While the opening month of the college wrestling season is traditionally filled with open tournaments, there are still several intriguing dual meets to watch in November. Let's examine 10 must-see NCAA Division I dual meets in November.
Many wrestling fans around the country will have their eyes on Iowa vs. Oregon State on the opening weekend of college wrestling. It's an opportunity for college wrestling fans to get an early look at a Hawkeye team that is expected to challenge for a national title. Iowa returns All-Americans Drake Ayala, Michael Caliendo and Nelson Brands, as well as talented redshirt freshmen Gabe Arnold and Ben Kueter. In addition, Iowa's lineup was bolstered by the additions of All-American transfers Kyle Parco, Jacori Teemer and Stephen Buchanan. The Beavers have a handful of ranked wrestlers, led by two-time All-American Trey Munoz. Iowa is a prohibitive favorite to win the dual but expect to see several competitive matches. Last season, Oregon State won three of the 10 matches and lost two others by a combined five points.
These two college wrestling powers have faced each other every season since the 2016-2017 season, with the exception of the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season. Both programs have nationally ranked wrestlers up and down their lineups. Virtually every dual between these teams has been extremely competitive. Last season, Missouri snapped its three-match losing streak to Virginia Tech, rallying to win 22-17. The previous two dual meets between the teams were each decided by two points. This is a Friday night dual you won't want to miss.
North Carolina State will face Rutgers in the inaugural Jersey Jostle -- presented by Journeymen Wrestling -- on Sunday, Nov. 17 in Toms River, New Jersey. Both programs have consistently been ranked in the top 15 of the dual meet rankings. The dual will feature several matches between ranked wrestlers, including a top-10 showdown at 133 pounds between returning All-Americans Dylan Shawver (Rutgers) and Kai Orine (NC State). The two wrestlers met for seventh place at the NCAAs last season, with Shawver winning 10-5.
The Hokies host their second top-20 team in two weeks when they welcome Rutgers to Blacksburg on Friday, Nov. 22. However, unlike the Nov. 15 dual against Missouri, which will take place at Cassell Coliseum, this dual will be held at the Moss Arts Center, a 1,300-seat auditorium that provides a unique setting for college wrestling. The dual will include many tossup matchups, such as Virginia Tech's Connor McGonagle, a transfer from Lehigh, facing the aforementioned All-American Shawver in a highly-anticipated matchup at 133 pounds.
The CyHawk dual between college wrestling heavyweights Iowa and Iowa State is without question the most highly-anticipated dual meet in the month of November. It's one of college wrestling's most historic rivalries dating back to 1916 that takes place in wrestling-crazed Iowa. The Hawkeyes have dominated the all-time series, winning 69 of the 87 meetings. The last Cyclone victory came in 2004 in Iowa City when ISU topped Iowa 19-16. The Hawkeyes have since reeled off 19 straight victories over the Cyclones. Iowa defeated Iowa State 18-14 last season in a highly-competitive dual meet in Ames. While Iowa is favored on paper, both programs have ranked wrestlers at virtually every weight class, which should make for an exciting Cy-Hawk dual in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
While the John Smith era at Oklahoma State ended after last season, the David Taylor era is just beginning in Stillwater. Taylor, one of America's greatest wrestlers ever, will guide one of college wrestling's greatest programs ever. The Cowboys added some notable transfers in Taylor's first season. Those transfers include three-time All-American Cam Amine, two-time All-American Dean Hamiti and two-time All-American Wyatt Hendrickson. Coach Zeke Jones, the former national freestyle coach, will bring his Arizona State Sun Devils to Stillwater on Sunday, Nov. 24. While ASU has a lost a couple All-Americans via the transfer portal, the Sun Devils' lineup still packs a punch. ASU returns NCAA champion Richard Figueroa, four-time All-American Cohlton Schultz and talented freshman Kaleb Larkin, among others.
Campbell has established itself as one of the premier college wrestling programs in the south. Scotti Sentes helped build the Campbell program as an assistant coach before taking over as head coach in 2020 when Cary Kolat left to become the head wrestling coach at Navy. Campbell has consistently been ranked in the top 25 of the dual meet rankings. Last season, Campbell finished 14-3 in duals and 8-0 in the SoCon. The Fighting Camels will get an early-season test a few days before Thanksgiving against perennial power Minnesota in Minneapolis. The Gophers picked up some key transfers and have ranked wrestlers in almost every weight class. Campbell has a balanced squad led by All-American heavyweight Taye Ghadiali. While Minnesota is favored in many of the weight classes, this dual will likely have many competitive matches.
This Keystone State rivalry will be renewed on Nov. 24 when Pitt hosts Lehigh. It will mark the 69th meeting between the Pennsylvania programs in a series that dates back to 1916. Last season, Pitt picked up a hard-fought road victory over Lehigh in a top-25 battle at The Snake Pitt in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Pitt has won four of the last five duals, but Lehigh leads the all-time series 45-21-2. One of the key matchups in the dual meet will take place at heavyweight between Lehigh's Nathan Taylor and Pitt's Dayton Pitzer, both returning NCAA qualifiers. Pitzer edged Taylor 2-0 in the dual meet last season.
It has been a bittersweet year for the UNI wrestling program. The Panthers, under the guidance of head coach Doug Schwab, crowned a national champion in Parker Keckeisen (184) but also saw its former home arena, West Gym, torn down. The McLeod Center now serves as UNI's home for all their dual meets. UNI will welcome South Dakota State to Cedar Falls on Nov. 24. While both teams compete in the Big 12 Conference, the two programs have not met in a dual meet since the 2021-22 season. SDSU won the last meeting 27-13, but UNI has dominated the all-time series 40-6-1. SDSU, led by coach Damion Hahn, compiled a 13-4 dual meet record last season and finished third at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships. UNI was 8-6 in duals and placed fifth at the Big 12s. The most anticipated matchup will take place 184 pounds between NCAA champion Parker Keckeisen and NCAA fourth-place finisher Bennett Berge of SDSU. The two have not faced each other in college.
This might as well be called the Askren Academy Dual. This Tuesday night Big 12 dual meet is being held at Arrowhead High School in Hartland, Wisconsin, where the Askren brothers, Ben and Max, trained, wrestled and now coach young wrestlers at the Askren Wrestling Academy. The rosters of both teams include several Wisconsin natives who trained at the Askren Wrestling Academy in Wisconsin, including NCAA champions Keegan O'Toole (Missouri) and Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa). The dual will be broadcast live on UFC Fight Pass.