What: Purdue (5-4) vs Iowa (7-0)
When: Friday, January 19, 2024, at 7 p.m. CST (8 p.m. EST)
Where: Iowa City, Iowa (Carver-Hawkeye Arena)
How to watch: Big Ten Network

Purdue (5-4)
WON — Army, 21-16 (Nov. 11, 2023)
LOST — NC State, 37-3 (Nov. 11, 2023)
WON — Indianapolis, 40-0 (Nov. 19, 2023)
WON — Northern Illinois, 22-13 (Nov. 19, 2023)
LOST — Stanford, 24-13 (Dec. 19, 2023)
LOST — North Dakota State, 22-17 (Dec. 19, 2023)
WON — Campbell, 22-17 (Dec. 19, 2023)
WON — Lindenwood, 50-6 (Jan. 3, 2024)
LOST — Rutgers, 26-13 (Jan. 14, 2024)

Iowa (7-0)
WON — Cal Baptist, 40-0 (Nov. 4, 2023)
WON — Oregon State, 25-11 (Nov. 19, 2023)
WON — Iowa State, 18-14 (Nov. 26, 2023)
WON — Penn, 22-13 (Dec. 1, 2023)
WON — Columbia, 38-3 (Dec. 8, 2023)
WON — Nebraska, 22-10 (Jan. 12, 2024)
WON — Minnesota, 22-9 (Jan. 15, 2024)

Ranked Wrestlers

Purdue
125: #8 Matt Ramos, JR (15-3)
141: #32 Greyson Clark, FR (13-3)
157: #23 Joey Blaze, FR (13-4)
165: #32 Stoney Buell, SO (10-6)

Iowa
125: #1 Drake Ayala, SO (11-1)
133: #17 Brody Teske, SR (6-2)
141: #1 Real Woods, SR (11-0)
149: #14 Caleb Rathjen, SO (8-2)
157: #2 Jared Franek, SR (10-1)
165: #6 Michael Caliendo, SO (11-1)
174: #7 Gabe Arnold, FR (7-0)
197: #13 Zach Glazier, SR (10-0)
285: #29 Ben Kueter, FR (1-0)

Top Match-ups
125: #8 Matt Ramos (Purdue) vs #1 Drake Ayala (Iowa)
141: #32 Greyson Clark (Purdue) vs #1 Real Woods (Iowa)
157: #23 Joey Blaze (Purdue) vs #2 Jared Franek (Iowa)
165: #32 Stoney Buell (Purdue) vs #6 Michael Caliendo (Iowa)

Storylines To Follow

Ten weights will be contested but one match will captivate the country’s attention: 125 pounds. 

Purdue’s Matt Ramos famously pinned Iowa’s three-time NCAA champion Spencer Lee during the semifinals of the 2023 NCAA Championships before ultimately finishing second. The Hawkeye star secured a first-period fall earlier in the season after Ramos was up 8-1.

This came on the heels of Lee pinning Ayala in 1:24 during the 2022 Soldier Salute finals two weeks prior. Remember, Ayala was the starter as a true freshman during the 2021-22 season when Lee was injured.

This will be the first college meeting between the two. 

Ayala is ranked first and Ramos is ranked eighth in the wild and wacky 125-pound class. Ramos fell to high schooler Marcus Blaze in the Clarion Open finals and has three losses on the season. 

Ayala recently knocked off Minnesota’s two-time All-American Patrick McKee, 8-5, and has one loss on the season — a 7-6 setback to Oregon State’s Brandon Kaylor on Nov. 19.

Rankings mean absolutely nothing at this weight, so don’t take too much stock in results. At least 25 wrestlers have a legitimate shot at the title this year, and that’s not a joke. NC State’s Jakob Camacho is currently ranked 23rd after holding the top spot during the season. 

Yes, this weight is volatile. 

All eyes will be on this match to see who will win, who will lose, and how it happens. 

Iowa’s line-up decisions take center stage following a rare Monday dual where the Hawkeyes defeated Minnesota, 22-9. 

True freshman heavyweight Ben Kueter — a 2022 U20 World champion who went undefeated in Iowa for his high school career — got his first taste of college wrestling when he knocked off  Minnesota’s Bennett Tabor, 5-3. Kueter was on the Iowa football team in the fall and, for now, plans to be a two-sport athlete. 

The Iowa City native can wrestle up to five times without losing a year of eligibility, so Iowa coach Tom Brands might use him again as a gauge. Kueter looked sharp in spots but is still working himself into wrestling shape. Bradley Hill (9-3) has been the starter throughout the season and will likely get the nod if Kueter doesn’t compete. 

There’s also a chance that true freshman Gabe Arnold (11-0) competes at 174. Arnold has used two of his five competition dates as a Hawkeye, so he may start, but it seems more likely that Patrick Kennedy (7-2) will be used.

Brody Teske, currently ranked #17 at 133, did not wrestle against Minnesota. Iowa has options with Kale Peterson (the starter against Minnesota), Cullan Schriever, Jace Rhodes, and Jesse Ybarra. 

Caleb Rathjen appears to lead Iowa’s deep 149-pound field after his 7-3 win over Minnesota’s Drew Roberts. 

This dual will answer three important questions.

Who will win at 125 pounds?

Who will Iowa start?

Who will Iowa sit? 

Tune in on Friday to find out.