No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes wrestling team will host Kent State at the Covelli Center in Columbus on Thursday, Nov. 20, for their first home dual of the 2025-26 season. The match is set to begin at 7 p.m. and will be streamed live on B1G+.
The Buckeyes currently hold a 5-0 record this season and are coming off a strong showing at the National Duals Invitational held on Nov. 15-16, where they secured four victories and claimed the event title along with a $200,000 prize. In that tournament, Ohio State defeated Wyoming, No. 10 Minnesota, No. 2 Nebraska, and No. 3 Iowa. Across five weight classes (125 through 157), the team went undefeated over two days and lost only five matches overall.
Reflecting on past encounters, Ohio State has a historical advantage over Kent State with a 19-6 all-time record between the teams. Their most recent matchup was on Dec. 11, 2022, when Ohio State won decisively with a score of 32-9 at the Covelli Center.
Notable individual performances from the National Duals included Nic Bouzakis defeating two top-ten opponents at 125 pounds; Ben Davino overcoming Iowa’s second-ranked Drake Ayala at 133; Jesse Mendez posting three wins against ranked wrestlers at 141; Brandon Cannon besting top-ranked Antrell Taylor of Nebraska at 157; Carson Kharchla defeating fourth-ranked Christopher Minto at 174; Dylan Fishback winning over sixth-ranked Silas Allred of Nebraska at 184; and Nick Feldman securing victory against second-ranked AJ Ferrari of Nebraska in heavyweight competition.
Ohio State started its dual season earlier this year with a commanding win over the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga by a score of 42-4, achieving six technical falls and one pin by redshirt freshman Landon Desselle.
Jesse Mendez, a three-time All-American and two-time defending national champion for Ohio State at the 141-pound class, opened his campaign with a victory over Iowa State’s Anthony Echemendia during the NWCA All-Star Championships.
Heading into this season, Ohio State’s roster includes twelve NCAA qualifiers who have made twenty-two combined appearances in NCAA championship events.
Probable lineups for Thursday’s dual list Brendan McCrone facing either Nico Calello or Ruben Lorenzana for Kent State at 125 pounds; Ben Davino against Nick Molchak or Ismael Ayoub at 133; Jesse Mendez meeting Landon Duncan at 141; Maddox Shaw or Daxton Chase versus Nate Roth at 149; Brandon Cannon taking on Keegan Knapp at 157; Paddy Gallagher versus Carson Miller or Reese Stephens at 165; Carson Kharchla against Ethan Barr or Aaron Ferguson at 174; Dylan Fishback facing Trent Thomas or Ronnie Dimmerling in the 184 class; Seth Shumate competing with Blake Schaffer or Mason Higley in the 197 category; and Nick Feldman meeting Brentan Simmerman or Abel Ngoh in heavyweight action.