#1 Penn State will welcome a tough Nebraska squad to the Bryce Jordan Center on Friday, January 30. The dual will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network, but before the action goes down, check out a full preview with predictions for this incredible dual below!

Nebraska vs Penn State Probable Lineups

125: #1 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State vs Alan Koehler/Kael Lauridsen, Nebraska

133: #6 Marcus Blaze, Penn State vs #10 Jacob Van Dee, Nebraska

141: #13 Braeden Davis, Penn State vs #3 Brock Hardy, Nebraska

149: #1 Shayne Van Ness, Penn State vs #13 Chance Lamer, Nebraska

157: #2 PJ Duke, Penn State vs #5 Antrell Taylor, Nebraska

165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State vs #7 LJ Araujo, Nebraska

174: #1 Levi Haines, Penn State vs #4 Christopher Minto, Nebraska

184: #1 Rocco Welsh, Penn State vs #6 Silas Allred, Nebraska

197: #1 Josh Barr, Penn State vs #10 Camden McDanel, Nebraska

285: #4 AJ Ferrari, Nebraska vs #9 Cole Mirasola, Penn State

125: #1 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State vs Alan Koehler/Kael Lauridsen, Nebraska

125 pounds is Nebraska’s weakest weight in their lineup and they have been going back and forth between Koehler and Lauridsen. Regardless of who the Huskers put on the mat, I expect Lilledahl to win handily. Lilledahl has been solid all year and has really hit his stride this month with ranked wins over Dean Peterson (11-5), Jacob Moran (pin), and Dedrick Navarro (20-5). I expect bonus points from Lilledahl in this one. 

Prediction: Lilledahl by major decision

Team score prediction: Penn State 4, Nebraska 0

133: #6 Marcus Blaze, Penn State vs #10 Jacob Van Dee, Nebraska

133 pounds will feature the first of seven top 10 matchups in this dual. Marcus Blaze has rolled to a 15-0 record this season, highlighted by victories over All-Americans Drake Ayala (4-2) and Tyler Knox (pin). In fact, the decision victory over Ayala is Blaze’s only non-bonus point victory of the season. Van Dee has been solid all year, but is coming off consecutive losses to Ben Davino and Drake Ayala. Blaze is the clear favorite in this one, but Van Dee is good enough to keep things to a regular decision.

Prediction: Blaze by decision

Team score prediction: Penn State 7, Nebraska 0

141: #13 Braeden Davis, Penn State vs #3 Brock Hardy, Nebraska

After having his redshirt pulled, Braeden Davis has been solid for the Nittany Lions with ranked wins over Henry Porter (24-10) and Bill Dekraker (9-0), with his lone loss coming to Nasir Bailey 3-2. Still, Davis will be an underdog to three-time All-American Brock Hardy. Despite losses to Sergio Vega and Jesse Mendez, Brock Hardy has been solid all year for the Huskers and should come out on top against Davis.  

Prediction: Hardy by decision

Team score prediction: Penn State 7, Nebraska 3

Brock Hardy's win over Bo Bassett at the 2025 World Team Trials:

149: #1 Shayne Van Ness, Penn State vs #13 Chance Lamer, Nebraska

Shayne Van Ness has been a wrecking ball this year at 149 with a 15-0 record with 13 wins by bonus points - 7 techs, 4 pins, and 2 majors. Lamer has been solid but his losses to Ethan Stiles, Ryder Block, and Casey Swiderski prove he’ll be a significant underdog to Van Ness. Because of that, I expect Van Ness to push for bonus points in this one. 

Prediction: Van Ness by major decision

Team score prediction: Penn State 11, Nebraska 3

157: #2 PJ Duke, Penn State vs #5 Antrell Taylor, Nebraska

The match between PJ Duke and Antrell Taylor is the most highly anticipated match of this dual and maybe the entire weekend. Returning NCAA champ Taylor struggled to start the year with surprising losses to Brandon Cannon and Logan Rozynski at the National Duals Invitational in November. However, he has since responded with 9 straight victories that include ranked wins over Jordan Williams, Charlie Millard, Stoney Buell, Landon Robideau, and Laird Root. PJ Duke has been perfect on the season with a 14-0 record, highlighted by victories over Jordan Williams and Daniel Cardenas.

While this will be the first meeting between Duke and Taylor in college, they wrestled last May at the World Team Trials. In that match, Duke came out on top 9-6, but Taylor led late into the second period before Duke hit a four-pointer to put the match away. I expect their match on Friday to be similarly decided by one or two sequences. Because of the highs and lows of Taylor’s season, I have more confidence in picking Duke at this point of the season, but I won’t be surprised at all if Taylor comes out on top. 

Prediction: Duke by decision

Team score prediction: Penn State 14, Nebraska 3

PJ Duke's win over Antrell Taylor:

165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State vs #7 LJ Araujo, Nebraska

Mitchell Mesenbrink is making a strong case for the Hodge Trophy this season with a 15-0 record and a 100% bonus rate - 7 pins, 5 techs, 2 majors, and 1 forfeit. LJ Araujo has been very solid for the Huskers in his first year as a starter, but his major decision losses to Michael Caliendo and Paddy Gallagher suggest Mesenbrink will keep his bonus streak rolling on Friday night. 

Prediction: Mesenbrink by tech fall

Team score prediction: Penn State 19, Nebraska 3

174: #1 Levi Haines, Penn State vs #4 Christopher Minto, Nebraska

Levi Haines has been phenomenal this year with a 15-0 record with 13 coming by bonus points - 7 techs, 4 pins, and 2 majors. Haines is the clear title favorite at 174 pounds this year, and it doesn’t look like there’s anyone to challenge him. Minto is fresh off an overtime victory over Carson Kharchla, but his losses this year to Patrick Kennedy, Alex Facundo, and Carson Kharchla suggest Minto is still a step or two behind Levi Haines. Friday night will be an opportunity for Minto to prove he’s ready to contend for a title, but it’d be the upset of the season if he defeats Haines.

Prediction: Haines by decision

Team score prediction: Penn State 22, Nebraska 3

184: #1 Rocco Welsh, Penn State vs #6 Silas Allred, Nebraska

Expect a low-scoring, 1-takedown battle in this one! Of his 17 matches this year, Allred has had 4 go to overtime. He’s won three those overtime matches against Dylan Fishback, Zack Ryder, and Malachi Duvall, but lost two weeks ago to Max McEnelly. Welsh’s lone overtime match came against Angelo Ferrari, where he won in tiebreakers, 2-1. Beyond that, Welsh has one takedown wins over Eddie Neitenback, Rylan Rogers, and Abe Wojcikiewicz. Welsh is the favorite here, but I don’t expect a ton of points in this one. 

Prediction: Welsh by decision

Team score prediction: Penn State 25, Nebraska 3

Welsh's win over Angelo Ferrari:

197: #1 Josh Barr, Penn State vs #10 Camden McDanel, Nebraska

After missing the first 6 weeks of the year recovering from injury, Josh Barr looks better than ever and has been extremely dominant. He’s currently 12-0 on the year with a 100% bonus rate - 6 techs, 4 pins, and 2 majors. It’s worth noting that Barr teched McDanel last year at the Big Ten Tournament, and nothing suggests we should see a different result on Friday night between these two. 

Prediction: Barr by tech

Team score prediction: Penn State 30, Nebraska 3

285: #4 AJ Ferrari, Nebraska vs #9 Cole Mirasola, Penn State

Cole Mirasola recorded the best win of his college career two weeks ago when he defeated All-American Ben Kueter, 4-3. Will Mirasola keep that momentum rolling against Ferrari? While Ferrari has been solid all year, he’s struggled to generate his own offense and has won most of his matches against top-level wrestlers by riding time or by a single takedown. Ferrari’s defense and riding ability will make him a tough matchup for Mirasola, but if Mirasola can find his way to one takedown, he can win this match. 

Prediction: Ferrari by decision

Final team score prediction: Penn State 30, Nebraska 6