Few college duals have ever witnessed such intensity between two programs with such a rich success heritage, with over 20 national titles between them in two decades and a long-standing rivalry between them. Traditionally, a dominant force under head coach Tom Brands, Iowa constructed its heritage through relentless drive and technical prowess and Cael Sanderson’s reimagining of college wrestling with its high-flying, attacking style. Every dual between these two schools is not a dual but a quest for wrestling supremacy.

Over several years, these two titans have clashed many times, creating many of the most memorable duals in NCAA lore. There is one such dual, however, that stands out amongst them—the 2020 dual between #1 ranked Iowa, and #2 ranked Penn State, a dual in which two dynasties clashed in a contentious duel that will etch its mark in memories for years to follow.

Iowa’s historic 2020 victory over Penn State

The Carver-Hawkeye Arena pulsed with an electrifying environment, and the tension couldn’t have been any more heightened. It was the dual of the year, with both programs ranked at #1 and #2, competing for conference and national championship mastery. The bout delivered at all levels—upsets, high-flying throws, and momentum-shifting turns of events.

Iowa took wins at 125, 149, 157, 174, 197, and heavyweight, and that provided them with enough to outlast Penn State 19-17. Iowa came in with a purpose—to regain mastery over a Penn State program that for years dominated them. What happened that evening was a grizzled 19-17 win for Iowa, one of its rare times when its arch-rival, its biggest thorn, its biggest challenge, was beaten.

Spencer Lee, 125, wasted no time getting started and, with a flourish, took down Brandon Meredith off the whistle and rode him for four near-fall points. By period one, he’d accumulated a 14-1 margin, and in period two, he finished off with a technical fall, 16-1. The 2020 win, though, wasn’t a simple additional dual—it was a statement. Pat Lugo (149 lbs) and Kaleb Young (157 lbs) took a page out of Lee’s playbook, earning critical victories that kept Iowa in contention. Michael Kemerer (174 lbs) produced one of the biggest thrillers of the night, defeating top-ranked Mark Hall several times in an electrifying upset that sent the crowd onto its feet.

Tony Cassioppi (285 lbs) then delivered in the deciding bout, allowing Iowa to edge out Penn State and win. With Penn State seeming at one point to be unstoppable, Iowa’s wrestlers ground out and fought for every point at a critical point in time. The win snapped Penn State’s dual meet win streak and sent a message to the wrestling community: the Hawkeyes were most decidedly in the national championship mix.

History repeated? Familiar challenges confront Iowa in match with Penn State

Flash forward to 2025, and the picture is almost a repeat—but in 2025, Iowa doesn’t have enough to repeat that magical evening. Ranked #2, and, again, just like 2020, a juggernaut entering into this dual with a commanding edge in most minds, but with one significant caveat: Penn State’s level of dominating performance is even larger.

The record is a witness to it all. Penn State comes into this competition with a flawless 9-0 record, with a 43-2 margin of victory average, no less. In contrast, with its unblemished record, it even stands at an average win margin of 32-7, a strong testimony to how much more dominating Penn State has been. On paper, six out of ten games go in favor of the Nittany Lions, and in two, a narrow margin in favor of Iowa, with the rest even odds.

Experts have already penciled in a win for Penn State in its five best five matchups and in a lineup designed to break down opponents. Wrestlers Carter Starocci, Greg Kerkvliet, and Levi Haines have yet to even whisper about a letdown, and it will practically be impossible for Iowa to penetrate them. Even Iowa’s best bet—Drake Ayala at 133 pounds—has a climb in store for him in a burgeoning Penn State juggernaut.

Iowa head coach Tom Brands is no stranger to this challenge. “They’re a strong opponent, and we have to go out and do our work,” he acknowledged, seeing the enormous challenge in store for them. Unlike in 2020, when experienced wrestlers took them to a win, this present lineup doesn’t have that same level of firepower. Even their best wrestlers have underdog labels, and an upset will depend on a near-flawless performance in all areas.

In retrospect, that 2020 win was proving that Iowa could stand with Penn State. Today’s reality, however, is different. The Nittany Lions have continued to develop, and Iowa’s challenge is even greater than ever. There will not be a repeat act of heroism for Spencer Lee, and one can wonder—does Iowa have enough to stun the world a second time, or is mastery at Penn State unapproachable? Whatever it might be, Friday’s dual will be yet another chapter in one of college wrestling’s books.