The Nebraska wrestling team is No. 2 in the nation and was the highest-ranked team at the inaugural National Duals Invitational Sponsored by Paycom, and while the Cornhuskers certainly performed like a team ready for the new season, they might go home thinking about the things that didn't quite go right. 

Nebraska picked up a pair of wins Saturday against Lehigh and Michigan but came up short Sunday against Ohio State and Oklahoma State on the way to a fourth-place finish. 

The tournament featured 11 of the top 12 teams from the 2025 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships and eight of the top 10 teams in the latest FloWrestling NCAA Division I Wrestling Rankings.

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The unique format for the weekend included a series of duals taking place across four mats at the BOK Center and an unprecedented top prize of $200,000 for the winning team. 

Nebraska was untouchable as one of four undefeated teams Saturday with a 35-7 win over No. 7 Lehigh in the opening round and a 24-14 win against No. 10 Michigan in the quarterfinals. 

Sunday didn't go as well for the Cornhuskers, who fell to No. 8 Ohio State in the semifinals (33-3) and No. 5 Oklahoma State in the third-place dual (33-6).

Ohio State moved on to face Iowa, an 18-6 semifinal winner over Oklahoma State, in Sunday's televised final.

Oklahoma State earned $150,000 for its third-place finish, and Nebraska took home $75,000 for finishing fourth.

Along with being ranked second behind Penn State this season, the Cornhuskers also finished as the runners-up to PSU at the 2025 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. 

Competition at the National Duals Invitational took place throughout the day Saturday and Sunday, with Ohio State defeating Iowa 27-12 for the title Sunday night, live on ESPN2. OSU earned $200,000 for the win, and Iowa took home $150,000 as the runner-up.

Here's a look at how Nebraska fared at the BOK Center:

Oklahoma State vs. Nebraska Results - Third-Place Match

Ok State 33, Nebraska 6: Oklahoma State Wrestling Wins

• 125lbs: Troy Spratley (Oklahoma State) vs. Alan Koehler (Nebraska): Spratley wins by Fall 2:59  
• 133lbs: Ronnie Ramirez (Oklahoma State) vs. Kael Lauridsen (Nebraska): Ramirez wins by Dec 9-3  
• 141lbs: Sergio Vega (Oklahoma State) vs. Brock Hardy (Nebraska): Vega wins by MD 13-2  
• 149lbs: Casey Swiderski (Oklahoma State) vs. Nikade Zinkin (Nebraska): Swiderski wins by Dec 7-6
• 157lbs: Landon Robideau (Oklahoma State) vs. Dez Garterell (Nebraska): Robideau wins by TF 21-6  
• 165lbs: LaDarion Lockett (Oklahoma State) vs. Unknown (Unattached): Lockett wins by Def Forf  
• 174lbs: Alex Facundo (Oklahoma State) vs. Christopher Minto (Nebraska): Facundo wins by Dec 2-1  
• 184lbs: Zack Ryder (Oklahoma State) vs. Silas Allred (Nebraska): Allred wins by Dec SV-1 5-2  
• 197lbs: Cody Merrill (Oklahoma State) vs. Camden McDanel (Nebraska): Merrill wins by Dec TB-1 2-1
• 285lbs: Konner Doucet (Oklahoma State) vs. AJ Ferrari (Nebraska): Ferrari wins by Dec 2-1

Ohio State vs. Nebraska Results - Semifinals

Ohio State 33, Nebraska 3: Ohio State Wrestling Wins

• 125lbs: Brendan McCrone (Ohio State) vs. Alan Koehler (Nebraska): McCrone wins by Dec 5-0
• 133lbs: Ben Davino (Ohio State) vs. Omar Ayoub (Nebraska): Davino wins by MD 11-2
• 141lbs: Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) vs. Brock Hardy (Nebraska): Mendez wins by Dec 4-1
• 149lbs: Ethan Stiles (Ohio State) vs. Nikade Zinkin (Nebraska): Stiles wins by Fall (4:48)
• 157lbs: Brandon Cannon (Ohio State) vs. Antrell Taylor (Nebraska): Cannon wins by MD 16-4
• 165lbs: Paddy Gallagher (Ohio State) vs. LJ Araujo (Nebraska): Gallagher wins by MD 10-1
• 174lbs: Carson Kharchla (Ohio State) vs. Christopher Minto (Nebraska): Kharchla wins by Dec 5-1
• 184lbs: Dylan Fishback (Ohio State) vs. Silas Allred (Nebraska): Fishback wins by Dec 8-1
• 197lbs: Seth Shumate (Ohio State) vs. Camden McDanel (Nebraska): McDanel wins by Dec 8-2
• 285lbs: Nick Feldman (Ohio State) vs. AJ Ferrari (Nebraska): Feldman wins by Dec 5-4

Michigan vs. Nebraska Results - Quarterfinals

Nebraska 24, Michigan 14: Nebraska Wrestling Wins

• 125lbs: Diego Sotelo (Michigan) vs. Kael Lauridsen (Nebraska): Sotelo wins by Dec 5-2
• 133lbs: Gauge Botero (Michigan) vs. Jacob Van Dee (Nebraska): Van Dee wins by MD 9-0
• 141lbs: Eren Sement (Michigan) vs. Brock Hardy (Nebraska): Hardy wins by TF 20-5 (7:00)
• 149lbs: Lachlan McNeil (Michigan) vs. Nikade Zinkin (Nebraska): McNeil wins by MD 15-5
• 157lbs: Cameron Catrabone (Michigan) vs. Antrell Taylor (Nebraska): Taylor wins by TF 20-5 (7:00)
• 165lbs: Dylan Gilcher (Michigan) vs. Dez Garterell (Nebraska): Gilcher wins by MD 11-1
• 174lbs: Beau Mantanona (Michigan) vs. Christopher Minto (Nebraska): Minto wins by Dec 4-1 SV
• 184lbs: Brock Mantanona (Michigan) vs. Silas Allred (Nebraska): Mantanona wins by Dec 10-8
• 197lbs: Hayden Walters (Michigan) vs. Camden McDanel (Nebraska): McDanel wins by Dec 4-1 SV
• 285lbs: Taye Ghadiali (Michigan) vs. AJ Ferrari (Nebraska): Ferrari wins by MD 11-3

Lehigh Vs. Nebraska Results - Opening Round

Nebraska 35, Lehigh 7: Nebraska Wrestling Wins

• 125lbs: Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh) vs. Alan Koehler (Nebraska): Seymour wins by Dec 4-3
• 133lbs: Mason Ziegler (Lehigh) vs. Omar Ayoub (Nebraska): Ayoub wins by MD 11-2
• 141lbs: Carter Bailey (Lehigh) vs. Brock Hardy (Nebraska): Hardy wins by Fall (6:11)
• 149lbs: Anthony Evanitsky (Lehigh) vs. Nikade Zinkin (Nebraska): Zinkin wins by Dec 4-1
• 157lbs: Logan Rozynski (Lehigh) vs. Antrell Taylor (Nebraska): Rozynski wins by MD 9-1
• 165lbs: Max Brignola (Lehigh) vs. LJ Araujo (Nebraska): Araujo wins by Fall (5:56)
• 174lbs: Zeke Dubler (Lehigh) vs. Christopher Minto (Nebraska): Minto wins by MD 11-2
• 184lbs: Rylan Rogers (Lehigh) vs. Silas Allred (Nebraska): Allred wins by Dec 4-2
• 197lbs: JT Davis (Lehigh) vs. Camden McDanel (Nebraska): McDanel wins by MD 15-6
• 285lbs: Calvin Lachman (Lehigh) vs. AJ Ferrari (Nebraska): Ferrari wins by TF 19-4 (6:36)

To read more about the Nebraska-Lehigh showdown, check out this deep dive from FloWrestling’s Andrew Spey: Nebraska Wrestling vs Lehigh National Duals Preview And Predictions

National Duals 2025 Team Placement

1. Ohio State
2. Iowa
3. Oklahoma State
4. Nebraska
5. Minnesota
6. Virginia Tech
7. Illinois
8. Missouri

More About The 2025 National Duals Invitational

The talented field at the 2025 National Duals Invitational included 16 of the most successful teams in college wrestling, boasting more than 60 NCAA team titles and hundreds of individual national championships. 

As announced in October, FloSports has signed a three-year media rights agreement to be the official home of the new event.

Invitations for the 2025 edition were extended to the top 12 teams at the 2025 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships. The rest of the field was selected randomly from a pool of teams that finished from 13th through 24th at the 2025 NCAA Championships.

Of the 12 highest finishers last March, 11 agreed to participate in the first National Duals Invitational. 

The one that was missing, however – Penn State, the four-time defending national champion and winner of 12 of the last 14 NCAA team titles. Instead, the Nittany Lions had a home meet against Oklahoma on Friday.

The 2025 National Duals Invitational featured a prize purse of more than $1 million, including $50,000 in takedown bonuses that were added late for an additional incentive. 

How To Watch The 2025 National Duals Invitational

Wrestling fans in the United States can watch the action from 2025 National Duals Invitational live on FloWrestling and the FloSports app.

Highlights, replays and news also are available on FloWrestling.

The $200,000 championship match at the 2025 National Duals Invitational was broadcast live on ESPN2 on Nov. 16 at 7 p.m. EST.

Who Competed At The 2025 National Duals Invitational Sponsored by Paycom?

The 2025 National Duals Invitational featured 16 of the most successful and revered programs in the history of college wrestling. 

The teams have combined for more than 60 NCAA team titles and more than 450 individual national championships. 

Here are the schools that competed at the BOK Center in Tulsa for the inaugural edition of the historic event:

• Arizona State
• Cornell
• Illinois
• Iowa
• Lehigh
• Little Rock
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• NC State
• Northern Iowa
• Oklahoma State
• Ohio State
• Virginia Tech

2025 National Duals Invitational Matchups And Bracket

Here are the first-round matchups for the inaugural National Duals Invitational

All Times Central

Saturday at 9 a.m.

• Iowa vs. Missouri
• Illinois vs. Little Rock
• Northern Iowa vs. NC State
• Oklahoma State vs. Cornell

Saturday at 11 a.m.

• Ohio State vs. Wyoming
• Virginia Tech vs. Minnesota
• Arizona State vs. Michigan
• Lehigh vs. Nebraska

Sunday at 10 a.m. (Semifinals)

• Iowa vs. Oklahoma State
• Ohio State vs. Nebraska

The official bracket for the 2025 National Duals Invitational can be found here.

How Was The Bracket For The 2025 National Duals Invitational Determined?

The National Duals Invitational seeding committee met prior to the Oct. 7 bracket reveal show to determine the tournament’s top four seeds. 

The other 12 teams were randomly drawn into the bracket. 

The random draw, coupled with the event’s elite level of competition, ensures wrestling fans will see highly competitive dual meets from the first whistle until the last.

The 16 teams in this year’s National Duals Invitational were determined in April, when the 12 highest-finishing teams at the 2025 NCAA Division I Championships were invited to compete in Tulsa. 

The remaining teams were selected randomly from a pool of teams that finished from 13th through 24th at the 2025 NCAA Championships.

Prize Purse For 2025 National Duals Invitational

• First Place - $200,000
• Second Place - $150,000  
• Third Place - $150,000
• Fourth Place - $75,000
• Fifth Place - $50,000
• Sixth Place - $40,000
• Seventh Place - $25,000
• Eighth Place - $20,000

*All teams received $20,000 just for attending the event.

**There were special takedown bonuses awarded during all first-round matches, the quarterfinals and the two consolations rounds. One team won a $10,000 bonus each round, and teams could win multiple times.

Read more about the takedown bonuses: National Duals Invitational Introduces $50,000 In Team Takedown Bonuses

2025-2026 FloWrestling NCAA Division I Rankings

As of Nov. 12, 2025

1. Penn State – 113 points (Previous: 1)
2. Nebraska – 93 points (Previous: 2)
3. Iowa – 82 points (Previous: 3)
4. Iowa State – 79 points (Previous: 4)
5. OK State – 74 points (Previous: 5)
6. NC State – 59.5 points (Previous: 7)
7. Lehigh – 51.5 points (Previous: 6)
8. Ohio State – 51 points (Previous: 8)
9. Minnesota – 39.5 points (Previous: 9)
10. Michigan – 38 points (Previous: 12)
11. Illinois – 37.5 points (Previous: 10)
12. Stanford – 35 points (Previous: 11)
13. Cornell – 33.5 points (Previous: 13)
14. West Virginia – 25 points (Previous: 16)
15. Little Rock – 24 points (Previous: 15)
16. Penn – 23.5 points (Previous: 17)
17. Rutgers – 22.5 points (Previous: 14)
18. Virginia Tech – 18 points (Previous: 19)
19. Wisconsin – 17.5 points (Previous: 22)
20. Oklahoma – 16.5 points (Previous: 18)
21. Purdue – 16.5 points (Previous: 24)
22. Wyoming – 16 points (Previous: 23)
23. UNI – 14.5 points (Previous: 21)
24. Pittsburgh – 14 points (Previous: 25)
25. Maryland – 13.5 points (Previous: 26)

When Is The 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships?

The 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will take place at the Rocket Arena in Cleveland from March 19-21.

2025 National Duals Invitational Sponsored by Paycom Bracket Reveal Show

Watch the bracket reveal show for the 2025 National Duals Invitational Sponsored by Paycom.

The show aired Oct. 7. 

FloWrestling Archived Footage

Video footage from all events on FloWrestling will be archived and stored in a video library for FloWrestling subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscriptions.

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