The Oklahoma State Cowboys wrestling team is set to begin its 2025-26 season with a home dual against No. 19 Stanford on Friday at Gallagher-Iba Arena. The match, which starts at 7 p.m. CT, will be streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast on Hot 93.7 KSPI-FM radio.
Oklahoma State, ranked fifth nationally, has won its last 25 home openers dating back to 1999. The Cowboys have faced Stanford three times previously and won each meeting by a combined score of 95-16.
Head coach David Taylor enters his second season leading the program after guiding the Cowboys to a third-place finish at the NCAA Championships in March, where two wrestlers claimed individual national titles. Taylor’s squad returns six NCAA qualifiers and has added transfers Richard Figueroa II, Casey Swiderski, and Alex Facundo.
Taylor’s first recruiting class includes several highly-ranked freshmen such as LaDarion “Dee” Lockett, Landon Robideau, Sergio Vega, and Ronnie Ramirez. Returning wrestlers include Troy Spratley at 125 pounds—last year’s national finalist—and Konner Doucet at heavyweight.
Reflecting on last season’s performance under Taylor: “Taylor’s Cowboys dominated the competition by going 13-1 in dual action, finishing the season unblemished at home in seven matches and winning 10 matches against ranked opponents,” according to the release. “Taylor also led the Cowboys to a Big 12 title for the first time since 2021.”
At the recent NWCA All-Star Classic on November 1, Casey Swiderski defeated Michigan’s Lachlan McNeil while Zack Ryder scored a major decision over Maryland’s Jaxon Smith.
Oklahoma State continues to build on its tradition as one of college wrestling’s most successful programs. Since its founding in Gallagher-Iba Arena in 1939, OSU has secured more than ninety percent of its home dual victories and captured multiple long unbeaten streaks inside its venue.
Nationally, Oklahoma State leads all college programs with 34 NCAA team titles, far ahead of Iowa (24) and Penn State (13). Cowboy wrestlers have earned more individual NCAA championships (145) and All-America honors (492) than any other school. The program has also produced more Olympians than any other U.S. college wrestling team.
A win over Stanford would mark Oklahoma State’s sixth straight opening victory under Taylor and improve their record against ranked opponents since the start of last season.