Minimal changes through Thanksgiving break in USA Today/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll
Manheim, Pennsylvania — With only 19 duals involving Division I programs through the Thanksgiving holiday, there were only minimal changes in the USA Today/NWCA Division I Coaches Poll released on Tuesday.
For the fourth week in a row, Penn State (3-0) garnered all 16 first-place votes. It’s the 47th week all-time the Nittany Lions have been ranked No. 1. The first come on December 14, 1959 when the poll was operated by Wrestling News and Reports, now known as Amateur Wrestling News.
The rest of the top 10 stayed the same with Ohio State (3-0), Oklahoma State (3-0), Missouri (6-0), Lehigh (3-0), NC State (6-0), Iowa (4-0), Minnesota (2-1), Michigan (1-1) and Virginia Tech (3-1) holding their positions.
Ohio State beat Kent State and Cleveland State at the Thanksgiving Throwdown in Columbus, while Oklahoma State opened up Big 12 competition with a 40-3 victory over North Dakota State in Fargo.
Missouri beat Virginia Tech 22-12 in the week’s only dual between top 10 programs. The Tigers won without the services of returning All-American Jaydin Eierman at 141 pounds and got a big swing in momentum as two-time All-American Willie Miklus rallied from down 7-2 to pin second-ranked and fellow two-time All-American Jared Haught at 197 pounds. Missouri would finish up their trip through Virginia with a come-from-behind 18-15 win over the University of Virginia.
Seventh-ranked Iowa beat No. 22 Rider in Carver-Hawkeye Arena 35-6 to improve to 4-0. Rider would even its weekend with a 22-15 win at Iowa State on Sunday, giving first-year head coach John Hangey his first win at the helm of the Broncs.
The only other matchup between ranked teams saw No. 12 Arizona State rally past No. 16 South Dakota State 25-13. The Sun Devils won the last five weight classes to even their record at 2-2.
In non-conference action, Nebraska beat West Virginia in Morgantown 28-13.
The USA Today/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll is comprised of two voting coaches from each Division I wrestling conference. Points are 25 for each first-place vote, 24 for second, 23 for third all the way to a 25th-place vote is one point.
Future Poll Dates (Tuesdays unless otherwise noted): December 5, December 12, December 19, January 3 (Wednesday), January 9, January 16, January 23, January 30, February 6, February 13, February 20, February, 27.
| Rank | Team (First) | Record | Points | Conf. | Previous |
| 1 | Penn State (16) | 3-0 | 400 | Big Ten | 1 |
| 2 | Ohio State | 3-0 | 383 | Big Ten | 2 |
| 3 | Oklahoma State | 3-0 | 369 | Big 12 | 3 |
| 4 | Missouri | 6-0 | 350 | MAC | 4 |
| 5 | Lehigh | 3-0 | 335 | EIWA | 5 |
| 6 | NC State | 6-0 | 316 | ACC | 6 |
| 7 | Iowa | 4-0 | 303 | Big Ten | 7 |
| 8 | Minnesota | 2-1 | 281 | Big Ten | 8 |
| 9 | Michigan | 1-1 | 279 | Big Ten | 9 |
| 10 | Virginia Tech | 3-1 | 257 | ACC | 10 |
| 11 | Rutgers | 3-0 | 239 | Big Ten | 11 |
| 12 | Arizona State | 2-2 | 216 | Pac-12 | 12 |
| 13 | Nebraska | 2-0 | 206 | Big Ten | 13 |
| 14 | Cornell | 1-0 | 188 | EIWA | 15 |
| 15 | Illinois | 1-1 | 187 | Big Ten | 14 |
| 16 | Northern Iowa | 1-1 | 143 | Big 12 | 17 |
| 17 | South Dakota State | 0-2 | 137 | Big 12 | 16 |
| 18 | Wisconsin | 2-0 | 125 | Big Ten | 19 |
| 19 | Central Michigan | 1-1 | 123 | MAC | 18 |
| 20 | Purdue | 3-0 | 104 | Big Ten | 20 |
| 21 | Oklahoma | 1-2 | 74 | Big 12 | 21 |
| 22 | Rider | 1-1 | 63 | EWL | 22 |
| 23 | Edinboro | 2-1 | 54 | EWL | 23 |
| 24 | Pittsburgh | 1-2 | 17 | ACC | 24 |
| 25 | Stanford | 2-2 | 15 | Pac-12 | 24 |
Others Receiving Votes: Drexel 10, Maryland 6, Navy 4, Northwestern 4, Chattanooga 2, Lock Haven 2, North Carolina 1, North Dakota State 1, Virginia 1.
Dropped out: None
Questions about historical polls can be sent to Jason Bryant