The Nebraska Huskers return a fusillade's worth of firepower from last year's team that finished as runners-up at the 2025 NCAA Championships. Their first match at the National Duals Invitational is with the Lehigh Mountain Hawks, who get two All-Americans and two All-American contenders back from redshirt this season. A big question for the Mountain Hawks, however, is if their reinforcements will be ready in time to take the mat against a powerful Husker squad. 

Both teams have deep rosters, so expect a brawl no matter who toes the line Saturday morning. That said, how healthy both teams are may go a long way in shaping the outcome of this dual. 

Probable Lineups

Nebraska

125 - Kael Lauridsen

133 - #11 Jacob Van Dee

141 - #2 Brock Hardy

149 - Nikade Zinkin

157 - #1 Antrell Taylor

165 - #18 LJ Araujo

174 - #4 Christopher Minto

184 - #6 Silas Allred

197 - #7 Camden McDanel

285 - #1 AJ Ferrari

Lehigh

125 - #5 Sheldon Seymour

133 - #2 Ryan Crookham  or Matty Lopes

141 - #3 Luke Stanich or Carter Bailey

149 - Kelvin Griffin

157 - #23 Logan Rozynski

165 - #8 Max Brignola

174 - Richie Grungo

184 - #29 Rylan Rogers

197 - #20 JT Davis

285 - #8 Nathan Taylor

Key Potential Matchups

125 Pounds

All-American Sheldon Seymour will be counted on for his leadership by the Mountain Hawks as he embarks on his senior campaign. He'll also be counted on to set the tone for Lehigh as he will lead off the dual as the favorite against redshirt freshman Kael Lauridsen. 

Unfortunately, after Seymour, it appears that Lehigh will be without the services of Ryan Crookham and Luke Stanich. Both are expected back this season, just not in time for the National Duals. The Mountain Hawks have two very capable backups in Matty Lopes and Carter Bailey at 133 and 141, but they will still be underdogs against Nebraska's All-Americans Jacob Van Dee and Brock Hardy.

Watch highlights of Seymour defeating Luke Lilledahl in last season's NCAA quarters: 

Kelvin Griffin and Logan Rozynski will also be underdogs at 149 and 157, as they will have two-time bloodrounder and Cal Poly transfer Chance Lamer and 2025 NCAA champion Antrell Taylor respectively. All of that will make the 165lb match all the more pivotal for the Mountain Hawks.

165 Pounds

Max Brignola's redshirt season last year, in which he went 18-0 against D1 competition, turned a lot of heads. It also earned the New Jersey native a top ten ranking and a spot at the 2025 NWCA All-Star Classic. His opponent in round 1 will be redshirt freshman LJ Araujo, a redshirt freshman that the Husker coaches believe has tremendous upside potential. 

Brignola will be the favorite, but expect a battle from Araujo. Wins at 125 and 165 won't be enough for Mountain Hawks, however, as they will likely need a few upsets to advance to the quarters, including from the next three weights. Chris Minto looks to be one of the biggest locks for the Huskers in the dual. Lehigh's Rylan Rogers and JT Davis, Mountain Hawks at 184 and 197, will be in the mix for a podium placement in March, but Nebraska's Silas Allred and Camden McDanel were top-eight placers last year, so the odds will favor the Big Red wrestlers on Saturday.

285 Pounds

The dual very well could be wrapped up for Nebraska going into heavyweight, but if the outcome is still on the line when 285 rolls around, we may see AJ Ferrari against his toughest competition at his new weight class. Mountain Hawk Nathan Taylor fell one match shy of the podium in 2024, and then had to take a medical redshirt after five bouts into the 2024-25 season. Ferrari has, of course, reached the top of the podium in the past and was third last season, however, that was all at 197. Can Mr. Fast Twitch handle a full-size All-American contending heavyweight? We'll hopefully find out Saturday!

Watch a bulked-up AJ get in a quick lift in Lincoln: 

2025-26 Nebraska Overview

Head Coach: Mark Manning (26th season)

Assistants: Bryan Snyder, Tervel Dlagnev, James Green

2025 NCAA tournament finish: 2nd

2025 NCAA tournament points: 117

2025 Big Ten tournament finish: 2nd

2025 Dual Record: 11-3

Returning All-Americans: 8 (Jacob Van Dee, Brock Hardy, Chance Lamer, Antrell Taylor, Christopher Minto, Silas Alred, Camden McDanel, AJ Ferrari)

Returning National Qualifiers: 8 (Jacob Van Dee, Brock Hardy, Chance Lamer, Antrell Taylor, Christopher Minto, Silas Alred, Camden McDanel, AJ Ferrari)

Key Off-Season Transfers: Chance Lamer (Cal Poly), AJ Ferrari (CSU Bakersfield)

Last NCAA Champion: 2025 (Ridge Lovett, Antrell Taylor)

Highest NCAA Team Finish: 2nd (2025)

Highest NCAA Team Finish under Manning: 2nd (2025)

2025-26 Lehigh Overview

Head Coach: Pat Santoro (17th season)

Assistants: Brad Dillon, Zach Rey, Vincenzo Joseph

2025 NCAA tournament finish: 15th

2025 NCAA tournament points: 29

2025 EIWA tournament finish: 1st

2025 Dual Record: 7-4

Returning All-Americans: 3 (Sheldon Seymour, Ryan Crookham, Luke Stanich)

Returning National Qualifiers: 7 (Sheldon Seymour, Ryan Crookham, Luke Stanich, Kelvin Griffin, Logan Rozynski, Max Brignola, Nathan Taylor)

Key Off-Season Transfers: N/A

Last NCAA Champion: 2017 (Darian Cruz)

Highest NCAA Team Finish: 2nd (1939)

Highest NCAA Team Finish under Santoro: 8th (2012)

Lehigh vs Nebraska Predictions

125: Seymour, Lehigh over Lauridsen, Nebraska by decision - LU 3, UNL 0

133: Lopes, Lehigh over Van Dee, Nebraska by decision - LU 6, UNL 0

141: Hardy, Nebraska over Bailey, Lehigh by major - LU 6, UNL 4

149: Lamer, Nebraska over Griffin, Lehigh by decision - UNL 7, LU 6

157: Taylor, Nebraska over Rozynski, Lehigh by decision - UNL 10, LU 6

165: Brignola, Lehigh over Araujo, Nebraska by decision - UNL 10, LU 9

174: Minto, Nebraska over Grungo, Lehigh by major - UNL 14, LU 9

184: Allred, Nebraska over Rogers, Lehigh by decision - UNL 17, LU 9

197: McDanel, Nebraska over Davis, Lehigh by decision - UNL 20, LU 9

285: Ferrari, Nebraska over Taylor, Lehigh by decision - UNL 23, LU 9

I'm going by the book for Seymour by decision and Hardy by major, however, Lopes is the one early-round upset I'm picking. Lopes is a Blair Academy grad who is so far undefeated on the season while Van Dee did just drop a bout to American's Lopez by fall. Alternatively, if coach Pat Santora elects to keep Lopes redshirt and wrestle Mason Ziegler at 133 as he did in Lehigh's dual vs Virginia, then Van Dee will be a massive favorite and will likely score bonus points. It will also make it nearly impossible for the Mountain Hawks to pull off an upset at that point. 

Hardy is capable of running up the score on Bailey, though I'm being conservative and keeping it to 'just' a major for the accomplished Husker by way of Utah. 

Griffin is a pinner, and if Lehigh wants to keep their hopes alive, they'll need one from Griffin, though I don't believe Lamer is going to allow that to happen. 

Trelly Taylor is a big favorite over Rozynski, but I looked at the Mountain Hawk's results from last season, and he surrendered precisely zero bonus points the entire year, so I'm saying he'll keep it close against the national champ. 

I also think Lehigh gets a win at 165, but then the Huskers take over. I'm only picking one bonus win over the next five weights but it definitely could be more. Additionally, if the dual is out of reach by heavyweight, I would not be surprised to see Lehigh send Calvin Lachman out to face Ferrari, which would likely result in more bonus for Nebraska and a lopsided win for Coach Manning and the Huskers. 

Will Nebraska rout Lehigh and pick up a full head of steam as the number two seed eyes a collision with Oklahoma State in the semis? We'll find out in Tulsa!