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Amateur Wrestling Reports

Iowa extends attendance streak to 23 of 24 seasons; Penn State-Ohio State most attended indoor dual in college wrestling history

A look at the 2025-26 Division I men’s wrestling dual meet home attendance numbers.

Home attendance for NCAA Division I wrestling continued its climb in 2025-26, with 25 programs averaging over 1,000 fans per home dual. That’s nearly double the 13 programs that reached that mark a decade earlier in 2015-16, and part of a longer-term rise that saw the 1,000+ group grow from 13 to a high of 27 programs in both 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Iowa led the nation in home average attendance for the 23rd time in the last 24 seasons, drawing 11,811 fans per dual across five home dates at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It’s Iowa’s fifth consecutive year leading the nation in average attendance, and an extension of a run that includes an earlier 14-year streak from 2006-07 through 2019-20.
Oklahoma State finished second nationally in 2025-26 at 9,259 per dual, its best national placement in 19 years, matching the level it last reached in 2006-07. The average attendance of 9,259 was the program’s highest since the late Denny Diehl began tracking home attendance in the 2001-02 season.
Penn State placed third at 8,943 across seven home dates across Rec Hall and the Bryce Jordan Center.

Program Bests Across the Country

A number of programs posted the best national attendance placements in their history this season:

  • Nebraska climbed to No. 5 nationally (4,457 average, 7,891 best single-dual draw), the highest national attendance ranking in program history.
  • Michigan rose to No. 6 nationally (4,436 average, 11,483 best single-dual draw), also a best-ever placement for the Wolverines.
  • Wyoming reached No. 18 nationally, its best national placement in 11 years.
  • Maryland (11 years) and Chattanooga (18 years) each reached their best national placement in over a decade.

Nebraska (4,457) and Michigan (4,436) also set new program records for average home attendance in 2025-26.

A Milestone Night in Happy Valley

Penn State’s 36-5 win over Ohio State on Feb. 13 at Bryce Jordan Center drew 16,006 fans, the third-largest crowd on record for a Division I dual meet, and the largest ever for a dual held indoors. It also stands as a new Penn State program record for single-dual attendance. Only two outdoor stadium … more at … https://mattalkonline.substack.com/

September 8, 2026 Posted by | Uncategorized | , | Leave a comment