Iowa and Nebraska are ranked #2 and #3 respectively in the latest NCAA D1 Dual Rankings. It's the biggest dual meet of the week and we're going to live blog all the action for you!

But first, the projected matchups!

Projected Matchups

125: #9 Drake Ayala, Iowa vs #5 Caleb Smith, Nebraska

133: #9 Brody Teske, Iowa vs Kyle Burwick or #32 Jacob Van Dee, Nebraska

141: #1 Real Woods, Iowa vs #8 Brock Hardy, Nebraska

149: #14 Caleb Rathjen, Iowa vs #1 Ridge Lovett, Nebraska

157: #2 Jared Franek, Iowa vs #3 Peyton Robb, Nebraska

165: #7 Michael Caliendo, Iowa vs #16 Antrell Taylor, Nebraska

174: Patrick Kennedy or #7 Gabe Arnold, Iowa vs Elise Brown Ton or #19 Bubba Wilson, Nebraska

184: Aiden Riggins, Iowa vs #3 Lenny Pinto, Nebraska

197: #25 Zach Glazier, Iowa vs #13 Silas Allred, Nebraska

285: Bradley Hill or Ben Kueter, Iowa vs Harley Andrews or Nash Hutmacher, Nebraska

Neither Gabe Arnold nor Ben Kueter were listed as probables in Iowa's official preview, however we're including them as possibilities because Arnold can still wrestle in this dual and retain his redshirt. Additionally, Tom Brands has said he likes what he sees in Kueter and did not rule out the possibility of him competing Friday at his last press conference. 

We also have Andrews and Hutmacher listed as probables for heavyweight as they were both listed in Nebraska's official preview, however, Mark Manning has since revealed to Hail Varsity Radio that Hutmacher will be getting the start. 

Weight By Weight Preview

Click here for a knowledgeable, in-depth preview from our very own Jon Kozak. 

Kozak provides notable wins and losses for every wrestler and covers any previous matchups between the expected starters. 

Nebraska hasn't beaten Iowa since 2006, and Jon predicts that winning streak will continue for Iowa, however, it's an extremely close call with opportunities for both teams to swing the dual in their favor. 

FRL Preview

Do you like your previews in video format? Well good news, FRL examined this dual on their Thursday morning show, which you can watch by clicking here. The dual preview starts in the 22nd minute of the show. 

How To Watch Live

The dual will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network, so you need a cable subscription to watch live. If you don't have traditional cable, you can sign up for YouTubeTV or Hulu Live (among other options) and watch on the internet via your mobile phone, laptop or other device. 

You can also listen to a radio broadcast on the Hawkeye Radio Network.

It's Nearly Showtime

Venerable photog and a pair 'boots-on-the-ground' Mark Lundy has a shot of the snowy Devaney Center where the dual will take place. 

We're a Goooo!
Winter n Wrestling
One hour away, 6:30 central on @B1GNetwork@B1GWrestling @Hawks_Wrestling @HuskerWrestling pic.twitter.com/vEuUsDoudZ

— Mark Lundy (@LutteLens) January 12, 2024

On the mics for the TV broadcast are the great Tim Johnson and Shane Sparks!

125: #9 Drake Ayala, Iowa vs #5 Caleb Smith, Nebraska

1st period: Ayala is a native Iowan in his redshirt sophomore season. Smith is a grad transfer from App State and is originally from North Carolina. Smith starts off aggressively, driving Ayahal off the mat. Ayala responds with a low single that he converts on the edge for a takedown and the first three points of the dual. Smith escaped quickly but Ayala scored on another leg attack. It's 6-1, another escape makes it 6-2, and Smith drives Ayala out of bounds and Ayala gets dinged for stalling. Period ends 6-2. 

2nd period: Smith chooses down, he sits and stands quickly. Smith escapes to make it 6-3 with only 34 seconds of riding time for Ayala. Once again its a leg attack for Ayala but Smith hops out of bounds and there's no takedown, nor stall call. Ayala was back in on a shot but Smmith was stills scrambling as time ran out in the period. Still 6-3. 

3rd period: Ayala chooses down but Smith says take the point and lets stand up. 7-3 and the final period resumes. Ayala back on a single leg but Smith dive rolls and wrestles to a stalemate. RT not a factor with one minute to go. The four point lead gives Ayala some cushion as his pace begins to slow. High crotch for Ayala and he's threatening again. Smith once again scrambles to a stalemates but he's down to short time and trails by four. Ayala keeps the pressure on and it'll be a 7-3 decision for Iowa and one of the first toss-ups (on paper anyway) goes to the Hawkeyes.

Iowa 3, Nebraska 0

133: #9 Brody Teske, Iowa vs #32 Jacob Van Dee, Nebraska

1st period: Tough ties and hand fighting but no scores half way through the period. Teske is from Fort Dodge Iowa and spent some time at both Penn State and Northern Iowa. Van Dee is a Pennsylvanian from Erie. And late in the second Van Dee strikes on a low shot and collects two angles for three. Teske fighting furiously for the escape and he'll get it to make it 3-1 before the period ends. 

2nd period: Van Dee will go underneath and Teske will go to work on top trailing by 2. Tough ride but Van Dee reaches back and frees himself. Teske has 42 seconds of RT and goes right back in on a shot. Van Dee dives for an ankle and scrambles. And now its Van Dee coming out again for another takedown and it's 7-1 for the Husker! Teske right out and he drives Van Dee out of bounds in short time and Van Dee gets hit for stalling. 7-2 going into the third. 

3rd period: Teske chooses down and he's out quickly to make it 7-3. Teske attacking. Teske throws a headlock but Van Dee pops his head free and drops down to the legs. He'll get another takedown and it's 10-3 late in the third. Nebraska coaches telling Van Dee to cut and go for the major. Can Dee complies but the match will end still 10-4. Huge win for Van Dee and the Cornhuskers. The score is tied after two bouts!

Iowa 3, Nebraska 3

141: #1 Real Woods, Iowa vs #8 Brock Hardy, Nebraska

1st period: Action right away for this massive bout. Hardy from Utah, Woods from Stanford by way of New Mexico. Fuunky scramble ends in a stalemate and they're back on their feed and scrapping. Woods drops down on a single in a lightening fast strike. Hardy goes rubber knee. Kinda gross the way it's bent, but Hardy put himself in that position and the ref wisely lets the action continue. Hardy tries to roll through but Woods would let him out of his clutches and he'll get the three. Woods rides out the period and it's 3-0 with 40 some seconds of RT. 

2nd period: Woods chooses down and he's up quickly, preserving 39 seconds of riding time. 4-0 now. And the period ends in natural, not a lot of scrambling and the score still 4-0. 

3rd period: Hardy chooses neutral. There's a scramble, Hardy fights off Woods, but not the duck under re-attack and Woods collects three more! It's 7-0 and Woods now has RT over a minute. Woods beat Hardy three times last season, with the last result being a major. Woods trying to ride out for another major. But he's been hit with stalling and gives up a point. The escape makes it 7-2 but the riding time point makes it 8-2 and Woods wins by decision. 

Iowa 6, Nebraska 3

149: #14 Caleb Rathjen, Iowa vs #1 Ridge Lovett, Nebraska

1st period: Idaho native Lovett will be favored to at least tie the score again against another native Iowan in Rathen (pronounced raw-chee). Not a ton of action until close to two minutes in and Lovett gets a single, goes hip to hip, then nearly has Rathjen but Rathjen Houdini's his way free and it's still 0-0. That's how the period ends. 

2nd period. Lovett goes underneath and he's out in seven seconds. Lovett goes on the attack, Rathjen backing away and he's given up a stall call. 2-0 Lovett with short time left in the period. 2-0 as we go to the third. 

3rd period: Rathjen chooses neutral, wisely avoiding going underneath Lovett, who is extremely good on top. Shot by Lovett, nice reattack by Rathjen but the re-reattack by Lovett is even better and it's his takedown to make it 5-0. Under a minute to go. Lovett will ride out the period but get no turns. He will run RT over a minute to make it a 6-0 decision for Ridge Lovett, tying the score again. 

Iowa 6, Nebraska 6

157: #2 Jared Franek, Iowa vs #3 Peyton Robb, Nebraska

1st period: Franek, a North Dakota State grad transfer, who is also originally from Fargo, takes on Robb, a Minnesotan who is has fully recovered from a horrific infection of his leg that caused him to withdraw from the last day of the 2023 NCAA tournament. This is a top 5 match and highest ranked matchup of the evening. A couple of flurries set the tone for a bruising bout. And then Robb needs a head wrap to stop some bleeding. Back in action, Robb picks an ankle, has Franek dead to rights but Franek reaches back and whips Robb over and they're back to neutral. No takedown! But there's a challenge brick from Mark Manning. Call upheld, still 0-0. One of the best flurries we'll see in the match. Period ends 0-0.

2nd period: Franek chooses down, and is out quickly for the first score. Robb down on a leg and this time Robb keeps Franek on the mat and finishes for three. Franek is out after a short interval and it's 3-2. Second period ends same score.

3rd period: Robb gets a turn on bottom. He's out quickly. Riding time not a factor, Robb leads 4-2. A takedown by Franek will give him the lead. A minute left in the match and Franek is in on a shot. Had a double but Robb pulled a leg back, then jumped out of bounds. No score but Robb picked up a stall. Double leg for Franek. And he finishes. Huge takedown. 5-4 lead, 30 seconds to go. Franek putting on a ride. Robb can't break free. Franek will take it with the clutch TD, 5-4. 

Iowa 9, Nebraska 6

165: #7 Michael Caliendo, Iowa vs #16 Antrell Taylor, Nebraska

1st period: Iowa has to like how things are going at the halfway mark, though Nebraska still very much in this. Caliendo, another NDSU transfer, though he has three years of eligibility left, is from the Chicago area. Taylor is a native Nebraskan and is a redshirt freshman. Calieno strikes first with a fireman's that turns into a dump that the converts for three. Taylor escapes after 28 seconds of riding time. No more scores in the period and it's 3-1. 

2nd period: Caliendo chooses down and escapes in no time. He then goes in on a shot and converts again to make it 7-1. Taylor finally escapes after Caleindo racked up over a minute of riding time. It's 7-2 at the end of the period. 

3rd period: Taylor elects to go down again. Taylor is out quickly. Caliendo pushing for the major. He's up 7-3. A takedown and rideout will give him the major. Good defense from Taylor and Caliendo will have to settle for the regular decision. Riding time point makes it 8-3. 

Iowa 12, Nebraska 6

174: Patrick Kennedy vs #19 Bubba Wilson, Nebraska

1st period: No Arnold so it'll be Kennedy, originally from Minnesota, vs Wilson, originally from Kansas. Slow start in the first minute or so. Now a low laser shot by Wilson. He finishes for the first score. Kennedy gets mat returned but is back up and out quickly to make it 3-1. Now Kennedy answers with a low double of his own and he converts for the 4-3 lead. A rideout would be big. And he gets it. Period ends 4-3. 

2nd period: Wilson will go underneath. Kennedy putting on a good ride but Wilson is free with 48 seconds on the RT clock in Kennedy's favor. 4-4 halfway thru the second. Kennedy shoots Wilson out of bounds and Wilson gets dinged for stalling. The ref has been quick on the stall calls but for the most part consistent. Period ends still tied.

3rd period: Kennedy chooses bottom. He escapes but not before Wilson gets the RT clock under a minute. There's a scramble, and Kennedy comes out on top for the thee points and with the escape now holds an 8-4 lead. Riding over a minute again. Wilson escapes to make it 8-5. A takedown and rideout for Kennedy would give him the major (thank you three-point TD). Wilson survives the first attack. And the second. And Wilson fends off a furious third period from Kennedy to keep things to a decision. 9-5 is the final with the RT point. Nothing but decisions so far, Iowa extends their lead. 

Iowa 15, Nebraska 6

184: Aiden Riggins, Iowa vs #3 Lenny Pinto, Nebraska

1st period: Riggins fires a shot off the whistle. He's a native Iowan. Pinto is from the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania. Pinto nearly countered for a takedown. It's still 0-0 after a minute. Lots of hand fighting but it's goose eggs on the scoreboard after one. 

2nd period: Pinto has choice and he takes bottom. He's out in just a few seconds. Pinto attacks, gets a leg, threatens to lock up a cradle and covers for three over a flattened Riggins. Riggins escapes and its 4-1. Pinto with a quick attack and he goes up 7- in short time. Riggins escapes with just a second left to keep it to a 7-2 lead. 

3rd period. Riggins underneath and Pinto wants points. He goes into catch and release mode. Pinto snags a couple of takedowns but Riggins isn't making it easy. There's a scramble late in the third, Pinto in danger of losing the major but Pinto corrals him and it's a 16-5 major and the first bonus win of the day. 

Iowa 15, Nebraska 10

197: #25 Zach Glazier, Iowa vs #13 Silas Allred, Nebraska

1st period: Indiana native Allred is the favorite over Minnesota native Glazier in a must-win bout for Nebraska. Glazier scores first though with a leg attack that he finishes cleanly. Allred escapes after 26 seconds. Collar ties for most of the rest of the period. And it ends 3-1. 

2nd period. Allred goes underneath. Glazier puts a solid ride on before Allred escapes. Riding time over a minute. Allred on the attack, but its a counter from Glazier and another takedown. Glazier goes up 6-2. He'll get the rideout and things are looking up for the Hawkeyes. 

3rd period: Glazier's takes a turn on bottom and is out quickly. 7-2 now with a minute to go. Glazier charging ahead but Glazier holding tight. In short time Glazier goes in on a shot, defended but then a second shot seals the deal. Add on the riding time point and its a 11-2. Major for Glazier and the team win is secured for Iowa!

Iowa 19, Nebraska 10

285: Bradley Hill, Iowa vs Nash Hutmacher, Nebraska

1st period: We won't get football on football but we will get Hutmacher. Size advantage for Hutmacher, as the broadcast explained that Nash lost about 45 pounds since football season. Hill is not backing down. He pushes Hutmacher out of bounds and Hutmacher gets dinged for stalling. 0-0 after one period though. 

2nd period: Hutmacher chooses down. He escapes after 8 seconds and has a lead. He's got one other varsity bout under his belt, a pin in the first period against Wyoming. More big man battling but no scores. 1-0 after one period. 

3rd period: Hill's turn underneath. He's out in 9 seconds to tie it up. More battling. Hutmacher trying to make something happen. Hill keeping him at bay. Short time, Hill makes his move. Single leg, to a double. And Hill will get the clutch takedown. The ride out, or maybe an escape with one second to go, either way it's moot, Hill downs the Polar Bear and Iowa wins seven bouts and takes the dual handily!

Iowa 22, Nebraska 10

Incredible performance by Iowa to win all but one of the 'toss-up' bouts and hand Nebraska a double digit loss in Lincoln. Several quality choices for dual meet MVP but I'd have to give it to Glazier, who is quietly having an undefeated season who will no doubt see his ranking improve. 

That's all for tonight. Sorry for the typos and see you next time!