In 2023, Bo Bassett famously made a list of 80 different programs he was interested in. “I am keeping my options wide open. I am very excited for the process and to see where I fit into programs when the time comes,” he wrote back then. But earlier this month, he narrowed it down to just four names: Iowa, Penn State, Oklahoma State, and Virginia Tech. Well, on Tuesday, he announced his commitment to Iowa wrestling. 

“Maybe it wasn’t an easy decision, but it was the right decision,” Bassett said during the commitment stream. “And I’m eager to be a Hawk. Iowa is an empire.” Penn State is surely dejected by the outcome, but what does the head coach have to say about his program’s recruitment?

In an interview, head coach Cael Sanderson stated, “No. We like where we’re at; we liked and loved the kids. We have in the program and the kids we have coming into the program, I think you know, obviously, our greatest route, uh, recruiting tool, is just, you know, we’re going to help you, um, get to the top of the mountain and whatever that means to you. You know you’re going to reach your highest levels and you know to us, obviously, it’s about kind of helping and preparing you with a certain lifestyle and mentality and approach that, that’s going to benefit you for the rest of your life. I mean, that’s what we want.

“We want to create kids who go out there and make a difference in the world and do what they want to do, whatever that might be. It might be the sport of wrestling, it might be outside of the sport of wrestling, but you know, that’s what we have been blessed to be able to do. And that’s our, out greatest recruiting pitch is kind of see what we are doing. Just not like, ‘Hey, what are we going to do?’ It’s like this is what we are doing. So that makes it a lot easier.”

Then, on February 6, Bo Nickal—now a UFC fighter and still one of the most influential names from Penn State’s wrestling dynasty—dropped a post on X that hit 22.4K views. In it, he shared Cael Sanderson’s take on PSU’s recruiting game. Nickal’s caption was just a “🎯,” a mic-drop moment that declared: Even if Bassett picked Iowa, Penn State’s vision and legacy are still rock solid.

This raw, unfiltered vibe from Sanderson reinforced that Penn State isn’t just about winning one recruit—it’s about building a legacy. And such a path is possible under the guidance of Sanderson (after all, 11 NCAA titles is no easy feat!). Just take the example of Tyler Kasak, who helped achieve the prominence it has today. Coming in at 157 pounds, the No. 3 team-ranked wrestler took the No. 1 spot, defeating Jacori Teemer, becoming the highlight performance of the BJC Dual.

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Debate

So, it is safe to deduce that the Nittany Lions are not much affected by the decision of the 17-year-old Bassett. But then again, it’s surely a big gain for the Hawkeyes.

Bo Bassett’s journey to Iowa was a long one!

Bassett’s journey to choosing a college was as epic as his wrestling stats. After attracting attention from over 80 Division I programs, it was Iowa that finally made the cut.

His standout performance at the 144-pound Ironman Tournament—capping it off with a 6-0 tech fall over Carlos Stanton—proved he’s the top 2026 prospect, and every program wanted a piece of that brilliance.

His decision to join the Hawkeyes was perhaps fueled by his admiration for Spencer Lee. Bassett called Hawkeyes legend his favorite wrestler of all-time in an interview with Flowrestling. Lee was the three-time NCAA Champion and Iowa’s second five-time All-American. But coming back to Bassett, even Rutgers got in on the mix by extending an invite during a match against PSU, showing just how high the stakes were.

And let’s not forget, while Bassett’s pick is a huge win for Iowa, Penn State’s fire isn’t going out. Just look at their recent 30-8 win over Iowa, witnessed by an exact crowd of 15,998 fans, powering a perfect 10-0 season record.

Meanwhile, Cael Sanderson’s recruiting philosophy remains as on point as ever. He is not just about scoring wins on the mat—he is about shaping champions for life. Bo Nickal perfectly captures the message: despite the setback with recruiting, Penn State’s future is still laser-focused.

The program’s commitment to developing not just wrestlers, but well-rounded game-changers, is what keeps the legacy alive and kicking. What do you think?