Big Red to Host #6 Minnesota Saturday Afternoon

After a tough loss to No. 10 Northern Iowa on the road last weekend, the Huskers (5-1, 0-0) look to get back in the win column with their conference opener against No. 6 Minnesota at home on Saturday. Nebraska wrestling will take on the Gophers (4-0, 0-0) at 3:30 p.m. (CT) for a “blackout” Big Ten dual. The top-ten matchup brings the potential for 10 ranked bouts and a landmark for head coach Mark Manning.

With a win, Coach Manning would achieve 300 dual wins at Nebraska. Prior to NU, Manning was the head coach at UNI, where he claimed his additional 23 career dual wins.

The Saturday afternoon dual will be televised on the Big Ten Network, and live stats will be available on TrackWrestling.

On the slate, there are four potential rematches. At 133, #19 Jacob Van Dee is 0-2 against Tyler Wells after the pair most recently wrestled at the 2024 NCAA Championships. At 141, #6 Brock Hardy leads 2-0 against #8 Vance VomBaur. #5 Ridge Lovett is 1-0 on the mat with #21 Drew Roberts at 149. At 165, #7 Bubba Wilson and #9 Andrew Sparks are tied at one win each, both by decisions.The Gophers are the highest ranked foe for the Huskers yet, and bring six top-10 wrestlers to Lincoln.

HISTORY
Series: Minnesota leads, 52-26-0
Last Meeting: Jan. 19, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minn. (Nebraska won, 19-14)

UP NEXT
The Huskers stay home to host top-ranked Penn State on Friday, Jan. 17. The Big Ten dual is set to start bouts at 8 p.m. (CT) and will be televised on BTN. Dubbed “Coach’s Challenge,” the matchup aims to set an attendance record at Devaney, taking on the Nittany Lions in Lincoln for the first time in five years.

Nebraska Projected Lineup:
125: #7 Caleb Smith (11-3, 2-1) or Kael Lauridsen (3-1, 1-0)
133: #19 Jacob Van Dee (6-5, 3-2)
141: #6 Brock Hardy (12-2, 3-1) or Blake Cushing (3-2, 2-0)
149: #5 Ridge Lovett (9-1, 5-0)
157: #5 Antrell Taylor (13-1, 4-1)
165: #7 Bubba Wilson (9-4, 2-2) or Christopher Minto (12-1, 0-1)
174: #16 Lenny Pinto (12-3, 4-0)
184: #6 Silas Allred (11-1, 3-1) or Ethan DeLeon (10-2, 0-1)
197: #22 Camden McDanel (12-5, 3-1)
HWT: #24 Harley Andrews (8-6, 3-2)

Minnesota Projected Lineup:
125: #5 Cooper Flynn (9-1, 4-0) or Brandon Morvari (4-4, 0-0)
133: #11 Tyler Wells (8-1, 4-0)
141: #8 Vance VomBaur (14-1, 4-0)
149: #21 Drew Roberts 8-0, 4-0) or Theo Cha (5-7, 0-0)
157: #10 Tommy Askey (14-1, 3-0) or Charlie Millard (7-1, 1-0)
165: #9 Andrew Sparks (14-2, 4-0)
174: #24 Clayton Whiting (9-5, 2-2) or Ethan Riddle (11-4, 0-0)
184: #4 Max McEnelly (10-0, 4-0)
197: #9 Isaiah Salazar (10-2, 4-0)
HWT: #1 Gable Steveson (3-0, 3-0) or Bennett Tabor (9-4, 1-0)