Nebraska Ranks No. 3 in Preseason Wrestling Poll
The NWCA coaches' poll places Nebraska behind Penn State and Oklahoma State as the 2026-27 season approaches.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Wrestling
Nebraska wrestling was ranked No. 3 in the NWCA Division I Men's Wrestling Coaches Poll released October 28, earning 362 points. Penn State led with 400 points and all 16 first-place votes, while Oklahoma State received 382 points.
Why it matters
The ranking reflects Nebraska's third-place finish at the 2025-26 NCAA Championships and its No. 5 finish in the final poll last season. Nebraska's schedule features nine top-25 opponents, meaning early results will test the preseason placement for Nebraska fans across the state.
The NWCA coaches' poll ranks Nebraska third with 362 points, trailing Penn State's 400 and Oklahoma State's 382. The poll reflects coaches' preseason judgment, and actual results against nine top-25 opponents have not yet occurred.
The players
NWCA
The National Wrestling Coaches Association is the national organization whose coaches vote in the Division I poll that ranks college wrestling programs each season.
Penn State Nittany Lions
Penn State's wrestling program is a longtime powerhouse in NCAA Division I that received all 16 first-place votes in this preseason poll.
Oklahoma State Cowboys
Oklahoma State is a traditional national wrestling power in the Big 12 that ranks second in the preseason poll and hosts Nebraska in November.
The details
The NWCA poll was released October 28, 2026, placing Nebraska among the nation's leading programs before the season begins. Four Big Ten programs rank in the top 10, and seven appear in the top 25.
Timeline
October 28, 2026: NWCA poll released with Nebraska at No. 3.
November 8, 2026: Nebraska hosts ranked Wyoming (No. 18) at the Devaney Center in Lincoln.
November 13, 2026: Nebraska wrestles No. 2 Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Oklahoma.
January 15, 2027: Nebraska hosts No. 20 Rutgers.
January 24, 2027: Nebraska hosts No. 19 Illinois.
Season Trajectory
Nebraska's preseason No. 3 ranking follows a third-place finish at the 2025-26 NCAA Championships and a No. 5 close to last season. The early schedule, including road duals at Oklahoma State and Ohio State, will determine whether the program maintains its position among the country's top programs.
Fans following Nebraska's home schedule can watch ranked duals against Wyoming, Rutgers and Illinois at the Devaney Center in Lincoln. Early road duals at Oklahoma State and Ohio State offer the first tests of the preseason ranking.
The takeaway
Preseason rankings are based on coaches' expectations, and Nebraska's results against nine top-25 opponents will show whether the No. 3 placement holds through the season.
What happens next
Nebraska opens its home schedule against ranked Wyoming on November 8, 2026, followed by the road dual at No. 2 Oklahoma State on November 13.
Further reading
For more on the program's season outlook, see Wrestling coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Huskerstoday.
