The collegiate wrestling scene in the USA is one of the most exciting ones in the world. With a long list of titular wrestling programs around the country, the action is relentless. The NCAA D1 Championship has to offer wrestling thrillers from the mat every year. But hold on! there is a lot more coming for the fans. All thanks to the NCAA’s decision to revive the National Duals, 14 years after it was stopped. But none of it would be possible without the “Magic Man” himself- David Taylor.

2025 was a milestone year for the country’s wrestling fans. For the first time since 2011, the NWCA National Duals had a D1 bracket, bringing smiles to fans nationwide. The Magic Man stepped in not too long after that. “We should bring back National Duals. Do it in November before conference competitions.“, wrote David Taylor on his social media. His words didn’t fall on deaf ears, and it looks like the folks over at NCAA have already gotten the ball rolling. So what is the NCAA National Duals Invitational and what do you need to know to feel excited about it?

Backed by Olympic gold medalist, the National Duals are making a triumphant return

The Oklahoma Cowboys will host the NCAA Wrestling National Duals on November 15 and 16 at the BOK Center in Tulsa. The official OSU Wrestling X account shared the massive news via a post on January 21. 16 D1 colleges are set to perform in the event with a prize pool of $1 million. All participants will receive a $20,000 payout, with bonus money being assured for a finish in the top eight.

The National Duals will happen just before the NCAA regular season begins and could serve as a teaser for the national collegiate tournament. Chad Richison, CEO of Paycom, the sponsor for the November wrestling tournament, is understandably excited by the prospect that the NCAA National Duals will bring to the table. “I am excited for the sport of wrestling to have a competitive field at the inaugural National Duals Invitational. Investing in student athletes and non-income-generating sports is important in today’s ever-evolving collegiate landscape,” Richison said.

The 2020 Olympic gold medalist Taylor had mentioned that incentivizing collegiate wrestling could help to grow the sport exponentially, and the large prize pool would assert that his suggestions are taken seriously by the top people in the NCAA as well. “Due to the unprecedented challenges in NCAA Division I athletics today, it is more imperative than ever to have more big moments in intercollegiate wrestling so we can substantially grow our fan base and viewership,” NWCA executive director Mike Moyer said in a press release.

People over at OSU cannot wait to play hosts when the National Duals returns to the collegiate wrestling scene. “Bringing a prestigious wrestling tournament of this magnitude to Oklahoma is exciting for the sport, and the winnings will be significant in helping universities build out their programs at an even higher level,” said OSU’s athletic director Chad Weiberg. While the anticipation for the tournament is understandably high, David Taylor has to organize the Duals without the support of one of his former allies.

Former partners stand on both ends of the spectrum

Penn State head coach and Taylor’s former coach Cael Sanderson has already noted his skepticism about reviving the National Duals. “I think it’s sad that we think we have to have a National Duals to create a big event,” the NCAA wrestling celebrity said recently and instead claimed that a different tournament created from the ground up should instead be the way to go.

While he hasn’t elaborated on the event on his mind, Sanderson has made it clear that the Nittany Lions will probably not be a part of the NCAA National Duals Invitational despite one of his former poster boys being the driving force behind it. “I think there’s obviously some merit to the idea, but it’s just kind of like a broken record,” he said further. That was certainly not a desirable course of events, but it is also not the first time that the Magic Man’s actions have invited displeasure from familiar channels. He has been there before!

Ever since David took up the job at OSU after his 2024 Paris Olympic dream was crushed at the US Olympic Team Trials in April, he has attracted a lot of flak from the people in his alma mater. From 4x NCAA gold medalist Carter Starocci to the coaching staff, many have taken potshots at Taylor, claiming that he wouldn’t be able to topple the NLWC from its elite status in the NCAA season.

However, it seems like the Olympian is more interested in making the entire collegiate wrestling scene a bigger one than ever! Will Cael Sanderson look on from the sidelines or will he step up to lend a hand to his former wrestler? How would you want to see the National Duals’ emphatic return? Tell us in a comment!