No. 5 Iowa (9-4, 2-2 B10) faces #2 Ohio State (16-0, 5-0 B10) in Columbus on Friday, February 6, at 8 p.m. ET on the Big Ten Network in a high-profile Big Ten clash. Here’s a breakdown with probable starters and key matches.

Overview

This is a rematch of the 2025 National Duals Invitational finals, won by Ohio State, 27-12, on November 16, 2025. 

The Buckeyes are on fire this season, toppling all comers, including wins over Wisconsin (30-10) and Michigan (26-16) last weekend. Ohio State survived a 17-16 nail-biter against Nebraska on January 25 when heavyweight Nick Feldman defeated AJ Ferrari in sudden victory, lifting his team to a one-point victory. 

Iowa defeated Nebraska, 22-14, on January 23, but fell to Minnesota, 21-16, at home last weekend. 

Ohio State won’t have top-ranked Brandon Cannon (157), and Iowa will be without #2 Angelo Ferrari (184) for this dual. Their replacements will factor heavily into the outcome. 

Will Ohio State Get An Early Lead Again?

Ohio State raced to a 21-0 lead at the National Duals, winning the first five matches, including three bonus-point wins. 

Nic Bouzakis (OSU) pinned Dean Peterson (I) at 125 pounds, and the Buckeyes never looked back. 

133: Ben Davino (OSU) defeated two-time national finalist Drake Ayala, 10-4. 

141: Two-time NCAA champion Jesse Mendez (OSU) teched All-American Nasir Bailey (I), 17-1.

149: All-American Ethan Stiles (OSU) defeated Ryder Block (I), 3-2

157: Brandon Cannon (OSU) majored Victor Voinovich (I), 14-2.

Ohio State, of course, wants a similar start at home. And the team is capable, too. Bouzakis and Mendez have scored bonus points in every match this calendar year and are fueling the Buckeyes’ fast starts. 

How Does Iowa Turn It Around?

Falling behind 21-0 is bleak, but the Hawkeyes could be close at halftime.

Peterson hasn’t competed since an 11-5 loss to Penn State’s Luke Lilledahl on January 16. If he’s the starter, he’ll be tasked with winning (obviously), but, at minimum, keeping it to a decision. If he does, that’s a net gain of three points for the Hawkeyes. 

Ayala fell to Davino last time, but this is a winnable match for the two-time national finalist. It could be 3-3 after two if all goes well. 

Mendez is the biggest favorite of the dual and is expected to earn bonus points. If he has a repeat performance, that means a tech and a possible 8-3 lead for Ohio State. 

Ryder Block lost a 3-2 nailbiter against Ethan Stiles. If he reverses the outcome, he’ll cut the lead to 8-6. 

Ohio State likely won’t have top-ranked Brandon Cannon, so Iowa will be favored if Jordan Williams takes that mat at 157. The Hawkeyes could have a 9-8 lead if they can secure a win over Maddox Shaw, Daton Chase, or Landon Desselle.

A tall task, but there’s a path for Iowa if it can stop the bleeding in the first half. Even one win and keeping matches to decisions is an improvement.

How Does Ohio State Turn It Around In The Second Half?

Iowa took over at the break, winning the next four contested matches before forfeiting at 285 pounds. 

Ohio State lost three straight 4-1 sudden victory matches at the National Duals. 

165: Michael Caliendo (I) defeated Paddy Gallagher (OSU)
174: Patrick Kennedy (I) defeated Carson Kharchla (OSU)
184: Angelo Ferrari (I) defeated Dylan Fishback (OSU).

Ohio State’s easy answer is to score a takedown in overtime, but that’s a big ask against three quality wrestlers. Gabe Arnold is filling in for Ferrari, but Arnold took Minnesota’s #4 Max McEnelly to deep waters before giving up a takedown in sudden victory. Fishback is favored on paper, but this is hardly a lock for the Buckeyes, and it should surprise no one if Arnold wins. 

Mo Endene defeated Seth Shumate at the National Duals, 8-3, for Iowa’s fourth consecutive win, but Endene is no longer with the team, so it’s up to Brody Sampson. No. 11 Luke Geog or Shumate are the favorites, but saving bonus points is the key for Iowa. 

Could We Get A Heavyweight Finale?

Feldman received six points for a forfeit last time, but don’t expect a fall from the Buckeye star. The Quarryville, Pennsylvania, native is ranked third, but he’s the underdog in his match against #9 Ben Kueter. 

Kueter owns the series 3-0, winning 5-4, 2-0, and 8-2 last season. Should he win, that’s a nine-point swing for the Hawkeyes. 

A Kueter win at the National Duals would have made it 21-15. That means if everything stays the same, Iowa needs to find another win.

Stylistically, heavyweight is an interesting match-up. Feldman is short and compact, and Kueter is long and lean. 

Possible Scenarios

If the Hawkeyes can maintain a one-point lead or keep it close after the first five matches, there’s a good chance they'll win. There’s no reason Iowa can’t win four of the last five, giving them the victory even if Sampson gets pinned at 197. 

This scenario offers wiggle room on the front half, allowing them to drop another match or to give up bonus points somewhere. 

However, it seems unlikely that Ohio State will drop three of the first five and four of the last five. Davino wrestled a tactical gem against Ayala in November, and he’s still the favorite at home. So is Stiles against Block, even though it should be a tight match. And Ohio State’s 157-pound core is solid. 

Ohio State has something to prove on the back half. The Buckeyes need someone other than Geog or Shumate to win. Expect another tight bout at 184 with one takedown deciding the outcome. Caliendo and Kennedy have looked good this season, but a win by either Gallagher, Kharchla, or Fishback will go a long way toward another Buckeye victory.

Can Feldman get over the hump against Kueter? He lost to Michigan’s Taye Ghidali in sudden victory last week, and Kueter got to his offense early against Minnesota’s Koy Hopke in a 5-2 win. Scoring early might make the difference for both heavyweight stars. 

Expect this to be another competitive Big Ten dual where every position, point, and pin will make the difference.

Iowa Probables

125: #6 Dean Peterson, SR, 7-2 or Joey Cruz, JR, 9-7
133: #8 Drake Ayala, SR, 6-5
141: Kale Petersen, SO, 16-1
149: #13 Ryder Block, SO, 7-4 or Kael Voinovich, FR, 7-2
157: #16 Jordan Williams, JR, 8-5 or Victor Voinovich, SR, 7-4
165: #3 Michael Caliendo, SR, 11-2
174: #3 Patrick Kennedy, SR, 11-1
184: Gabe Arnold, SO, 11-3
197: Brody Sampson, FR, 7-8
285: #9 Ben Kueter, SO, 4-3

Ohio State Probables

125: #4 Nic Bouzakis, JR, 11-1
133: #2 Ben Davino, FR, 21-0
141: #1 Jesse Mendez, SR, 16-0
149: #9 Ethan Stiles, SO, 12-4
157: Maddox Shaw, FR, 20-5 or Daxton Chase, FR, 10-6 or Landon Desselle, FR, 10-4
165: #14 Paddy Gallagher, SR, 11-5 OR e'Than Birden, FR, 18-7
174: #5 Carson Kharchla, SR, 14-2
184: #8 Dylan Fishback, JR, 13-5
197: #11 Luke Geog, JR, 12-4 or Seth Schumate, 15-5, JR
285: #3 Nick Feldman, JR, 16-3

National Duals Final: Ohio State 27, Iowa 12

November 16, 2025
125: Nic Bouzakis (O) pinned Dean Peterson (I), 1:34
133: Ben Davino (O) dec. Drake Ayala (I), 10-4
141: Jesse Mendez (O) tech. fall Nasir Bailey (I), 17-1
149: Ethan Stiles (O) dec. Ryder Block (I), 3-2
157: Brandon Cannon (O) major dec. Victor Voinovich III (I), 14-2
165: Michael Caliendo (I) dec. Paddy Gallagher (O), 4-1 SV1
174: Patrick Kennedy (I) dec. Carson Kharchla (O), 4-1 SV1
184: Angelo Ferrari (I) dec. Dylan Fishback (O), 4-1 SV1
197: Massoma Endene (I) dec. Seth Shumate (O), 8-3
285: Nick Feldman (O) forfeit Iowa