Penn State wrestling has once again decided not to attend the upcoming 2026 National Duals for the second straight year. Despite a massive $1.23 million prize waiting in Tulsa, the Nittany Lions, alongside other powerhouse wrestling programs like Iowa and Nebraska, have decided not to show up for the upcoming high-stakes event, raising questions about the timing and scheduling of elite tournaments that clash with the final weeks of the year.
The 2026 national duals is a two-day tournament, scheduled for December 12-13 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, and is set to feature programs with the likes of Ohio State, Arizona State, Arkansas-Little Rock, NC State, North Carolina, and many more that will fight for the crown of the best dual-meet team in the country ahead of the season.
As the anticipation for the event grows, many elite programs, including Penn State, Iowa and Nebraska have backed out despite their stature. The primary reason for the exodus is the timing of the tournament calendar. Penn State’s wrestling coach, Cael Sanderson, gave a direct response, saying the Lions just are not interested in showing up due to the conflicting dates and the unappealing format of the event.
Many teams, including Penn State, have found it impossible to comply with the dates, as that is exactly when universities hold final exams. In Iowa and Nebraska, the dates fall during the final week. Ivy League programs have also declined the invitation due to date conflicts, as many institutions have decided to prioritize athletes’ academic performance.
Coaches at elite universities have always prioritized NCAA goals and elite academic performance, and a mid-December clash just does not align with their vision.
Wrestling fans have also taken to social media, blasting the tournament schedule for diminishing the possibility of a great event featuring matches between elite universities.
Click here for the complete list of teams scheduled to compete and those that have backed out.
Penn State Wrestling Coach Cael Sanderson Talks About His Influences
Penn State’s wrestling coach, Cael Sanderson, has had a massive impact on the program’s dominance, leading it to a record number of victories and creating a promising future for many of the wrestlers. During an interview, Sanderson spoke about the influences from his childhood that helped shape his style.
“All my coaches, my father was my coach growing up, and it was never about winning or losing, it was about fighting. My coaches even in high school, never talked about winning, it was all about just getting better at wrestling,” said Sanderson.
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