said on this show. Fifty individual matchups . . . they are 49-1. This is the Big Ten. Forty-nine and one, and four shutouts in five Big Ten dual meets. I don't really know what else to say about this."
BTN’s @ShaneSparksBTN breaks down the absurd level of dominance we’ve seen from Cael Sanderson and Penn State wrestling this year. #WeAre #PennState #PSUwr #BigTen #NCAAWrestling
— Basic Blues Nation (@BasicBlues) January 26, 2026
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Shane Spark can't get over how incredible Penn State wrestling has been in 2025-26 in a dominant Big Ten conference
The Big Ten is arguably the most dominant conference in college wrestling, but Penn State hasn't batted an eye. It opened its in-conference duals with a shutout against Rutgers, 46-0. The only match the Nittany Lions allowed their Big Ten opponent to score was against Iowa, which they still won in a definitive 32-3 final. They also shutout Northwestern (51-0), Indiana (48-0), and Maryland (51-0).
Those two most recent meets, against Indiana at home and Maryland on the road, were back-to-back matches. Due to weather conditions, Penn State and the Terrapins agreed to move their dual up a day from Sunday to Saturday. That quick turnaround, including travel, didn't affect the blue and white. Even with a 12 p.m. ET start time after wrapping up the Hoosiers meeting late on Friday didn't impact the dominance the Nittany Lions intended leaving on the mat.
Their season continues with an 8 p.m. ET match versus Nebraska on Friday, which can be watched on the Big Ten Network.