The battles between the Buckeyes and the Nittany Lions rarely disappoint, and we expect tonight's match to hold true to form. 

I've arrived at my blogging perch for the evening, Casa de Mark Bader. Luckily, the Baders have no plans this evening, so we can focus on wrestling. But if you're out and about, enjoying yourself wherever you, make sure you check back here early and often to keep tabs of this gargantuan dual meet. 

Projected lineups

125: Brandon Meredith (PSU) vs Malik Heinselman (tOSU)

133: #4 Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) vs Jordan Decatur (tOSU)

141: #2 Nick Lee (PSU) vs #1 Luke Pletcher (tOSU)

149: #17 Jarod Verkleeren (PSU) vs #1 Sammy Sasso (tOSU)

157: Brady Berge (PSU) vs Quinn Kinner (tOSU)

165: #1 Vincenzo Joseph (PSU) vs #14 Ethan Smith (tOSU)

174: #2 Mark Hall (PSU) vs #7 Kaleb Romero (tOSU)

184: #8 Aaron Brooks (PSU) vs Rocky Jordan (tOSU)

197: #16 Shakur Rasheed (PSU) vs #1 Kollin Moore (tOSU)

285: #16 Seth Nevills (PSU) vs #23 Gary Traub (tOSU)

It's been announced that the dual will start at 125, so the marquee 141-pound bout will be third up, in the hole, and we'll end at heavyweight with the meet potentially hanging in the balance. We're about fifteen minutes away from the first whistle of this Big Ten doubleheader. Better buckle up, baybee!

125 Pounds: Brandon Meredith (PSU) vs Malik Heinselman (tOSU)

1st period: We're underway, and it sounds as though the PSU student section have decided to start a cowbell tradition. Heinselmen, undeterred by the cowbells, gets the first takedown. Meredith escapes soon after and it's 2-1. We pause to clean up some blood on Meredith with a minute remaining in the first. Meredith gets in on a single leg after the restart but Heinselman gets a ahold of Meredith's ankles and we get a stalemate. Period ends, still 2-1 Heinselman.

2nd period: Meredith elects to start the period underneath. Meredith to his feet, pauses in the squatty potty position, clears his hands and he's away for one to knot the score at two. Meredith got in on Heinselman's legs but Malik avoided danger. A couple shots each in short time but no scores. Heinselman does pick up a stall warning very late in the period. Still 2-2. 

3rd period: Heinselmen gets a turn on bottom. Meredith gets hit for a 5 count and his first stall warning. On the next restart, Heinselmen gets a reversal to make it 4-2 and is begins to ride. Riding time climbs over a minute with a little over a minute remaining in the match. Meredith finally gets out on the boundary with 32 seconds left int he match. It's 4-3, RT close to being locked up. Meredith shoots off the whistle, they scramble. Time ticking away. Meredith can't finish and Heinselman gets a big win for the Buckeyes!

Ohio State 3, Penn State 0

Malik Heinselman defeated Brandon Meredith at 125 pounds by decision to open the match, 4-3

3-0 Ohio State pic.twitter.com/teQST9v1IV

— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) February 16, 2020

133 Pounds: #4 Roman Bravo-Young (PSU) vs Jordan Decatur (tOSU)

1st period: RBY posts Decatur's elbows and is behind both Decatur's knees. Good defense by Decatur though and he earns a stalemate after a protracted scramble. A lot of short offense from both wrestlers but no scores yet. 30 seconds left in the period. RBY again gets to Decatur's legs but defense saves two points. Somehow Decatur managed throw in a whizzer and square himself. 0-0 at the break. 

2nd period: RBY goes underneath and escapes via a standup in about 10 seconds to score the first point of the match. RBY in on another shot but once again, Decatur denies him a clean finish. But RBY fights through this scramble, steps over and gets two. Decatur almost escapes but RBY follows him to get the short time ride out. It's 3-0 going into the final period of regulation.

3rd period: RBY putting a solid ride on Decatur with a mat return 45 seconds in to keep Jordan on the mat. Decatur gets out with a minute left in the match but riding time is up to 1:34. Decatur gives up a takedown and gets hit for stalling. Optional start and it's 5-2. RT secured. RBY trying to go catch and release to get the major. He gets two more takedowns but he needed three for the major. With the riding time point it'll be Bravo-Young with a 10-4 victory. 

Ohio State 3, Penn State 3

RBY with the takedown!#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/HrOjiorOZp

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) February 16, 2020

141 Pounds: #2 Nick Lee (PSU) vs #1 Luke Pletcher (tOSU)

1st period: Number one versus number two, it's finally happening! Pletcher in on a single leg and he gets the first takedown in under 30 seconds. Pletcher kicks Lee after the restart and we're back in neutral. Pletcher looking sharp, staying away from Lee's attacks and getting good angles on the reattacks. Still 2-1 with a little over a minute to go in the first. Lee now with an excellent re-attack but Pletcher sprawls and they're back to their feet. The period ends, Pletcher with a 2-1 lead still.

2nd period. Pletcher explodes from underneath and escapes in about 1, maybe 2 seconds. He leads by two. Lee with another good attack but Pletcher won't let him get to his hips and we're still neutral. Another single leg for Lee, Pletcher tries to roll through but Lee won't let him go. Lee ties it up and starts riding with a hammerlock. The crowd is demanding a stall call. And they get it with 2 seconds left in the period. Pletcher must have picked one up earlier in the match because Lee got another point and the lead. 

3rd period: Pletcher goes optional and Lee has a two-point lead, riding time not a factor. Pletcher in on a shot, but Lee with a big sprawl. Lee looking for the counter, and he'll get the takedown. Lee looking more explosive late in the match. It's 7-3 and Lee is going to get riding time too. Pletcher escapes with 10 seconds to go but that's the last point he'll score. Lee with a statement win. Nick Lee, the new number one 141-pounder!

Penn State 6, Ohio State 3

We got us!

The team is LOVING Nick Lee’s win!#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/wkYY6YbNQU

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) February 16, 2020

149 Pounds: #17 Jarod Verkleeren (PSU) vs #1 Sammy Sasso (tOSU)

1st period: Pressure on Sasso to get bonus points if the Buckeyes are going to have a shot at winning the dual after Nick Lee's electric performance. Sasso on the first shot but it gets called potentially dangerous. Sasso locks up an over/under body lock, walks Verk back a few steps, but no action and we get a stalemate. Verkleeren grabs a single, they scramble, Sasso starts looking for a cradle but they go out of bounds. No scores with 10 seconds left and the period ends 0-0.

2nd period: Verkleeren begins underneath. Sasso comes to the side, looking for a cradle again, but Verk gets to his feet and scores the first point via an escape. Verkleeren conceding a lot of ground but Sasso hasn't had many level changes so the second period ends in neutral, still 1-0 for Verkleeren. 

3rd period: Sasso gets a turn on bottom and he escapes to ties it up at 1-1. 90 seconds left in the period, riding time not a factor. Sasso gets to Verkleeren's legs but good defense by Verk and we get a stalemate. 30 seconds to go in regulation. Sasso in on a shot. Verk dives for an ankle and gets it. Stalemate with 5 seconds to go. To sudden victory we go. 

SV: Verkleeren ceding ground, mostly just upper body ties. We're down to the final 15 seconds. And there's a shot by Sasso, whizzer by Verkleeren, and Sasso fights through and gets the takedown with just 3 seconds to go in the period. Gutty win by Sasso.

Penn State 6, Ohio State 6

Takedown with just two seconds left in sudden victory.#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/dxkp6zxTCz

— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) February 16, 2020

157 Pounds: Brady Berge (PSU) vs Quinn Kinner (tOSU)

1st period: Great to see Berge back on the mat for just the second time this season. Kinner had been down at 133 earlier this season yet somehow does not look small for 157. Fierce hand fighting for 90 seconds but not much int he way of attacks. Berge tries a slide by, then gets a russian tie, throws that by and gets Kinner's back, finally running him down for the first points of the match. Kinner escapes and it's 2-1. And that's how the period ends. 

2nd period: Berge starts on bottom. He escapes quickly to make it 3-1. Lots more hand fighting, few committed attacks. We're in short time. No more scores.

3rd period: Quinner's turn on bottom. He's out in about ten seconds. 3-2, Berge still ahead, riding time not a factor. Kinner with a shot, he's got Berge's leg. Berge can't get away and Kinner will get the go-ahead takedown. It's 4-3 as Kinner slips a leg in. In goes the other leg and Berge is flat on his belly. Kinner on his way to a ride out win. Kinner gets it done! Big win for the Buckeyes who needed that one to stay in this dual. 

Ohio State 9, Penn State 6

The Kinner victory at 157 pounds gives Ohio State a 9-6 edge at the break.#GoBucks pic.twitter.com/VC3nKlqZkE

— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) February 16, 2020

165 Pounds: #1 Vincenzo Joseph (PSU) vs #14 Ethan Smith (tOSU)

1st period: We come back from the break that saw the Bryce-Jordan Center honor Penn State's four Hodge Trophy winners, who are in attendance, Kerry McCoy, David Taylor, Zain Retherford and Bo Nickal. Smith gets to Cenzo's legs first and eventually finishes for the first takedown. Joseph gets up to his feet and is out in seconds to make it 2-1. Now Cenzo in on the shot. A protracted scramble, Smith was close but Cenzo successfully defended the re-attack for a stalemate. Cenzo back on a leg and this time he will not be denied. 20 second left, Cenzo leads 3-2. Big escape in final seconds for Smith to make it tied going into the second period.

2nd period: Cenzo will be down. And now he is out, in about 4 seconds, to regain the lead. Smith tries to drop down on an ankle, the same move that led to his first points, but Cenzo is ready for him. Cenzo clears the head and hands of Smith and finishes a double cleanly. 30 seconds left in the period, Cenzo will try and get the ride out. 

3rd period: Smith goes back underneath to start the final period of regulation. Cenzo breaks Smith down. Grabs a leg and goes bow and arrow for a turn. Two swipes gives Cenzo two nearfall but Smith escapes. Coach Ryan challenges the nearfall but is denied. Another takedown and escape makes its 10-5. Cenzo looking for the major, RT locked up, 30 seconds to go. Cenzo in on a shot late. Body lock for Smith. Cenzo fights through with seconds remaining in the match and gets the major. Impressive stuff from the senior Nittany Lion.

Penn State 10, Ohio State 9

Joseph dominates the third rolls to a 13-5 major with 1:38 in riding time! Lions lead 10-9! #PSUwr

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) February 16, 2020

174 Pounds: #2 Mark Hall (PSU) vs #7 Kaleb Romero (tOSU)

1st period: And the cowbells returned. I had forgotten about them, but the student section did not. And Mark Hall did not forget how his patented mixer! First-period pin for Mark Hall! Primetime performance by the senior and six huge points for the home team!

Penn State 16, Ohio State 9

Mark Hall ➡️ Pin!! ?#PSUwr pic.twitter.com/VnHuAmPCEN

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) February 16, 2020

184 Pounds: #8 Aaron Brooks (PSU) vs Rocky Jordan (tOSU)

1st period: A battle of freshman is underway, Brooks gets to Jordan's legs early and secures a takedown in the first 30 seconds. Jordan escapes and Brooks fires off another shot immediately. He doesn't score but he does set the tone for the rest of the match. Brooks reaches for another leg, grabs it and has Jordan hopping, then brings him down for two more points and a 4-1 lead. Jordan escapes with 30 seconds to go but Brooks is right back in on his legs and gets a short time takedown and rideout to make it 6-2 going into the second.

2nd period: Brooks chooses bottom and is out quickly. A shot by Jordan is immediately countered by Brooks and it's 9-2. Jordan also picked up a stall warning before giving up the TD. The crowd wants another stall as Jordan is flat on his stomach and they'll get one. Brooks leads 10-2 going into the third. 

3rd period: Jordan goes back underneath. He escapes to make it 10-3 but Brooks has RT all but locked up and is firmly in command of the match. Another takedown and it's 12-3. Brooks cuts Jordan and its 12-4. A major seems all but certain, can Brooks get the tech? Another takedown makes it a 10 point gap, 11 with the RT point. Time running out in the match. Brooks will get the rideout but no tech-fall. It is, however, a thoroughly impressive and dominant major of a ranked opponent. Brooks adds four more to Penn State tally. 

Penn State 20, Ohio State 9

Aaron Brooks dominates Jordan! The 15-4 major with 3:02 in RT! Penn State leads 20-9! #PSUwr

— Penn State WRESTLING (@pennstateWREST) February 16, 2020

197 Pounds: #16 Shakur Rasheed (PSU) vs #1 Kollin Moore (tOSU)

1st period: Facing an 11 point team deficit, the Buckeyes hopes of pulling off an upset have essentially vanished. Moore starts the match firing, getting a quick takedown. Rasheed is out early and it's 2-1 with two minutes still on the clock. Moore gets to a tricep dump and has a 4-1 lead. Rasheed escapes, then Moore gets in on a shot but Rasheed scrambles and earns a stalemate. The period ends, Moore up by two.

2nd period. Moore escapes in two seconds to make it 5-2. Moore shoots and Rasheed gets hit with a stall warning. An extended scramble results in a win a takedown by Moore. Kollin kicks Rasheed loose with 30 seconds left in the period. No more scores and it's 7-3 Moore at the end of the period.

3rd period: Optional start gives Rasheed another point, but Moore adds two more for him with a quick takedown. Moore goes into catch and release mode. It's 11-6 with one minute to go. Now 13-6 with 30 seconds to go. Moore is going to try and get the rideout. He does and dominates Rasheed 14-6. It won't be enough to keep Ohio State in the dual but it is a bonus win over a ranked All-American, which is pretty good. 

Penn State 20, Ohio State 13

197 LBS

No. 1 Kollin Moore (OSU) def. No. 18 Shakur Rasheed (PSU) | MD, 14-6

OSU 13
PSU 20 pic.twitter.com/N6JOBfr6kh

— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) February 16, 2020

285 Pounds: #16 Seth Nevills (PSU) vs #23 Gary Traub (tOSU)

1st period: The final bout of the dual meet, which is just realized is the final dual meet of the season for Ohio State. PSU has one more match against American a week from Sunday. The first two minutes is spent mostly in collar ties. A tactical first period comes to a close with goose eggs on the scoreboard. 

2nd period: Nevills is on bottom but not for long, escaping after about 15 seconds. Sweep single for Nevills that he converts for a three point lead. Nevills drives Traub back to the mat but they go out of bounds and Nevills needs injury time. Nevills takes a few minutes getting what looks like his knee attended to but he sprints back to the center of the mat and the crowd gives him a cheer. Traub elects to take bottom as he gets choice after injury time. Traub gets an escape and its 3-1. That's how the period ends. 

3rd period: Traub has choice again and wants another chance at an escape point. Nevills keeps him down for 30 seconds but picks up a stall warning. Traub is nearly out but Nevills keeps him down long enough to put riding time over a minute. But in the scramble Traub gets a reversal! He's tied at 3 and Traub looking to work riding time down. Nevills escapes and we get a restart with about 30 seconds to go. Traub shoots and gets a hi-c, he picks Nevills up and puts him down for the takedown. A ride out will win it. And Traub does it! Gas Tank Gary with a come from behind win over the higher ranked Seth Nevills! Big win for Gary but Penn State will take the dual. 

Final score: Penn State 20, Ohio State 16

⛽ pic.twitter.com/GgxlpvT4pm

— Ohio State Wrestling (@wrestlingbucks) February 16, 2020

No time to rest, Iowa vs Minnesota is on now. Thanks for reading apologies for the typos!