In only the second 2-dual weekend of the 2025 season, Penn State traveled from Columbus to Champagne and fought through February doldrums for their 70th straight victory. The Buckeyes had brought significant fight on Friday night, and the Lions definitely looked a little worse for wear, even before taking the mat against Illinois.
u27a1ufe0f Illinois pic.twitter.com/uddKC0Km7h
— NLWC (@NittanyLionWC) February 16, 2025
The Illini have a solid lineup in which 9 of their 10 wrestlers are ranked in the top-33, averaging 14.2 in those rankings. In duals, they were 9-3, with lopsided losses to Ohio State (24-9) and Iowa (28-6), and a close, and thrilling, loss to #12 Rutgers by criteria (16-15).