Bo Bassett’s college decision had been one of the most closely watched storylines in the wrestling world. Universities all over the country wanted Bassett, a standout player with an unmatched high school record, to play for them, so they offered him everything they had, hoping that he could be the next college or Olympic superstar. There was so much speculation from fans and analysts, and they examined every clue, every visit, and every little detail that might influence his decision. Now, Bassett has decided on his college, and many questions persist.

Did he find a powerhouse with a track record of winning national titles? A program that best matched his long-term career goals? Or, as some people thought, would the decision be driven by financial incentives? When the truth came to light, the reviews were immediate and, in some respects, controversial. FloWrestling has posted Bo Bassett’s decision, but fans are not backing up his decision properly. The caption of the post reads, “It’s official! Bo Bassett makes his college wrestling commitment to the University of Iowa.” Yes, it’s official; Bassett is joining Iowa after being pursued by nearly 80 colleges.

The Bishop McCort wrestler chose Iowa over Virginia Tech, Penn State, and Oklahoma State. With a smile, Bassett reflected on his decision, “I think this is a dream.” One of the sport’s most sought-after prospects in history is Bassett. The 2024 PIAA Champion has amassed a social media following of over 206,000 followers across three platforms, a stellar high school record of 110-0, and a wealth of experience in international contests. Now, what does Bo Bassett have to say about his decision to choose Iowa over others?

According to Yahoo News, Bassett said, “I knew I wanted to wrestle in college probably in my first year (competing). It’s been about nine or ten years now knowing that I wanted to be an Iowa Hawkeye, so I’m really excited to be here. (This moment doesn’t even seem real.” Bassett’s decision to join Iowa wasn’t just about the present—it was a dream nearly a decade in the making.

Inspired by Hawkeye legend Spencer Lee, he now finds himself training alongside his idol, reinforcing the revitalized Young Guns-to-Iowa pipeline. He further added, “I grew up looking up to Spencer Lee, and now we’re going to be teammates working in the room almost every day, and I can’t wait to learn from him. The Young Guns to Iowa pipeline is real. It went away for a couple of years, but it’s back.” Having said that, referring to himself as the one who dreamed of being in the same team they have now, he adds that the situation appears to have occurred by itself. But fans don’t seem much happy.

Money talks? Fans react to Bo Bassett’s Iowa commitment with mixed feelings

Bo Bassett’s commitment to the University of Iowa has ignited a spectrum of reactions within the wrestling community, reflecting both support and skepticism. Fans are claiming that Bassett might have decided due to money. One wrestling fan wrote, “God had nothing to do with it, that’s clear. Just say they offered the most money. Nobody blames the dude. That’s life-changing money. But don’t pick the school that is the least religious and about their faith and say it was God.” Some observers question the authenticity of attributing his decision to divine guidance, suggesting that financial incentives played a significant role.

Another fandom, “I’m pretty sure the kid’s decision was influenced by money. His whole recruitment process has shown him to be a money-hungry kind of dude, and, well, it shows in his move as he ignored some big names to go to the team that won’t come close for championships.”

Ever since the rule change in the NCAA brought forth the introduction of NIL, student-athletes attracting substantial brand deals have gone up. And for someone of Bassett’s stature, who already enters collegiate wrestling with significant popularity and stellar performance, he is estimated to benefit more than any wrestler in history. Wrestling insiders claim that the 17-year-old could get $5 million during his career at Iowa while, if we listen to the claims floating on the Internet, it is as high as $10 million.

Conversely, many recognize Bassett as a generational talent deserving of substantial compensation. One wrestling fan wrote, “A generational talent deserves generational 💰. I hope he got what he deserves and excels at the next level. The Iowa/PSU rivalry just got a little tougher moving forward and is a net positive for college wrestling.”

The Iowa-Penn State wrestling rivalry has been fierce, with Iowa leading the all-time series 28–14–2. However, Penn State has dominated in recent years, winning eight of the last ten dual meets, including a commanding 30–8 victory in 2025. Since Cael Sanderson took over as head coach in 2009, Penn State has won 12 NCAA team titles, cementing its dominance.

Another fan wrote, “Congratulations, but I don’t think that was the best decision if he wants to do more after college, and they never will get a team national championship while he is there either. Penn State would have been the better choice, and I am not a Penn State fan.” 

While a few fans are looking forward to seeing Bassett with Iowa, a few are not very happy and want him to choose Penn State. As one fan commented, “Bo won’t be winning natty titles like PSU.” Another wrote, “Nice, just to lose to Nebraska every year.” I mean, if we take a quick look at the head-to-head then, Iowa State has won 81 matches against Nebraska and lost only 15.

One fandom has full confidence in him, as the comment reads, “He’s going to have a great college career no matter where he is selected. Iowa is the easy financial choice. Not sure it’s the right coaching and training decision, but you shouldn’t wish anything bad on the kid.” Indeed, that’s the most mature support one sports lover can show to a player.

Only time will tell whether Bassett’s decision was driven by passion, financial incentives, or both. Will he silence the critics and carve out a legendary career at Iowa, or will the doubts surrounding his choice prove valid?