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The Nebraska wrestling team has announced its 2021 schedule. The Huskers will host three home dates and travel for three events. The Huskers will face nine total dual opponents at these six events. All opponents will be Big Ten foes.
Six of Nebraska’s nine opponents are ranked in the initial NWCA Coaches Poll. Nebraska will begin the season ranked No. 5.
Nebraska starts this season where it left off a year ago. The Huskers will host No. 13 Minnesota to start the season on Friday, Jan. 8 after finishing last season with a 29-12 win over the Golden Gophers. Nebraska went 11-3 in dual action a year ago and finished the year with a six-dual win streak.
On Friday, Jan. 15, Nebraska hits the road for the first time, traveling to take on top-ranked Iowa. Nebraska will face a serious test against a team that’s almost entirely intact from last year’s undefeated squad. Iowa won the 2020 Big Ten Tournament as a team, while Nebraska finished a distant second. Iowa beat Nebraska last season in their dual as well by a score of 26-6.
On Saturday, Jan. 23, Nebraska will host Maryland and No. 23 Northwestern for a tri-meet at Devaney. Nebraska didn’t wrestle either team last season in a dual.
Nebraska then hosts its final home date on Sunday, Jan. 31 against No. 19 Wisconsin. Last season, the Huskers fell to the Badgers 25-18 to begin Big Ten dual action.
Nebraska then travels to compete in a quad meet at Indiana on Saturday, Feb. 6. The Huskers will face Indiana as well as No. 21 Michigan State and No. 15 Rutgers. Last season, Nebraska beat Indiana 35-6 and downed Michigan State 25-12. NU did not face Rutgers last season in dual competition.
On Sunday, Feb. 21, Nebraska will end its regular season with a trip to face Illinois, a team Nebraska did not face a year ago.
No times have been announced for Nebraska’s schedule.
One observation I took from the schedule is that Nebraska has one of the easiest roads in the conference. As easy as it gets in the Big Ten that is. Nebraska will face off against No. 1 Iowa, but the Huskers avoided No. 2 Penn State, No. 3 Michigan, No. 7 Ohio State and No. 16 Purdue. A gift from the schedule-makers I suppose. Nebraska should be favored to win against all of their opponents except the Hawkeyes.
Keep an eye out for more this week on my conversation with head coach Mark Manning and a more in-depth breakdown of Nebraska’s schedule and opponents.
2021 Schedule
- Friday, Jan. 8: vs. Minnesota
- Friday, Jan. 15: at Iowa
- Saturday, Jan. 23: vs. Maryland, Northwestern
- Sunday. Jan. 31: vs. Wisconsin
- Saturday, Feb. 6: at Indiana, Michigan State, Rutgers
- Sunday, Feb. 21: at Illinois