If last year’s showdown between #4 Nebraska and #9 Northern Iowa is any indication, then wrestling fans are in for a treat when these two teams meet on Sunday, January 5, at 1 p.m. CT in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Click below to watch the dual live on FloWrestling. 

Nebraska won, 18-17, on criteria when heavyweight Tyrell Gordon tied the score 17-17 with a 9-1 major decision during the last match. Silas Allred’s late fall over Wyatt Voelker at 197 was the difference with each team notching five wins and each team losing a team point. 

Will it be more of the same at the McLeod Center? Both teams enter with spotless dual records and successful outings at the Cliff Keen-Las Vegas Invitational on December 6-7. Nebraska finished second and Northern Iowa sixth during the individual tournament format. 

The Cornhuskers are favored in six of 10 matches, but that hardly matters here. Northern Iowa won two swing matches last year during a dual where Nebraska was favored. 

Probable Match-ups

125: #5 Caleb Smith (NEB) vs Kyle Gollhofer (UNI) or Trever Anderson (UNI)
133: #21 Jacob Van Dee (NEB) vs #32 Cory Land (UNI)  or Julien Farber (UNI)
141: #5 Brock Hardy (NEB) or Blake Cushing (NEB) vs #9 Cael Happel (UNI)
149: #5 Ridge Lovett (NEB) vs #15 Colin Realbuto (UNI)
157: #4 Antrell Taylor (NEB) vs #5 Ryder Downey (UNI)
165: #7 Bubba Wilson (NEB) or Chris Minto (NEB) vs #19 Jack Thomsen (UNI) or Nick Fox (UNI)
174: #16 Lenny Pinto (NEB) vs #14 Jared Simma (UNI)
184: #7 Silas Allred (NEB) vs #2 Parker Keckeisen (UNI)
197: #29 Camden McDanel (NEB) vs #13 Wyatt Voelker (UNI)
285: #28 Harley Andrews (NEB) or Matthew Moore (NEB) vs #17 Lance Runyon (UNI) or Adam Ahrendsen (UNI)

Welcome Back To Iowa, Mark

This is a homecoming of sorts for Nebraska head coach Mark Manning. His head coaching career began at Northern Iowa with a three-season stint (1997-2000) that saw him bring the Panthers back to national prominence with an 11th-place finish at the 2000 NCAA Championships. It also marks the first time Nebraska will compete in the McLeod Center.

Circle 157 Pounds

No match holds more meaning than 157 pounds. #4 Antrell Taylor (NEB) and #5 Ryder Downey square off in a rematch of the CKLV finals on December 7, which Taylor won. It was high drama in the second period when Downey tilted Taylor out of bounds but only received two one-counts. Taylor reversed the position and earned two near fall, enough for a 4-3 win. 

Not only is the marquee match of the meet, but this could decide the dual. The significance of this match can’t be overstated for the dual, seeding, and bragging rights. 

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Antrell Taylor defeated Ryder Downey in the CKLV finals, 4-3

Northern Iowa Needs To Win Early

The Cornhuskers are favored in six of the first 10 weights (125-165) and the Panthers are favored in the last four. It’s paramount that UNI notches an early win or two to keep the dual within reach — especially if it starts at 125. #9 Cael Happel wasn’t favored against #5 Brock Hardy last year, but he secured an 11-8 sudden victory win for his team to keep pace. Will he pull off the upset again in his backyard?

Another CKLV Rematch

At 174 pounds, #14 Jared Simma (UNI) defeated #16 Lenny Pinto (Nebraska), 14-8, at the Cliff Keen-Las Vegas Invitational. This is another swing match as both teams will likely need a win at a crucial point. 

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Jared Simma defeated Lenny Pinto during a consolation match at the Cliff Keen-Las Vegas Invite

Will Keckeisen Secure Bonus Points?

Returning NCAA champion Parker Keckeisen is 2-0 against Silas Allred, winning 8-4 and 11-2. Assuming the dual doesn’t get out of hand, Keckeisen’s ability to score bonus points will be front and center. He secured a tech over Elise Brown Ton last year and has a 75% bonus point rate this season. 

Will It Come Down To Heavyweight?

It could be high drama if #28 Harley Andrews (NEB) and #17 Lance Runyon (UNI) square off during the final match of the dual. Andrews injury defaulted to Runyon at the Cliff Keen-Las Vegas Invitational, giving Runyon a slight edge entering the dual.

Runyon is down to his senior year after qualifying for the NCAA Championships twice at 174 pounds. He moved to 285 after an injury-plagued career with limited action the last two seasons. 

Line-ups

#4 Nebraska (5-0)
125: #5 Caleb Smith, SR (11-2) or Kael Lauridsen, FR (3-1)
133: #21 Jacob Van Dee, SO (5-5)
141: #5 Brock Hardy, JR (12-1) or Blake Cushing, JR (3-2)
149: #5 Ridge Lovett, SR (8-1)
157: #4 Antrell Taylor, SO (13-0)
165: #7 Bubba Wilson, SR (9-4) or Chris Minto, FR (12-0)
174: #16 Lenny Pinto, JR (11-3) or LJ Araujo, FR (7-3)
184: #7 Silas Allred, JR (11-0) or Ethan DeLeon, FR (10-2)
197: #29 Camden McDanel, FR (12-4)
285: #28 Harley Andrews, SO (8-5) or Matthew Moore, FR (0-1)

Returning All-Americans
125: Caleb Smith, 6th
141: Brock Hardy, 6th-3rd
149: Ridge Lovett, 2nd-6th
157: Antrell Taylor, 8th

#9 Northern Iowa (3-0)
125: Kyle Gollhofer, SR (8-6) or Trever Anderson, SO (8-3)
133: #32 Cory Land, SO (8-1) or Julien Farber, JR (4-2)
141: #9 Cael Happel, SR (10-2)
149: #15 Colin Realbuto, SR (8-3)
157: #5 Ryder Downey, SO (12-1)
165: #19 Jack Thomsen, SR (8-4)
174: #14 Jared Simma, JR (13-5) or Nick Fox, FR (11-4)
184: #2 Parker Keckeisen, SR (8-0)
197: #13 Wyatt Voelker, SO (11-3)
285: #17 Lance Runyon, SR (10-2)

Returning All-American
184: Parker Keckeisen, 3rd-3rd-2nd-1st

Last Year's Result

JAN. 6, 2024 - NEBRASKA 18, UNI 17
125: Caleb Smith (NEB) dec. Trever Anderson (UNI), 4-1 SV-1
133: Julian Farber (UNI) dec. Jacob Van Dee (NEB), 8-1
141: Cael Happel (UNI) dec. Brock Hardy (NEB), 11-8 SV-1
149: Ridge Lovett (NEB) dec. Cael Rahnavardi (UNI), 7-1
157: Ryder Downey (UNI) dec. Peyton Robb (NEB), 6-5
165: Antrell Taylor (NEB) dec. RJ Weston (UNI), 6-3
174: Bubba Wilson (NEB) dec. Jared Simma (UNI), 3-1
184: Parker Keckeisen (UNI) tech. Elise Brown Ton (NEB), 17-2 (5:37)
197: Silas Allred (NEB) pinned Wyatt Voelker (UNI), Fall 5:53
HWT: Tyrell Gordon (UNI) maj. dec. Harley Andrews (NEB), 9-1

Match History (Last Five)

January 6, 2024: Nebraska 18, UNI 17
November 24, 2019: Nebraska 23, UNI 19
January 12, 2019: Nebraska 22, UNI 12
February 19, 2012: Nebraska 26, UNI 16
January 23, 2011: Nebraska 18, UNI 15