Big Red Head to #18 Michigan, Michigan State

The No. 7 Nebraska wrestling team (6-2, 1-1 Big Ten) is headed to Michigan for a double-dual weekend against conference foes. The Big Red will be on the road for the first time since hosting No. 8 Minnesota and No. 1 Penn State at home. The Huskers will face No. 18 Michigan (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten) on Friday, Jan. 24 at 5 p.m. (CT) and Michigan State (3-3, 0-2 Big Ten) on Sunday, Jan. 26 at noon (CT).

The Huskers split their home conference duals, taking down the Gophers and setting an attendance record of 6,736 with their home loss to PSU. NU looks to improve its dual record this weekend on the road. The top-20 matchup on Friday night will be televised on BTN, while the Big Red trip to East Lansing can be streamed on Big Ten Plus.

The duals hold up to three rematches, starting at 141 with #6 Brock Hardy and #11 Sergio Lemley. The pair wrestled three times last season, and the Husker leads the head-to-head 2-1. At 149, #3 Ridge Lovett and #22 Dylan Gilcher have met once before, at last season’s Cliff Keen Invitational. Lovett took down Gilcher with a major decision. Michigan’s #15 Chase Saldate has faced #5 Antrell Taylor twice, once with Michigan and in a previous season with Michigan State. The pair are 1-1, with Taylor winning most recently at Cliff Keen on his way to the 157 title.

The Wolverines have three wrestlers in the top-10 with #2 Jacob Cardenas (11-0) at 197, #9 Josh Heindselman (14-1) at heavyweight, and #10 Beau Mantanona (7-1) at 165. The Spartans have only one wrestler in the rankings, freshman #25 Remy Cotton (10-4) at 197.

HISTORY
MICH Series: Nebraska leads 10-6-0
Last Meeting: Feb. 9, 2024 in Lincoln, Neb. (Nebraska won 25-7)

MSU Series: Nebraska leads 10-8-0
Last Meeting: Feb. 6, 2021 in East Lansing, Mich. (Nebraska won 27-10)

UP NEXT
After their weekend in Michigan, the Huskers return home to face Wisconsin on Friday, Jan. 31. The conference dual is set for 8 p.m. (CT), and will be televised on BTN.

No. 7 Nebraska (6-2, 1-1 Big Ten)
125 - #7 Caleb Smith or Alan Koehler
133 - #14 Jacob Van Dee or Omar Ayoub
141 - #6 Brock Hardy
149 - #3 Ridge Lovett or Scott Robertson
157 - #5 Antrell Taylor
165 - #7 Bubba Wilson or Christopher Minto or Dez Gartrell
174 - #15 Lenny Pinto
184 - #8 Silas Allred or Ethan DeLeon
197 - #22 Camden McDanel
HWT - #21 Harley Andrews

No. 18 Michigan (4-2, 1-2 Big Ten)
125 - Wilfried Tanefeu
133 - Nolan Wertanen
141 - #11 Sergio Lemley
149 - #22 Dylan Gilcher or Cameron Catrabone
157 - #15 Chase Saldate
165 - #10 Beau Mantanona
174 - #29 Joseph Walker
184 - #20 Jaden Bullock
197 - #2 Jacob Cardenas
HWT - #9 Josh Heindselman

Michigan State (3-3, 0-2 Big Ten)
125 - Caleb Weiand or Nick Corday
133 - Andy Hampton or Tristan Lujan
141 - Jaden Crumpler
149 - Clayton Jones III or Evan Herriman
157 - Braden Stauffenberg or Mason Stewart
165 - Jay Nivison
174 - Ceasar Garza or Marty Larkin
184 - Luke Daly or Ryan Boucher
197 - #25 Remy Cotton
HWT - Max Vanadia or Josh Terrill