When ESPN put David Taylor’s Cowboys wrestling duals in the spotlight, it felt like a huge W for college wrestling fans. Finally, the sport was getting some serious national attention, right? But hold up—this isn’t exactly the breakthrough it seems. While it’s awesome to see Oklahoma State getting airtime, there’s more to the story. ESPN’s peak interest in wrestling might not just be about passion for the sport; it’s more about being strategic.

So here’s the real deal—ESPN doesn’t have the rights to air major NFL playoff games like the NFC Championship. So, what do they do? They turn to niche sports like wrestling to keep the screens busy. But let’s be real—if ESPN ever secures those big football rights, wrestling wouldn’t even be a blip on their radar.

ESPN’s wrestling coverage might just be a placeholder

ESPN isn’t suddenly in love with college wrestling—they’re just making moves to stay relevant. Since they don’t own the rights to the biggest NFL playoff games, they need something to fill those empty weekend slots. Enter wrestling. It’s got a dedicated fanbase, but it’s not exactly their first pick. But for now, the Cowboys’ upcoming dual against Iowa State on January 26 is set to be nationally televised on ESPN at 4 p.m. CT, marking a notable event for the sport.

Coming back to it, do you need proof if that could be the case? Well, let’s see. ESPN’s recent Chiefs vs. Texans divisional playoff game pulled in 32.7 million viewers, making it their biggest game since 1987. Compare that to wrestling’s niche audience, and it’s obvious what their real priority is. Even with football, ESPN’s ratings took a hit—like the 13% drop in viewership for their wild-card game between the Rams and Vikings compared to last year.

That drop probably got them scrambling for fresh content to hold attention, and wrestling just happened to be around. Giving stance to the proof, Seth Duckworth, a wrestling journalist who covers high school and college wrestling across Oklahoma for @O__Wrestler has replied in a post on X, stating, “If wrestling wants to get on National TV
they have to have big events the same time as the NFL. That’s the draw for ESPN. They don’t have rights to the AFC/
NFC Championship this weekend. So what do they do? Put a niche sport like wrestling on with OSU/Iowa State.”

And check this out—ESPN’s wrestling coverage might look impressive, but more than 165 out of 200+ events are streamed on ESPN+, not even making it to mainstream TV. They’re stacking their digital platform with wrestling content while keeping their prime slots open for bigger sports. If that doesn’t scream ‘filler content,’ what does?

What happens when Football comes back?

Let’s be honest—college wrestling’s time in the ESPN spotlight has an expiration date. The network has already locked in deals to broadcast the Super Bowl in 2027 and 2031, alongside heavy hitters like Fox, CBS, and NBC. Once ESPN secures more football rights, you can bet wrestling will get pushed back to streaming platforms like ESPN+ and ACCNX, where nearly 20 extra wrestling events already live.

We’re already seeing the shift. ESPN placed Oklahoma State’s big match against NC State on ESPNU—not exactly prime-time material. Meanwhile, their focus is still on reclaiming football dominance. With Fox and CBS handling the major playoff games, ESPN is left trying to stay in the mix until they can get back in on the action.

Bottom line—wrestling fans should enjoy the ride while it lasts but don’t get too comfy. ESPN’s focus isn’t on building the sport; it’s on filling time. When the NFL takes over again, wrestling will be back on the sidelines, watching from ESPN+. What’s your take on this? Comment below!