Ohio State was the most dominant team on the opening day of the inaugural National Duals Invitational Sponsored by Paycom, and that success continued across two more match Sunday on the way to the coveted first title and $200,000 top prize.

The championship match between No. 8 Ohio State and No. 3 Iowa on Sunday night was broadcast live on ESPN2 and saw the Buckeyes use a fast-and-fiery start to build momentum and a 21-0 lead, before holding off a late Iowa surge for a 21-12 victory. 

The tournament was held at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and 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 the unprecedented top prize from a prize purse of $1 million. 

In Saturday's opening round, Ohio State eased past No. 22 Wyoming 33-6 and stayed perfect on the day with a 29-6 win against No. 9 Minnesota in the quarterfinals. 

That set up a Sunday morning semifinal showdown between the Buckeyes and No. 2 Nebraska, which Ohio State won handily, 33-3.

The other semifinal featured Iowa and unofficial host, No. 5 Oklahoma State, with the Hawkeyes earning a spot in the title tilt with an 18-6 victory over the Cowboys.

Nebraska and Oklahoma State then met to determine third and fourth place, with the Cowboys topping the Cornhuskers 33-6. 

When the championship bout finally got underway, Ohio State's Nic Bouzakis provided the ultimate leadoff performance, needing just a minute and a half to defeat Iowa's Dean Peterson at 125 pounds.

The Buckeyes also got an early win from reigning national champion Jesse Mendez at 141 pounds. 

Ohio State took home the $200,000 for the win, while Iowa earned $150,000 as the runner-up. Oklahoma State claimed $150,000 for third place, and Nebraska went home with $75,000.

Competition at the National Duals Invitational took place throughout the day Saturday and Sunday and featured nearly 30 dual matches.

Here's a look at how the Ohio State Buckeyes fared over the weekend at the BOK Center:

Iowa vs. Ohio State Results - Championship

Ohio State 27, Iowa 12: Ohio State Wrestling Wins

• 125lbs: Dean Peterson (Iowa) vs. Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State): Bouzakis wins by Fall 1:34
• 133lbs: Drake Ayala (Iowa) vs. Ben Davino (Ohio State): Davino wins by Dec 10-4
• 141lbs: Nasir Bailey (Iowa) vs. Jesse Mendez (Ohio State): Mendez wins by TF 17-1 6:13
• 149lbs: Ryder Block (Iowa) vs. Ethan Stiles (Ohio State): Stiles wins by Dec 3-2
• 157lbs: Victor Voinovich III (Iowa) vs. Brandon Cannon (Ohio State): Cannon wins by MD 14-2
• 165lbs: Michael Caliendo (Iowa) vs. Paddy Gallagher (Ohio State): Caliendo wins by Dec 4-1 SV
• 174lbs: Patrick Kennedy (Iowa) vs. Carson Kharchla (Ohio State): Kennedy wins by Dec 4-1 SV
• 184lbs: Angelo Ferrari (Iowa) vs. Dylan Fishback (Ohio State): Ferrari wins by Dec 4-1 SV
• 197lbs: Massoma Endene (Iowa) vs. Seth Shumate (Ohio State): Endene wins by Dec 8-3
• 285lbs: Nick Feldman (Ohio State) vs. — : Feldman wins by For 0-0

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

Ohio State vs. Minnesota Results - Quarterfinals

Ohio State 29, Minnesota 6: Ohio State Wrestling Wins

• 125lbs: Nic Bouzakis (Ohio State) vs. Jore Volk (Minnesota): Bouzakis wins by Dec 8-5 SV
• 133lbs: Ben Davino (Ohio State) vs. Chris Cannon (Minnesota): Davino wins by TF 21-5 (6:49)
• 141lbs: Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) vs. Vance Vombaur (Minnesota): Mendez wins by MD 14-5
• 149lbs: Ethan Stiles (Ohio State) vs. Jager Eisch (Minnesota): Stiles wins by Dec 15-9
• 157lbs: Brandon Cannon (Ohio State) vs. Charlie Millard (Minnesota): Cannon wins by MD 18-8
• 165lbs: Paddy Gallagher (Ohio State) vs. Andrew Sparks (Minnesota): Sparks wins by Dec 3-2 SV
• 174lbs: Carson Kharchla (Ohio State) vs. Ethan Riddle (Minnesota): Kharchla wins by TF 19-4 (4:10)
• 184lbs: Dylan Fishback (Ohio State) vs. Max McEnelly (Minnesota): McEnelly wins by Dec 4-1 SV
• 197lbs: Seth Shumate (Ohio State) vs. Gavin Nelson (Minnesota): Shumate wins by Dec 3-2
• 285lbs: Nick Feldman (Ohio State) vs. Koy Hopke (Minnesota): Feldman wins by Dec 4-2

Ohio State vs. Wyoming Results - Opening Round

Ohio State 33, Wyoming 6: Ohio State Wrestling Wins

• 125lbs: Brendan McCrone (Ohio State) vs. Sefton Douglass (Wyoming): McCrone wins by Dec 9-3
• 133lbs: Ben Davino (Ohio State) vs. David Saenz (Wyoming): Davino wins by TF 17-2 (2:28)
• 141lbs: Jesse Mendez (Ohio State) vs. John Alden (Wyoming): Mendez wins by Fall (0:33)
• 149lbs: Maddox Shaw (Ohio State) vs. Antonio Avila (Wyoming): Shaw wins by MD 8-0
• 157lbs: Brandon Cannon (Ohio State) vs. Jared Hill (Wyoming): Cannon wins by TF 18-3 (4:27)
• 165lbs: Ethan Birden (Ohio State) vs. Sloan Swan (Wyoming): Swan wins by Dec 5-3
• 174lbs: Carson Kharchla (Ohio State) vs. Riley Davis (Wyoming): Kharchla wins by MD 15-6
• 184lbs: Dylan Fishback (Ohio State) vs. Eddie Neitenbach (Wyoming): Fishback wins by Dec 10-7
• 197lbs: Luke Geog (Ohio State) vs. Joey Novak (Wyoming): Novak wins by Dec 7-0
• 285lbs: Nick Feldman (Ohio State) vs. Christian Carroll (Wyoming): Feldman wins by Dec 7-3

To read more about the Ohio State vs. Wyoming showdown, check out this deep dive from FloWrestling’s David Bray: Ohio State Wrestling vs. Wyoming At National Duals Invitational Preview & 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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