Just when it looked like Penn State would bulldoze its way to a fourth straight NCAA wrestling title, the mat flipped. On a night that was supposed to be all about domination, the top-seeded Nittany Lions found themselves on the wrong end of a pair of stunning upsets that sent shockwaves through the Wells Fargo Center.

First came heartbreak for Tyler Kasak, Penn State’s top seed at 157 lbs. In a razor-tight bout, Kasak fell 5-4 to Purdue’s Joey Blaze, the No. 8 seed, in a match that will be remembered as one of the biggest shockers of the championship. Then, chaos truly erupted when No.1 seed Luke Lilledahl was toppled in overtime tiebreakers by Lehigh’s No.8 seed Sheldon Seymour in a dramatic 2-2 decision. And poof. Two top seeds gone—just like that.

For a program that has built its legacy on overwhelming dominance, these back-to-back defeats were a gut punch. After a perfect 20-0 opening day, Cael Sanderson’s team briefly found themselves in unfamiliar territory—second place, before reclaiming their position on top.

While Penn State stumbled, Nebraska surged. Led by redshirt freshman Christopher Minto, who punched his ticket to the 165 lb semifinals, the Cornhuskers roared into first place in the team standings briefly. With 62.0 points to the Nittany Lions’ 67.5, the Cornhuskers are still very much in the mix. Minto’s semifinal qualification is more than just an individual milestone—it’s the spark that’s igniting Nebraska’s title hopes.

The Cornhuskers are giving Penn State a good chase

Nebraska’s performance marks a seismic shift in this year’s tournament narrative. While Penn State was expected to cruise, the Huskers have proved they’re here to wrestle for it all. With strong showings across multiple weight classes and momentum on their side, the finals could be far more unpredictable than anyone anticipated.

Wrestling legend and Olympic gold medalist Jordan Burroughs added to the buzz, declaring on social media: “Nebraska Team Champs. Manning Coach of the Year.” That’s a heavyweight endorsement, placing Nebraska and coach Mark Manning above even the mighty Cael Sanderson and his Penn State machine.

Meanwhile, Oklahoma State continues to build under the guidance of former Penn State great David Taylor. With 38 points and six quarterfinalists, they’re not out of the race just yet.

The semifinals are now set to be high-stakes battlegrounds where every match could tilt the team race. For Penn State, it’s a test of resilience. For Nebraska, it’s a shot at making history. One thing’s for sure—this NCAA Championship just got a whole lot more interesting.

More quarterfinal shakeups

The chaos in the 133-pound bracket added more twists to the already unpredictable championship. Penn State’s Braeden Davis was overpowered in a 12-1 major decision by Illinois’ Lucas Byrd, marking another setback for the Nittany Lions. Cal Poly’s Zeth Romney outwrestled Angelo Rini from Indiana with a composed 8-2 decision. Wisconsin’s Zan Fugitt brought the crowd to its feet with a dramatic pin over Virginia Tech’s Connor McGonagle in just 2:30. And Iowa’s Drake Ayala, showcasing dominant form, dismantled Ohio State’s Nic Bouzakis in a high-paced 23-10 major decision.

Despite the early struggles, Penn State’s heavy hitters are starting to fire. At 165 lbs, Mitchell Mesenbrink kept the Nittany Lions’ hopes alive with a solid 5-0 decision over Oklahoma State’s Cameron Amine. Levi Haines followed at 174 with a confident 7-2 win over Navy’s Danny Wask. Then came the power surge from the back end of the lineup.

Carter Starocci, still chasing his historic fifth title, crushed Maryland’s Jaxon Smith in a dominant 9-1 major decision. Josh Barr delivered a statement win with a 14-3 major over Lehigh’s Michael Beard at 197. At heavyweight, Greg Kerkvliet blanked Michigan’s Joshua Heindselman, 5-0, showing the Nittany Lions are far from done.

With several top seeds still in the hunt and late-round depth starting to show, Penn State is back in striking distance. The finals are set up for a nail-biting finish—and the race is far from over.