The top-ranked Penn State wrestling team can break the NCAA win-streak record Saturday when it hosts Rutgers in its Big Ten opener. The Nittany Lions (6-0) seek to win their 78th consecutive match, which would set the all-time record among NCAA wrestling programs.

Penn State wrestling made history the last time it was on the mat. By winning two matches at the Collegiate Wrestling Duals in Nashville in late December, the Lions secured their 76th and 77th consecutive dual meet triumphs,

The 174-pound bout features a rematch between Penn State’s top-ranked Levi Haines and No. 10 Lenny Pinto (7-3), the Stroudsburg High graduate who transferred from Nebraska. Haines, who will be seeking his 85 th career win, beat Pinto 9-2 last season at Nebraska.

The Nittany Lions wrestler withdrew from a Japanese tournament in December while "working through" a medical issue, Sanderson said.

Aaron Nagao was the starter for the Nittany Lions to begin the season, but injuries have been plaguing him, leaving his availability in limbo.

There’s no deeper weight in the lineup than 157, where Sealey, a redshirt freshman, won the Scuffle and two-time All-America and redshirt sophomore Tyler Kasak is sitting out and true freshman PJ Duke is the lineup regular.

Penn State wrestling coach Cael Sanderson talks about Aaron Nagao and the 141 pound weight class during a media availability on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. Penn State will face Rutgers on Saturday in the first Big Ten dual of the season.

Thirteen members of the Penn State Nittany Lion wrestling team took part in the 2026 Southern Scuffle at Chattanooga on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 3-4, and three other Nittany Lions competed at the Bobby Kauffman Open at Edinboro on Sunday.

Through performances at their respective conference tournaments, Pitt and Penn State combined to qualify 15 wrestlers for the NCAA championships to be held later this month. Nine Nittany Lions and six Panthers assured themselves participation in the event ...