Nebraska Wrestling Narrowly Falls 17-16 to No. 2 Ohio State at Devaney Center

The Devaney Center was ready for something special on Sunday afternoon. And for nearly two hours, No. 6 Nebraska wrestling delivered exactly that.

The Nebraska wrestling team came extremely close to upsetting No. 2 Ohio State in a thrilling dual match held at the Devaney Center in Lincoln. After falling behind early, Nebraska mounted a fierce comeback to briefly take the lead, only to lose by the narrowest margin of 17-16. The match highlighted an intense Big Ten rivalry and showcased several standout performances by the Huskers.

• Nebraska faced off against No. 2 Ohio State and narrowly lost 17-16 at the Devaney Center.
• The Huskers trailed 14-0 before rallying to lead 16-14 after nine consecutive points.
• Key wins by LJ Araujo, Christopher Minto, Silas Allred, and Camden McDanel powered Nebraska’s comeback.
• The final heavyweight bout ended in sudden victory with Nick Feldman defeating AJ Ferrari to seal Ohio State’s win.
• Nebraska’s record dropped to 9-5 overall and 2-2 in the Big Ten as they prepare to face No. 1 Penn State next.

Intense start with Ohio State dominance

The dual began strongly in favor of Ohio State, as they opened with an overwhelming 14-0 lead after the first four bouts. Nic Bouzakis started the scoring for the Buckeyes at 125 pounds with a major decision over Nebraska’s Kael Lauridsen. Ben Davino and Jesse Mendez continued Ohio State’s dominance with decisive wins at 133 and 141 pounds, respectively. Ethan Stiles further extended the lead at 149 pounds in a thrilling match decided in sudden victory.

This early barrage of wins put Nebraska on the back foot, appearing to struggle against the highly ranked Buckeyes, who boasted an undefeated 14-0 record and seven top-10 victories this season.

Nebraska mounts a spirited rally

Facing a 14-point deficit, Nebraska’s wrestlers responded with resilience starting at the 157-pound match. Antrell Taylor sparked the comeback with a commanding 11-3 major decision over Ohio State’s Maddox Shaw. LJ Araujo followed with a hard-fought 1-0 victory at 165 pounds, earning an escape point in the second period that proved decisive.

The crowd at the Devaney Center was electrified by heavyweights Christopher Minto and Camden McDanel. Minto scored a critical sudden victory win against No. 4 Carson Kharchla at 174 pounds to cut the score to 14-10. Nebraska then took the lead for the first time at 197 pounds, when McDanel delivered a dramatic takedown in the closing moments for a 9-6 win over Luke Geog, putting the Huskers ahead 16-14.

Final bout heartbreak in sudden victory

Everything hinged on the heavyweight showdown between No. 4 AJ Ferrari from Nebraska and No. 3 Nick Feldman of Ohio State. The fierce battle remained tied at 1-1 through regulation periods. In sudden victory, Feldman secured the critical takedown to claim a 4-1 win and seal Ohio State’s narrow 17-16 overall victory.

The result left Nebraska stunned in front of their home crowd, as the Huskers’ thrilling comeback fell just short. Ferrari’s record dropped to 8-2 for the season.

Nebraska looks ahead to Penn State

Despite the loss, Nebraska’s performance demonstrated the team’s grit and potential to compete against the nation’s best. The Huskers now hold a 9-5 overall record and an even 2-2 in Big Ten competition.

Next on Nebraska’s schedule is a challenging road trip to face No. 1 Penn State, which currently holds an 11-0 record and an unblemished 5-0 Big Ten mark. The dual will take place on Friday, January 30th at 7 p.m. (CT) and will be nationally televised on the Big Ten Network.

Additional highlights and context

• Earlier in the week, Nebraska hosted No. 4 Iowa and suffered a 22-14 loss in front of a record-breaking 7,891 fans—surpassing the previous attendance record set just months prior.
• Brock Hardy, ranked No. 3 at 141 pounds, earned his 100th career dual win during the Iowa duel, becoming the 33rd wrestler in Nebraska history to reach this milestone.
• The Ohio State wrestlers remain dominant in the Big Ten with seven top-10 victories, six of which were achieved on the road, underscoring their status as the conference’s leading program.

Detailed bout-by-bout summary

• 125 pounds: Nic Bouzakis (OSU) overwhelmed Kael Lauridsen (NEB) 16-4, including multiple takedowns and nearfalls.
• 133 pounds: Ben Davino (OSU) secured a 7-2 decision over Jacob Van Dee (NEB) with consistent offense.
• 141 pounds: Jesse Mendez (OSU) dominated Brock Hardy (NEB) 14-3 in a rematch of the 2025 national title match.
• 149 pounds: Ethan Stiles (OSU) beat Chance Lamer (NEB) 6-3 in sudden victory after a back-and-forth contest.
• 157 pounds: Antrell Taylor (NEB) turned the tide with an 11-3 major decision against Maddox Shaw (OSU).
• 165 pounds: LJ Araujo (NEB) delivered a tight 1-0 victory over Ethan Birden (OSU), sparking hope for Nebraska.
• 174 pounds: Christopher Minto (NEB) upset Carson Kharchla (OSU) 4-1 in sudden victory, one of Nebraska’s biggest wins of the season.
• 184 pounds: Silas Allred (NEB) edged Dylan Fishback (OSU) 2-1 in a grueling tiebreaker after an intense match.
• 197 pounds: Camden McDanel (NEB) scored a last-second takedown to claim a 9-6 decision over Luke Geog (OSU), putting Nebraska ahead.
• Heavyweight: Nick Feldman (OSU) secured a sudden victory win over AJ Ferrari (NEB) 4-1 to close out the dual.

Closing remarks

The Nebraska wrestling team’s near-upset of a top-ranked Ohio State squad in front of a passionate home crowd exemplifies the rising competitiveness of the Huskers this season. While falling just short, the intensity and determination displayed promise tougher battles ahead in the fiercely competitive Big Ten landscape. With an upcoming match against powerhouse Penn State, Nebraska has a prime opportunity to build momentum and prove their championship credentials.

Fans can follow all the Nebraska wrestling action through HuskerMax and Big Ten Network broadcasts, staying engaged with one of college wrestling’s most exciting programs. The resilience shown in Lincoln affirms Nebraska’s status as a rising force on the national stage.