The NCAA announced on Feb. 12 the release of its second coaches’ ranking and the first Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) for the upcoming 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.
These rankings are important as they help determine which wrestlers will qualify for the national tournament and how they will be seeded. The coaches’ rankings are decided by a vote from three coaches in each weight class, with only designated starters who have competed in at least eight Division I matches—one within the last month—being eligible.
The RPI is calculated using a wrestler’s winning percentage, their opponents’ winning percentage, and their opponents’ opponents’ winning percentage. Only matches against Division I opponents at the designated weight class count toward this calculation, and a wrestler must have participated in at least 15 such matches to be ranked.
All ten starters from Rutgers wrestling appear in the latest coaches’ rankings, while eight have an RPI. In the coaches’ ranking, Joseph Olivieri leads Rutgers at No. 8 in the 141-pound category. Other notable placements include Lenny Pinto (No. 16 at 174 pounds), Shane Cartagena-Walsh (No. 14 at 184 pounds), and Remy Cotton (No. 16 at 197 pounds). In the RPI, Remy Cotton holds Rutgers’ highest spot at No. 5 among all weights.
The NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee uses both the coaches’ ranking and RPI as part of several criteria during its selection process for tournament participants and seeding. Other factors include head-to-head competition, quality wins, conference tournament placement, results versus common opponents, and overall win percentage.
A full description of the selection process can be found on ncaa.org. The championships are scheduled to take place March 19-21 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland.