The Iowa Hawkeyes and Missouri Tigers will meet in the first round of the the National Duals Invitational in one of the most highly anticipated matchups of the round of 16. Top-seeded Iowa will be the favorites in this dual, but key newcomers for Missouri will give them a chance to pull off the upset.

The Hawkeyes earned the top seed at the first ever National Duals Invitational because of their balanced lineup that includes eight wrestlers who are ranked in the top ten of their respective weight classes and five former All-Americans. Iowa wrestlers are ranked higher than Missouri wrestlers in eight of the ten weight classes, but they can't overlook the Tigers.

Mizzou will rely heavily on its newcomers in this dual and throughout the season. Freshmen Mack Mauger (125 lbs), Seth Mendoza (141 lbs), and Aeoden Sinclair (184 lbs) all came to Columbia with strong high school pedigrees. All three have high their eyes on the 2026 NCAA podium, and all three have critical matchups in this dual against Iowa.

125-pounder Mack Mauger will take on Rutgers transfer Dean Peterson, a two-time round of 12 finisher at NCAAs. Mauger was 12-6 against D1 opponents in his true freshman year. Peterson will be a big favorite, so an upset by Mauger at the start of the season would be a statement.

Illinois star Seth Mendoza will get the nod for Missouri at 141 lbs as a true freshman after a senior year of high school that included appearances at Who's Number One and the finals of Fargo, Super 32, and Ironman. The only opponents who defeated him at those events were Jax Forrest and Marcus Blaze. Mendoza will square off against Little Rock transfer and 2024 All-American Nasir Bailey, another Illinois product who will provide an incredible early-season test for Mendoza.

All eyes will be on the 184-pound showdown between redshirt freshmen #2 Angelo Ferrari of Iowa and #9 Aeoden Sinclair of Missouri. While this is Ferrari's first year in the varsity lineup, he earned his #2 ranking last season with a Soldier Salute title, a victory over Iowa State's Evan Bockman, and a sudden-victory win over Oklahoma State NCAA finalist Dustin Plott. Sinclair secured the #9 spot in the rankings with several solid victories in his true freshman year including one over All-American Isaiah Salazar of Minnesota.

Watch a follow along with Angelo Ferrari before the National Duals Invitational

This dual includes a total of six matchups between nationally ranked competitors and a lot of intrigue from top to bottom. It takes place in the first session of the National Duals Invitational at 9:00 am CT. Tickets to watch the event at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma are still available here.

2025-26 Iowa Overview

Head Coach: Tom Brands (20th season)

Assistants: Terry Brands, Ryan Morningstar, Bobby Telford

2025 NCAA tournament finish: 4th

2025 NCAA tournament points: 81

2025 Big Ten tournament finish: 3rd

2025 Dual  Record: 14-1

Returning All-Americans: 5 (Drake Ayala, Nasir Bailey, Michael Caliendo, Patrick Kennedy, Ben Kueter)

Returning National Qualifiers: 9 (Dean Peterson, Joey Cruz, Drake Ayala, Jordan Williams, Victor Voinovich, Michael Caliendo, Patrick Kennedy, Gabe Arnold, Ben Kueter)

Key Off-Season Transfers: Nasir Bailey (Little Rock), Jordan Williams (Little Rock), Massoma Endene (Wartburg)

Last NCAA champion: Stephen Buchanan (2025)

Highest NCAA team finish: 1st (1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2021)

Highest NCAA team finish under Brands: 1st (2008, 2009, 2010, 2021)

Most national placers in a season under Brands: 7 (2008, 2021)

2025-26 Missouri Overview

Head Coach: Brian Smith (28th season)

Assistants: Kendric Maple, Dom Bradley, Keegan O'Toole

2025 NCAA tournament finish: 14th

2025 NCAA tournament points: 32

2025 Big 12 tournament finish: 8th

2025 Dual Record: 5-10

Returning All-Americans: 1 (Cameron Steed)

Returning National Qualifiers: 6 (Kade Moore, Josh Edmond, James Conway, Maxx Mayfield, Cameron Steed, Evan Bates)

Key Off-Season Transfers: Maxx Mayfield (Northwestern), Evan Bates (Northwestern)

Last NCAA champion: 2023 (Keegan O'Toole)

Highest NCAA team finish: 3rd (2007)

Highest NCAA team finish under Smith: 3rd (2007)

Most national placers in a season under Smith: 5 (2009, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2023)

Probable Lineups

Iowa Hawkeyes

125 lbs - #10 Dean Peterson

133 lbs - #3 Drake Ayala

141 lbs - #10 Nasir Bailey

149 lbs - Ryder Block

157 lbs - #7 Jordan Williams

165 lbs - #2 Michael Caliendo

174 lbs - #2 Patrick Kennedy

184 lbs - #2 Angelo Ferrari

197 lbs - Massoma Endene

285 lbs - #5 Ben Kueter

Missouri Tigers

125 lbs - Mack Mauger

133 lbs - #21 Kade Moore

141 lbs - Seth Mendoza

149 lbs - #15 Josh Edmond

157 lbs - #24 James Conway

165 lbs - #12 Maxx Mayfield

174 lbs - #5 Cameron Steed

184 lbs - #9 Aeoden Sinclair

197 lbs - #10 Evan Bates

285 lbs - #24 Jarrett Stoner

Key Matchups

141 lbs - #10 Nasir Bailey, Iowa vs Seth Mendoza, Missouri

157 lbs - #7 Jordan Williams, Iowa vs #24 James Conway, Missouri

174 lbs - #2 Patrick Kennedy, Iowa vs # 5 Cameron Steed, Missouri

184 lbs - #2 Angelo Ferrari, Iowa vs #9 Aeoden Sinclair, Missouri

197 lbs - Massoma Endene, Iowa vs #10 Evan Bates, Missouri

Ranked Wrestlers

Iowa

125 lbs - #10 Dean Peterson

133 lbs - #3 Drake Ayala

141 lbs - #10 Nasir Bailey

157 lbs - #7 Jordan Williams

165 lbs - #2 Michael Caliendo

174 lbs - #2 Patrick Kennedy

184 lbs - #2 Angelo Ferrari

285 lbs - #5 Ben Kueter

Missouri

133 lbs - #21 Kade Moore

149 lbs - #15 Josh Edmond

157 lbs - #24 James Conway

165 lbs - #12 Maxx Mayfield

174 lbs - #5 Cameron Steed

184 lbs - #9 Aeoden Sinclair

197 lbs - #10 Evan Bates

285 lbs - #24 Jarrett Stoner

Prediction

On paper, Iowa is favored at eight of ten weights. Missouri has upset potential throughout the dual, but it's tough to predict where they'll pull off those upsets. Here's my attempt at predicting what could happen in this dual.

125 lbs - Dean Peterson over Mack Mauger by decision

133 lbs - Drake Ayala over Kade Moore by major decision

141 lbs - Nasir Bailey over Seth Mendoza by decision

149 lbs - Josh Edmond over Ryder Block by decision

157 lbs - Jordan Williams over James Conway by decision

165 lbs - Michael Caliendo over Maxx Mayfields by major decision

174 lbs - Cameron Steed over Patrick Kennedy by decision

184 lbs - Angelo Ferrari over Aeoden Sinclair by decision

197 lbs - Evan Bates over Massoma Endene by decision

285 lbs - Ben Kueter over Jarrett Stoner by decision

Final score: Iowa 23, Missouri 9