Takedown Report

Why Penn State Wrestling Should Be Even Better in 2027

Cael Sanderson’s roster will be loaded again as the Nittany Lions pursue their sixth straight NCAA title.
CLEVELAND | Penn State’s Masanosuke Ono lifted the NCAA wrestling championship trophy above his head Saturday night at Rocket Arena, a moment of foreshadowing amid another celebration. Ono, a Japanese world champion who didn’t wrestle for Penn State this season, awaits his place in a Nittany Lions lineup that should be even better in 2027.
How is that possible? Penn State won four individual titles at the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships, broke its own scoring record for the second straight year and tied an NCAA record with six finalists. The Nittany Lions won a fifth straight NCAA team title after producing one of their most dominant regular seasons for head coach Cael Sanderson. And they lose just one starter from the 2025-26 lineup.
Three national champions went undefeated. Two NCAA runners-up finished the season with one loss. Two true freshmen were All-Americans. Four of the seven finalists for the Hodge Trophy, college wrestling’s Heisman, are Nittany Lions. And eight All-Americans (including one who redshirted) are expected back for Sanderson’s 18th season at Penn State, which might be his best yet — yet again.
College wrestling is pushing hard for Oklahoma State, under former Penn State wrestler David Taylor, to derail the Penn State freight train. The Cowboys had a superb tournament in Taylor’s second season, winning four titles (all by first-year starters) to place second to Penn State. However, here’s how Penn State should maintain its grip on the sport next season.
Penn State’s returning champions … more at … https://www.si.com/college/pennstate/wrestling/why-penn-state-wrestling-should-be-even-better-in-2027

April 9, 2026 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized