The moment every wrestling fan was waiting for is here. The brackets and seedings for the Big Ten Championships have been announced. And if there is one man who is looking simply unstoppable, it is Gable Steveson. With an impeccable streak of 63 straight wins, Gable is finally on the foothills of glory. A third NCAA title seems just around the corner. And the first man in his way is No. 9 seed Seth Nevills. But how is the man of the hour himself feeling before his match? Well let’s see.

Now, it is no news that Steveson dominated proceedings in the NCAA regular season. Going undefeated, the Gopher has been crossing names on his mad run to the top of the NCAA rankings. But this has also gotten him quite a bit of hate from the fans. But as the final season of Golden Gabe’s career is kicking into fifth gear, some people wanted some answers.

One of them being the Big Ten Network.  In his interview with the sports network, Steveson was asked about his future plans. Stating the obvious, the Gophers’ star stated, “Man, enjoying myself, having a good time, scoring a lot of points, and just dominating.” Next up, the Olympian issued some stern warnings to his potential opponents. Steveson said, “You know, there’s a lot of guys out here that are trying to claim their spot, respectfully so, but I’m here to stay and I want it.”

Now that is quite a statement to make, because just the other day, Penn State coach Cael Sanderson issued quite a warning to Steveson. But why shouldn’t he? After all, Penn State has been enjoying a comfortable sport atop the NCAA rankings throughout the 2025 season. Yet there is one spot where they were pushed to No. 2. And the one who did it is none other than Gable himself.

And the man who was pushed to number two is also none other than Gable’s old rival Gerg Kerkvliet. Much like Steveson, Greg too has enjoyed an unbeaten run this season. Thus, posing one of the biggest threats to Steveson, the game between the two is expected to be an absolute banger. Coach Sanderson stated, “Greg just needs to be Greg and just kind of do what he does and compete freely because he’s really, really good.”

Now, that’s one way to make things interesting!  And with Steveson looking focused, the wrestling fans will surely be treated to some exquisite performances. Unfortunately, despite all the heroics from the Olympian, his team has been on and off the success chart. Here’s what Steveson has to say about that.

Cael Sanderson’s bold prediction for Greg Kerkvliet’s Clash With Gable Steveson

Penn State head coach Cael Sanderson isn’t overcomplicating things when it comes to Greg Kerkvliet’s high-stakes matchup against Gable Steveson. With the Big Ten Championship finals set for Sunday, Sanderson’s advice for Kerkvliet is refreshingly straightforward. Sanderson stated, “Greg just needs to be Greg and just kind of do what he does and compete freely because he’s really, really good.”.

Now, as it appears, Sanderson’s confidence isn’t baseless. Kerkvliet has been quietly building momentum, riding a 36-match win streak and proving his dominance with an NCAA title already to his name. But Steveson, the 2021 Olympic gold medalist, holds the edge in their past meetings, securing decisive victories in their 2021 and 2022 NCAA Championship bouts.

However, Sanderson believes that Kerkvliet’s growth since then could make the difference this time. “Greg is a student of the game. And he’s always playing with different techniques and trying to advance what he’s doing and improve,” Sanderson added. He further continued, “I think he’s gotten a lot better every year since he’s been here. Every year there’s been… significant changes.”

This is more than just a show of faith. It’s a calculated assessment from one of wrestling’s greatest minds. Sanderson sees in Kerkvliet a competitor who has not only closed the gap but also evolved his strategy to challenge even the likes of Steveson. With Sanderson’s backing and Kerkvliet’s refined skill set, the Big Ten final isn’t just another title match—it’s a proving ground. If Kerkvliet competes with the freedom Sanderson urges, the wrestling world could be in for an upset.