Wrestling: Huskers Ranked No. 9 to Start Season

The preseason team rankings came out Monday for college wrestling’s National Wrestling Coaches Association poll, and the Huskers will open the year ranked No. 9.

Five of the Top 10 are Big Ten teams, while the Big Ten has 10 teams ranked in the Top 25.

2021-22 NWCA Preseason Coaches Poll

1. Iowa (14 first-place votes)

2. Penn State

3. Missouri

4. Michigan

5. NC State

6. Virginia Tech

7. Oklahoma State

8. Arizona State

9. Nebraska

10. Ohio State

11. Minnesota

12. North Carolina

13. Cornell

14. Iowa State

15. Pittsburgh

16. Oklahoma

17. Northern Iowa

18. Illinois

19. Rutgers

20. Wyoming

21. Purdue

T-22. Princeton

T-22. Wisconsin

24. Lehigh

25. Northwestern

Based on Nebraska’s schedule and these rankings, the Huskers may face one of the toughest slates in the country. In fact, outside of the Nebraska duals against Chadron State and UNK and a preseason dual with South Dakota State, every single one of Nebraska’s dual opponents is in the preseason Top 25.

On Nov. 17, Nebraska plays host to No. 12 North Carolina before its December dual against South Dakota State. When the Huskers turn to conference dual season, they’ll face No. 21 Purdue, No. 11 Minnesota, No. 22 Wisconsin, No. 25 Northwestern, No. 4 Michigan, No. 2 Penn State, No. 18 Illinois and No. 1 Iowa in succession.

No weeks off.