The wrestling world is in for a big shocker as Rocco Welsh is set to go back to the Keystone State! A few hours ago, the former Ohio State wrestler and 2024 All-American made it official, pledging his next chapter to Penn State. After entering the transfer portal on March 27, it didn’t take long for him to land in the Nittany Lions’ den, making his commitment on March 30. And let’s be real, this is yet another massive win for head coach Cael Sanderson and his squad, who have been on an absolute tear, stacking up talent fresh off clinching their fourth straight NCAA title.

Welsh’s time in Columbus was short but eventful—after finishing runner-up to five-time champ Carter Starocci in the 174-pound finals; as a sophomore, Welsh moved up to 184 but did not become a varsity wrestler. Instead, he competed as an independent in freestyle events and won all of his matches at 11-0. And just as the dust starts to settle, NCAA insiders are already buzzing about what’s next for the Buckeyes post-Welsh heartbreak—because you know the transfer portal action isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

Just as the Buckeyes were tending to their wounds from Rocco Welsh’s departure, The Wrestling Room’s Pat Mineo dropped a game-changing update for Ohio State on X on March 30. “Don’t worry Ohio State fans, help may be on the way…” And just like that, the tide might be turning. According to inside sources, “ISU’s Cody Chittum is expected to sign with the Buckeyes, while UNC All-American Lachlan McNeil also has them in his final few.” Sounds like Ohio State isn’t waving the white flag just yet—#PortalWars is alive and kicking!

Cody Chittum is a true freshman in 2023-24, who has had some moments already. The man accumulated a 16-7 record and amassed 10 bonus-point victories as if they were mere candies (5 technical falls and 5 major decisions for those keeping score). He even snagged a spot at the NCAA Championships, picking up a win and putting points on the board for his squad.

Then, on the other side, there’s Lachlan McNeil—a seasoned competitor who had his third year at Chapel Hill and dominated the season at 141 pounds. Twenty-four wins? Check. Fourteen ranked victories? Yep, he did that too. As you can already tell, he does not lack experience. And if Ohio State manages to sign both of these powerhouses? Whew. That could be just the spark they need to level up and make a serious statement on the mat.

Ohio State had a decent year, but they can get better

Ohio State Wrestling ended the 2025 Big Ten Championships with a total of 95.5 points, which put the team in the sixth position and just behind Illinois. Meanwhile, Penn State once again flexed its dominance, clinching the title for the third straight year with a monster 181.5 points. But for the Buckeyes, it was not the end of the journey yet! On March 22, Junior Jesse Mendez successfully defended his NCAA Championship title in the 141-pound category after defeating Brock Hardy of Nebraska by 12-9. He became the first Buckeye to defend his title since Kyle Snyder at heavyweight in 2016-17-18.

As for the Big Ten showdowns? The Buckeyes had their fair share of fireworks. Nic Bouzakis pulled off a wild comeback at 133 pounds, flipping a tough start into an epic pin at 2:23. Jesse Mendez challenged the nation’s number one-ranked Beau Bartlett at 141 and went the distance with him. Dylan D’Emilio wrestled his way to a 5th place at 149 and Brandon Cannon earned a difficult 2nd place at 157 after defeating Penn’s Tyler Kasak. And closing out the weekend? In his bout with the fifth place, Nick Feldman secured the victory with a takedown in the last seconds with a 7-2 score.

But here’s where it gets real interesting. With transfer rumors swirling and some big-name talents eyeing Ohio State wrestling, the Buckeyes just might be stacking the deck for a massive redemption season. If these powerhouses land in Columbus, next year’s squad could be a whole different beast.