The wait is finally over—AJ Ferrari is finally going to get to put himself to the test in front of top-caliber opponents. After returning to NCAA wrestling, Ferrari has annihilated opponents but has been questioned by critics on one glaring point: he has not yet competed against a top-10 opponent. Now, that all changes as CSU Bakersfield hosts North Dakota State and Little Rock to set up for Ferrari’s biggest challenge to date against Stephen Little.

Since making his wrestling return, Ferrari has run through unranked and lower-ranked wrestlers. While strength, technique, and power have all been showcased in abundance, people have questioned how he would fare with upper-rank wrestlers. Now, all eyes will turn to how he performs in his matchup with Stephen Little, who has struggled in bouts with upper-rank wrestlers despite having himself at the rank of #7. Little has already lost matchups to other upper-10 wrestlers in Luke Surber and Eric Barr, so that makes this matchup an ideal scenario for Ferrari to make his mark.

A win would make him officially one of the country’s greatest, proving that he’s not only coming back but coming back to where he’s meant to be: at the top of their game. This fight is going to be one of the weekend’s most eagerly-awaited contests.

Ferrari’s journey has not followed conventional lines. Once a national champion and red-hot prospect, he was met by setbacks that kept him off the mats. With a flawless record on the mat so far this year, he has run roughshod over opponents, but wrestling has yet to see him against tough opposition. This matchup with Little might give him the reinforcement he needs in his comeback year.

The bigger picture: what this means for AJ Ferrari’s season

Beyond this contest, this fight is important for CSU Bakersfield’s NCAA title hopes. Although AJ Ferrari’s name still holds stature, seeding for the national tourney and rankings hinge on what opponents he has. Beating a top-10 opponent will pad his record and put to rest all of the criticism that he’s not yet March-ready. Suppose Ferrari demolishes Little like he has annihilated other opponents in the past. In that case, it’ll make it obvious to everybody that he is not only coming to fight but to take back his position at the top of the wrestling rankings.

Ferrari’s confidence has never faltered before, but tomorrow’s game shall reveal how much that confidence is truly justified. All wrestlers at that level have points to prove of their own, and for Ferrari, the stakes have never been higher than they are now. All that he has accomplished in the past only means that he has greatness within him, but greatness is only realized on the wrestling mat.

This dual has implications that go far beyond how well Ferrari wins. Such duals naturally have implications for conference rankings, and the matchup of Ferrari with Little is only one of several to watch closely. North Dakota State enters the weekend looking to maintain its dominance in Big 12 competition, while CSU Bakersfield and Little Rock look to make their own statement.

In the college wrestling world, no guarantees hold true, and every matchup has the potential for new storylines to develop. Ferrari comes in the spotlight with all that pressure on him, and how he performs or doesn’t perform will be in focus all year long. Today is not only another game—it’s AJ Ferrari’s testing ground. If he reigns supreme, he secures his comeback as one of the greatest in living memory. If he fails, things get much darker in the future. Either way, wrestling fans have their eyes on him.