Rocco Welsh

UNIVERSITY PARK — For the first time all year, the Penn State wrestling team was pushed and challenged but the Nittany Lions did what they always do — claw their way to a win.

No. 1 Penn State (12-0, 6-0 B1G) won seven of 10 bouts against No. 6 Nebraska (9-6, 2-3) to turn away the Cornhuskers 26-12 on Friday in the Bryce Jordan Center.

Despite losing three bouts for the first time all season, one by fall, the Nittany Lions recorded two technical falls, two major decisions and three decisions. Penn State was deducted a team point after the 141-pound bout.

“I think it was a great match for us — really good preparation. That’s a really good team. Some of those guys are guys you’re going to need to beat if you want to be a national champion,” Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said.

The Nittany Lions are on track for a sixth straight undefeated dual meet season and extended a handful of impressive winning streaks: NCAA record 83rd consecutive dual meet win, 72nd consecutive home win and 48th consecutive Big Ten win.

Nebraska has faced a gauntlet in the past eight days, losing to No. 6 Iowa, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 1 Penn State.

Penn State came out of the dual having added to two ridiculous stats: it now has a 382-32 edge in takedowns and a combined 506-31 advantage in dual meet scores.

Against the Huskers, Luke Lilledahl (125) and Mitchell Mesenbrink rolled up technical falls. Rocco Welsh (184) and Josh Barr (197) posted major decisions. Marcus Blaze (133) Shayne Van Ness (149) and Levi Haines (174) earned decisions.

Lilledahl faced the only unranked wrestler in the Husker lineup, 125-pounder Alan Koehler, and the Nittany Lion exploited a clear advantage on his feet. He scored six takedowns with a variety of finishes and added a two-point turn to end the match at the 5:36 mark 20-4.

At 133, Blaze was paired with 10th-ranked Jacob Van Dee. Blaze used a fireman’s carry for a first-period takedown and added points for a technical violation and an escape to earn a measured, defensive 5-1 decision.

Nebraska got on the board and right into the match at 141. No. 12 Braeden Davis hit a single and converted to a double virtually off the whistle for a takedown and added another takedown for a 6-2 first-period lead on No. 4 Brock Hardy, a three-time All-American and 2025 NCAA runner-up. Davis escaped to start the second and looked like he would take a 7-2 lead into the third.

Hardy, though, scored a takedown with nine seconds left in the period. He took down to start the third and escaped to close to within 7-6. Davis was in deep on a single and looking to finish when Hardy hooked up a near cradle, turned Davis and cinched it tight for a fall in 5:55.

After the referee slapped the mat, Hardy unlocked his cradle and patted Davis twice on the chest. Davis kicked Hardy and had to be separated from him by the referees. Penn State was deducted a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Nebraska maintained its momentum at 149 as No. 18 Chance Lamer took down No. 1 Van Ness and led 3-1 after one. Lamer escaped to start the second but Van Ness converted on a takedown to send the match into the third tied at 4-4. Van Ness escaped to start the third and turned up the intensity, taking advantage to score two takedowns and earn a riding time point in a 12-5 decision that gave Penn State a 10-6 lead.

That set up what many thought would be the feature bout of the night between Penn State’s freshman phenom, No. 3 P.J. Duke and No. 5 Antrell Taylor, the defending NCAA champion.

Neither wrestler could gain an advantage in a two-minute sudden victory period and the match went to the tiebreaker periods. Taylor won 2-1, handing Duke his first loss.

With just a 10-9 lead coming out of the intermission, No. 1 Mesenbrink padded Penn State’s lead. He dominated No. 7 L.J. Araujo in what would become a 20-5 technical fall in 7:00.

At 174, No. 1 Haines was pushed to the brink by No. 4 Christopher Minto in an 8-6 decision.

Top-ranked 184-pounder Welsh added to Penn State’s lead with a dominating 14-5 major decision over No. 6 Silas Redd.

No. 1 Barr continued his domination of Nebraska’s Camden McDanel, who came in ranked No. 9, with a 21-9 major decision.

Finally, at 285, No. 12 Nittany Lion Cole Mirasola faced off with No. 4 A.J. Ferrari. Ferrari, who won an NCAA title at 1997 pounds in 2021 for Oklahoma State and placed third for Cal State-Bakersfield last season, emerged with a 2-1 win.

125–Lilledahl, PSU, won by tech. fall over Koehler, 20-4 (5:36). 133–Blaze, PSU, dec. Van Dee, 5-1. 141–Hardy, NEB, pinned Davis, 5:55. 149–Van Ness, PSU, dec. Lamer, 12-5. 157–Taylor, NEB, dec. Duke, 2-1 TB.

165–Mesenbrink, PSU, won by tech. fall over Araujo, 20-5 (7:00). 174–Haines, PSU, dec. Minto, 8-6. 184–Welsh, PSU, maj. dec. Redd, 14-5. 197–Barr, PSU, maj. dec. McDanel, 21-9. 285–Ferrari, NEB, dec. Mirasola, 2-1.