Jax Forrest, Oklahoma State stand out

Day 3 of the NCAA Wrestling Championships provided little in the way intrigue or controversy for team standings, with Penn State wrapping up a program record-fifth straight national championship early on Saturday, March 21.

The finals bouts provided much more in the way of intrigue, with five new wrestling champions emerging by weight of upsets, including four freshmen.

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Penn State put the stamp on a dominant season, going 4-2 in the finals with wins by Luke Lilledahl (125 pounds); Mitchell Mesenbrink (165 pounds); Levi Haines (174); and Josh Barr (197). The Nittany Lions did suffer two upsets of top-seed wrestlers, however: 10-seed Aden Valencia of Stanford knocked off Shayne Van Ness at 149 pounds, 8-5, and No. 3 seed Max McEnelly notched a 4-3 win vs. Rocco Welsh.

Penn State won the title, but Oklahoma State was perhaps the biggest story of the finals, placing four wrestlers in the finals — all freshmen — and going 3-1 on the night. Indeed, the Cowboys set the tone early with No. 2 seed Sergio Vega shocking Dan Hodge Trophy favorite and two-time defending national champion Jesse Mendez in the 141-pound weight class. Vega won 4-1 in sudden victory.

From there, No. 5 seed Landon Robideau (who upset No. 1 PJ Duke in the championship semifinals), beat defeated defending national champion Antrell Taylor of Nebraska, 4-2. And finally, in the nightcap, No. 1 seed Jax Forrest notched a 5-2 win over No. 2 seed Ben Davino of Ohio State, scoring the first takedown against him all season.

Check out all the action from USA TODAY Sports, which provided live updates, results and highlights from the finals of the NCAA Wrestling Championships:

First period

And now, the finale: No. 2 Ben Davino hasn’t given up a takedown all season, but he’ll take on one of the most offensively prolific wrestlers in the NCAA. The clash of styles should make for an incredible nightcap, and is the second-ever finals match between freshmen in NCAA history.

Forrest gets a deep double-leg and very nearly gives Davino his first takedown of the season, but some incredible defense from Davino on the edge of the mat spares him. Two minutes left in the opening period. Davino has since slowed down Forrest considerably.

Second period

Davino chooses bottom to start the second period. Davino scores the escape after surrendering 36 seconds of riding time. Davino attempts a throw-by of Forrest, and continues to keep him at arm’s length. He’s taking a defensive position to stymie his opponent.

Third period

Forrest chooses bottom to start the third, and Davino is called for stalling. Forrest gets an escape and then in short order takes Davino down! It’s the first takedown he’s surrendered all season. Forrest is building up riding time as well, giving him an effective 5-1 lead with less than a minute left.

Forrest is aiming for the cradle, and happy to secure riding time advantage. Davino can’t even get to his base and, with less than 30 seconds left, needs a flurry of points. Davino scores an escape, but can’t get a takedown in the final seconds. He loses 5-2.

What an incredible bout from both wrestlers, but it’s Forrest’s one takedown — Davino’s only one surrendered all season — that is the difference. What a night from Oklahoma State, which puts four freshmen in the finals and goes 3-1. Penn State is the champion today, but something’s brewing in Stillwater.

First period

Can Luke Lilledahl claim Penn State’s fourth individual title? He’ll take on Marc-Anthony McGowan, whom he beat by way of disqualification earlier this year; McGowan was called for stalling five times, nearly unheard of at the Division I level.

The official is repeatedly telling both wrestlers to wrestle, with both jockeying for control of the others’ hands and head. No committed shots by either with less than a minute remaining.

Second period

McGowan chooses to start on bottom to start the second period, and escapes after Lilledahl gets 15 seconds of riding time. The Princeton wrestler has a 1-0 lead, and receives his first stall warning a minute into the second period. Official’s calls for offense are getting more pointed, and McGowan heads into the final period with a 1-0 lead.

Third period

Lilledahl gets the escape, and we’re back to neutral. This has been a slow-moving, cautious, defense-oriented battle. Not a lot of offensive action. And there’s a second stalling call against McGowan, and Lilledahl has a 2-1 lead. Boos are emanating from the crowd, but Lilledahl seems to be doing more to push the action.

Lilledahl can try to give ground now, as McGowan now pushes the pace looking for anything. The action ends on the edge of the mat, with Lilledahl notching a 2-1 victory by way of a stalling point. ESPN commentators, amid a chorus of boos, are explaining the difference between defensive wrestling and stalling action.

“A win is a win,” Lilledahl says in his post-match interview.

Penn State will finish the night with a 4-2 record in the finals.

First period

Big 12 champion Yonger Bastida (29-0) takes on ACC champion Isaac Trumble (20-0) in an undefeated matchup. Both wrestlers are looking for their first national championship.

Bastida is controlling Trumble’s head, snapping it toward the mat. Yonger takes a deep shot with seconds remaining but doesn’t have time to pop out the back for the takedown. We head to the second period scoreless.

Second period

Trumble scores a quick escape and is up 1-0. Now in neutral, Trumble continues to focus on Bastida’s hands. Bastida gets a dep shot, but a deep sprawl keeps him in control. Trumble passes by Bastida, with both wrestlers scrambling for control, but it’s Trumble who slips around behind for the 3-point takedown. Iowa State’s corner throws the challenge to say Bastida should have gotten the takedown, but the call is upheld. Trumble holds a 4-0 lead with 30 seconds remaining in the period.

Trumble rides out the rest of the period and has 38 seconds of riding time.

Third period

Bastida is told to go to neutral to start the period from his coaches, but elects to start on bottom. He goes for the reversal attempt but Trumble does a great job of holding him off. Trumble now has over a minute of riding time, effectively giving him a 5-0 lead. He has been in complete control for the majority of this match.

Trumble has secured riding time advantage with 29 seconds remaining, and Bastida can’t even get to his base position. Bastida attempts the reversal, but Trumble keeps him in control the whole way through, notching a 5-0 win.

First period

Josh Barr enters his 197-pound championship bout undefeated and with a 100% bonus point wins. He’ll take on yet another Oklahoma State freshman, Cody Merrill, seeking to move Penn State to 3-2 in finals matches.

Barr is attacking Merrill’s head, snapping his head toward the mat, but hasn’t been able to notch a takedown with 2 minutes of time already elapsed. It isn’t till 30 seconds left that Barr gets the double-leg takedown. He accrues 18 seconds of riding time, but we have blood time with 13 seconds remaining in the period. Merrill escapes with 5 seconds left in the period.

Second period

Merrill chooses bottom to start the second period and escapes after 5 seconds. He has a 3-2 deficit vs. Barr. The Penn State wrestler has taken several shots, and Merrill’s in danger of getting a stall if he doesn’t push the action. Still, it’s impressive the redshirt freshman is only down one, especially considering Barr’s 100% bonus rate.

Third period

Barr choses bottom to start the final period. And there’s a 3-point sequence for Barr, who not only scores a reversal, but also gets a point after Merrill is called for locking hands. The Cowboys wrestler escapes, but Barr is now in control with a 6-3 lead. Barr gets a shot in and has Merrill’s leg locked, but the latter puts his ankle in a sleeper hold to avoid a second takedown.

Barr can stall out a win here, but Merrill has to push the action with less than 30 seconds. Barr gets a stalling call, but it won’t matter. He wins 6-3, his first win without bonus points. Also notable that, with that win, Penn State breaks the NCAA Wrestling Championships team points record with 177.5 points total. Incredible dominance from the Nittany Lions.

First period

Rocco Welsh, looking for Penn State’s 10th-ever title at 184 pounds, takes on Max McEnelly with a 40-match win streak.

There’s a surprising takedown from McEnelly, who gets Welsh with a high C. Welsh gets out immediately but now faces a 3-1 deficit with time winding down in the first.

Second period

McEnelly chooses bottom to start the second period, and escapes in six seconds to take a 4-1 lead. Chants of “Let’s go Max!” are ringing out from Rocket Arena. There’s not much more action, and we’re off to the third period.

Third period

Welsh chooses bottom and escapes in 3 seconds to cut the deficit to 4-2. One minute left, Welsh needs to start attacking down by two. Welsh shoots but McEnelly sprawls out. We’re back to neutral. Welsh is still probing McEnelly but not attacking. He has 18 seconds left to avoid the upset.

McEnelly is fleeing and hit with a stall penalty, but it doesn’t matter! He scores the upset, giving Welsh his first loss of the season and becoming Minnesota’s first national champ at 184 pounds, ever! He’s their first champion since Gable Stevenson in 2022.

First period

Levi Haines enters this match 2-0 all-time vs. Christopher Minto, but had to fight for both, winning 2-1 and 8-6, both this year.

Minto is giving a lot of head taps but not doing much else, getting his first stall warning halfway through the first period. Haines tries for an elbow pass in the closing seconds but Minto runs out of it before he can sink it.

Second period

Mesenbrink starts on bottom to start the second period and notches a quick escape to go up 1-0. Are we in for another close finish?

Haines gets his second stall warning, giving a point to Haines. He’s down 2-0, but can get that back with a takedown.

Third period

Minto chooses bottom to start the third period and scores a quick escape. Haines sinks a deep single leg on Minto at the edge of the match but is still working to gain control. He gets Minto on his butt, but lands just out of bounds. With less than a second left, Minto has to get something here with a 2-1 deficit.

Minto’s trying single-leg attempts, pass-bys, throw-bys and underhook in rapid succession, but can’t get anything to land. Haines wins 2-1 thanks to that stalling point, giving Penn State its second national champ tonight.

First period

Mitchell Mesenbrink’s ready to take on Mikey Caliendo, against whom he is 8-0 in his career. Will Caliendo finally get on the board?

Mesenbrink scores a quick double-leg takedown and already has 9 seconds of ride time with 2:38 on the clock. Caliendo escapes, and we’re back to neutral. Mesenbrink scores another deep takedown and already has a 6-2 lead less than a minute into the period. And there’s another takedown from Mesenbrink, who is targeting Caliendo’s left leg. He gets the leg pass-by to get behind, and there’s takedown No. 3.

Make it four takedowns, and over a minute of riding time for Mesenbrink, who has a 12-4 lead with 20 seconds in the period.

Second period

Mesenbrink starts on bottom in the second period, nearly giving up back points before he escapes. He wastes no time to get his fifth takedown of the match to notch a 16-4 lead. Mesenbrink’s working for back points while accruing a ton of riding time.

Caliendo is called for stalling, but he seems to be trying his best just to get to his base. It’s 17-4 Mesenbrink. There’s a second stalling call on Caliendo, and it’s 18-4 for Mesenbrink. One more point and we have a tech fall.

Third period

Mesenbrink’s on bottom, and takes 12 seconds to secure a 2-point takedown and notch a 20-4 tech fall victory. With Mendez losing earlier tonight, we may be looking at the Dan Hodge Trophy recipient.

First Period

Landon Robideau wastes no time with a leg sweep, attempting to trip him to the mat. But Antrell Taylor’s defense is impeccable so far, as the 5 seed can’t finish the deal yet. Robideau keeps bringing him to the center of the mat but can’t complete it. Tremendous defense by Taylor to force a stalemate. Action’s paused for blood time.

Taylor is called for his first stall warning with roughly 35 seconds left in the first period, and we’re onto the second

Second period

Robideau manages to secure back points, and gets a three-count, going up 3-0 with 1:36. Stanford’s corner throws the brick to determine the count. Following review, the call is changed, and Robideau is awarded a 2-point near fall. Taylor’s able to stand, but can’t secure the escape, with Robideau staying chest-to-chest to keep him in control.

Taylor finally manages to get out of Robideau’s control, running out of his grasp barely inbounds.

Third period

Robideau starts on bottom and notches a quick escape to take a 3-1 lead. Taylor has to get aggressive here if he wants to repeat. Robideau nearly takes down Taylor, but holds onto his leg to keep him from scoring the takedown – however, Taylor is called for stalling, immediately after a whistle is blown that action had moved out of bounds. Stanford throws another challenge brick. Review upholds the call, but that shouldn’t affect Taylor’s strategy. He needs a takedown.

Taylor has 11 seconds to make something happen … Robideau is called for stalling, but with 4 seconds left, Taylor can’t get the takedown he needs, and falls 4-2. It’s the third straight freshman to win a national championship tonight, and second from Oklahoma State.

First Period

Aden Valencia wastes little time, going for the double leg and securing the takedown right on the edge of the mat as Shayne Van Ness attempted a reverse throw. Henderson is up 3-0 early. Stanford throws the challenge brick to determine whether Valencia gets near fall points, but officials confirm none.

Meanwhile, action is paused to clean some blood coming out of Van Ness’ nose, who escapes shortly after an escape. And now Van Ness is hit with a stall warning with less than a minute of action in the first period.

Second period

Valencia starts the second period on bottom and escapes after giving up 14 seconds of riding time. Van Ness nearly scores a takedown but Valencia maintains position and eventually they’re called to be in a deadlock. Valencia tries to get an inside trip, but Van Ness slips by it and manages to sneak behind the 10 seed. Valencia scores a 1-point escape with 42 seconds remaining, and now we have blood time.

Van Ness nearly gets a takedown before the buzzer, but Valencia secures a leglock to maintain neutral position and will head to the third period with a 5-4 lead.

Third period

Van Ness scores a quick escape to knot this up 5-5. Valencia notches a deep single leg and is trying to cut the corner to get behind Van Ness, who’s pulling on his ankle to secure control. It’s a stalemate, and we’re back to neutral. Van Ness nearly gets a single-leg takedown but Van Ness once again grabs his ankle. We’ve got overtime!

Sudden victory

Third time’s the charm! Valencia, the redshirt freshman, secures the deep single leg and cuts the corner, sitting Van Ness on his butt before he can grab his ankle. Penn State throws a brick to challenge the takedown. Boos are starting to escalate in the Rocket Arena as the officials take their time, but it’s moot. Another No. 1 seed goes down in sudden victory!

First period

Sergio Vega is called for an early stall warning, 39 seconds into the first period. Not a lot of action as both wrestlers are feeling each other out. Mendez is doing a good job maintaining head position and controlling Vega’s elbow position. No committed shots by either wrestler to start us off.

Second period

Vega chooses to start on bottom in the second period. Vega nearly gives up back points but is able to maintain control and eventually escapes after surrendering 42 seconds or riding time to Mendez.

Third period

Mendez starts the third period on bottom down 1-0 to Vega. What a sequence by Mendez there, narrowly avoiding a reversal and giving up back points to instead allow the escape with just over a minute in the third period. Vega fakes a shot but instead has his right leg grabbed by Mendez; neither wrestler can gain control and end up out of bounds. Twenty seconds remain.

Sudden victory

Add two more minutes on the clock! We’re heading to sudden victory. Mendez attempts a double leg but Vega holds him off and how has him in a cradle! And that’s it! Vega, a freshman, finishes an undefeated season by shocking two-time defending champion Mendez with a 3-point takedown! What a massive upset.

NCAA wrestling finals order

The finals will begin with the 141-pound weight class and conclude with the 133-pound weight class.

What time do NCAA wrestling finals start?

The finals bouts of the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET.

How to watch NCAA wrestling finals

The NCAA Wrestling Championships will air nationally on ESPN, with Mike Couzens, Jordan Burroughs and Rock Harrison on the call.

Stream NCAA wrestling finals live with Fubo (free trial)

NCAA Wrestling Championships streaming

One potential streaming option for the NCAA wrestling finals is Fubo, which covers ESPN and offers a free trial to potential subscribers. The entire 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships have also been available to stream on ESPN+.