2025-2026 Lineup Look

[CauliClub]

With the season coming to an end and all the chaos happening in the transfer portal, I thought it would be fun to look into next season's lineup. Obviously, there's a lot of uncertainty in any off-season with transfers, guys going up/down weight classes, and other various things. This is just my outlook based on how things look so far but I would love to hear what y'all think. Here are my predictions with the starters listed first:

125: Spratley / Ramirez
133: Sakamoto / McComas
141: Hughes / Vega
149: Swiderski / Jamison
157: Robideau / Travis
165: Lockett / Routledge
174: Facundo (Transfer) / Mower
184: Thompson / Robb
197: Merrill / Haas
285: Doucet / Simpson

These are just my personal predictions on what I know so far. The biggest hole that I believe needs to be addressed is 174. Without a transfer, we would likely have to rely on one of the guys having to wrestle at a weight that isn't their best. Anyways, let me know what y'all think!

 

[MustangPokeFan]

I’d like to see a more dominant heavyweight transfer in, but don’t know if there is one.

 

[OSU79]

I’d like to see a more dominant heavyweight transfer in, but don’t know if there is one.

Maybe there's am MMA guy with eligibility left. 2nd at Nationals would be ok!

 

[MustangPokeFan]

Maybe there's am MMA guy with eligibility left. 2nd at Nationals would be ok!

LOL…… somebody check on Jon Jones eligibility!

 

[MJM]

I think if we get Facundo he is slotted at 157/165. But we don't have him yet and may not get him (or want him). Lockett may be at 174, someone in another post someone with connection to coaches said he had grown and 165 was too small. The coaches were high on Collin Young, so I could see him at 165 (or maybe he grows and can go 174, or drops to 157). Jamison may stay at 141, and Swiderski could have grown and is at 157 (though I doubt it).

I think you have the names right, but the weights may be different.

 

[JTOSU]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1906825211942490241

 

[MJM]

Bingo, I said in another thread he is interesting as likely pretty good and fills a need for us.

I think the lineup is as follows:

Sprately 126
McCommas 133
Jamison 141
Swiderski 149
Facundo 157
Collin Young 165
Lockett 174
Thompson 184
Merrill 197
Duecet 285

3 question marks in my mind. 141, 133, and 197. First is 141. I think Hughes looked great at times, but he needs to be at 141 and tough to beat out Jamison. But could happen.

At 133, maybe Rin starts. Rin got to Ayala's legs in Iowa dual, just couldn't finish. Not many people got to Ayala's leg all season long. I still think it will be McCommas, but I will be first to say it could very well be Rin

Another wildcard may be Robb. Saw him wrestle guy from Wyoming who was AA at 197, should have beat him. Saw him wrestle a freestyle match against Burr, and closer than one might think. If Merrill is not really good, Robb may be our 197 pounder.

 

[CauliClub]

I just can’t see Facundo wanting to go 157. He looked really sucked down this season at 157. Also important to note that he has a win over Levi Haines last year in freestyle at 74kgs. I think Facundo could comfortably make 174. Maybe him and Lockett battle it out for 165 or maybe Lockett decides to wrestle 174. I also think it makes more sense to have them go 165/174, leaving 157 to either Travis, Swiderski, or even Tagen. Stronger lineup I think.

 

[MJM]

I likely agree. I do think coaches were high on Collin Young, but Facundo at 165 and Lockett at 174 (or the reverse) makes a lot of sense. Though Facundo did make 157 in the 2024 season.

157 become a bit of a hole if you are correct. Do we thrown in freshman Robideau? Does Swiderski go 157 leaving 141/149 to Jamison/Hughes? Can Collin Young cut to 157? Or perhaps most likely does Travis hold down spot?

 

[Osucowboys344]

I expect Sergio Vega to be an immediate impact at 133 or 141.

 

[Osucowboys344]

I likely agree. I do think coaches were high on Collin Young, but Facundo at 165 and Lockett at 174 (or the reverse) makes a lot of sense. Though Facundo did make 157 in the 2024 season.

157 become a bit of a hole if you are correct. Do we thrown in freshman Robideau? Does Swiderski go 157 leaving 141/149 to Jamison/Hughes? Can Collin Young cut to 157? Or perhaps most likely does Travis hold down spot?

I think we see some shifting up.

Spratley: 125
Vega: 133
Huges: 141
Jamison: 149
Swiderski: 157
Facundo: 165
Lockett: 172
Thompson: 184
Merrill: 197
Doucet: HWT

 

[MJM]

That would be a strong lineup, maybe the best with what we have.

But can Vega make 133? Listed at 138 and often guys grow a bit at that age. Just don't know if he cut at all to make 138.

I really like Hughes. But Jamison is very strong for a 141 pounder, and gives up some of that advantage at 149.

And is Swiderski big enough to go at 157. If he is not, Travis or Robideau (or Collin Young or Facundo go down).

Assuming Lockett is at 174, then the last 4 are pretty clear (although could Robb beat out Merrill?)

As it sits, next year's team is a wildcard. Lots of talent on bench, but only 2 guys on roster who have been AAs. We will have several guys who did not wrestle in 2024/2025, and likely 2 or more who have not wrestled a full season in college.

 

[MJM]

OK, added Zack Ryder from PSU in transfer portal. He wrestled 184 last year, but really was a 174 pounder.

OK, given they added him, to me the linup looks as follows:

126. Spratley
133 McCommas or Rin
141 Jamison or Hughes
149 Swiderski
157 Facundo
165 Lockett
174 Ryder
184 Thompson
197 Merrill
285 Ducet

You have guys at 133, 165, 174, and 197 that have never wrestled a real college season (and that assumes Jamison beats out Hughes). All top recruits who have done well in limited college exposure, but never been to conference or NCAA.

You have 149, 157, 184, and 285 where guy took redshirt last year (and only one was AA in prior years).

You only have one guy (Sprately) who AAs last year. Jamison was round of 12.

I think it is pretty good lineup, with 133 and 197 weak spots. But really hard to predict how they will do.

 

[Stilly2OMAOKC]

I’d like to see a more dominant heavyweight transfer in, but don’t know if there is one.

Any chance they go after Hunter Catka from Va Tech? Or are they set with Doucet at 285?

 

[MJM]

I actually think Ducet is pretty solid. And remember, in 2026 class we got #1 285 recruit, 3rd overall. So likely he steps in in 2026/2027 season.

Of 8 AAs, 6 are gone. 3 of 4 round of 12 non AAs, but he beat guy from Pitt that was round of 12 guy. Then there is guy from Cambell that went to Mich.

So returning AAs, round of 12 and guy frm Cambell, he is in top 7. And Heindselman finished 7th, finishing ahead of one AA and the 3 round of 12 guys. And Duecet was neck and neck with him, as they wrestled a bunch if times, each time going to OT.

So other than Spratley, I think one can feel better about Duecet than any other spot in lineup. But who knows.

 

[CauliClub]

I actually think Ducet is pretty solid. And remember, in 2026 class we got #1 285 recruit, 3rd overall. So likely he steps in in 2026/2027 season.

Of 8 AAs, 6 are gone. 3 of 4 round of 12 non AAs, but he beat guy from Pitt that was round of 12 guy. Then there is guy from Cambell that went to Mich.

So returning AAs, round of 12 and guy frm Cambell, he is in top 7. And Heindselman finished 7th, finishing ahead of one AA and the 3 round of 12 guys. And Duecet was neck and neck with him, as they wrestled a bunch if times, each time going to OT.

So other than Spratley, I think one can feel better about Duecet than any other spot in lineup. But who knows.

To add that, every one of Doucet's losses from the 2023-2024 season were to eventual All-Americans. He's definitely in the mix to get on the podium and I can imagine that working with Hendrickson will make him better.