What: #5 Iowa State (9-1) vs #7 Oklahoma State (8-0)
When: Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 6 p.m. CT (7 p.m. ET)
Where: Stillwater, Oklahoma (Gallagher-Iba Arena)
How To Watch: ESPN+
Series History: Oklahoma State leads 62-22-3

Probable Line-ups
125: #24 Kysen Terukina, 8-4, SR (ISU) vs  #11 Troy Spratley, 12-4, FR (OSU)
133: #8 Evan Frost, 11-2, FR (ISU) vs #3 Daton Fix, 6-0, SR (OSU)
141: #8 Anthony Echemendia, 13-3, JR (ISU) vs #9 Tagen Jamison, 10-4, FR (OSU)
149: #8 Casey Swiderski, 8-2, SO or Zach Redding, 5-3, SR (ISU) vs #25 Sammy Alvarez, 3-3, SR or Jordan Williams, 7-4, FR (OSU)
157: #9 Cody Chittum, 10-3, FR (ISU) vs #15 Teague Travis, 13-1, SO (OSU)
165: #2 David Carr, 14-1, SR (ISU) vs #3 Izzak Olejnik, 15-1, SR (OSU)
174: MJ Gaitan, 11-5, FR (ISU) vs #30 Brayden Thompson, 6-4, FR (OSU)
184: #9 Will Feldkamp, 9-4, JR (ISU) vs #2 Dustin Plott, 16-1, SR (OSU)
197: #29 Julien Broderson, 6-4, JR (ISU) vs #16 Luke Surber, 6-2, SR (OSU)
285: #3 Yonger Bastida, 15-0, SR (ISU) vs #9 Konner Doucet, 11-2, JR (OSU)

Iowa State coaches: Kevin Dresser, Brent Metcalf, Derek St. John, Fernando Villaescusa
Oklahoma State coaches: John Smith, Coleman Scott, Chris Perry, Tyler Caldwell

#5 Iowa State (9-1)
WON — Cleveland State, 43-3 (Nov. 5, 2023)
WON — Davidson, 50-0 (Nov. 12, 2023)
WON — Wisconsin, 42-0 (Nov. 19, 2023)
LOST — Iowa, 18-14 (Nov. 26, 2023)
WON — Pittsburgh, 21-14 (Dec. 18, 2023)
WON — Little Rock, 31-9 (Dec. 18, 2023)
WON — Cornell, 26-15 (Dec. 18, 2023)
WON — Arizona State, 28-10 (Jan. 5, 2024)
WON — Cal Baptist, 39-3 (Jan. 7, 2024)
WON — Utah Valley, 44-3 (Jan. 12, 2024)

Oklahoma State (8-0)
WON — Bucknell, 38-6 (Nov. 10, 2023)
WON — Lehigh, 25-12 (Dec. 8, 2023)
WON — Oklahoma, 28-9 (Dec. 10, 2023)
WON — Wyoming, 31-9 (Dec. 19, 2023)
WON — NC State, 22-12 (Jan. 5, 2024)
WON — Pittsburgh, 31-6 (Jan. 12, 2024)
WON — West Virginia, 29-9 (Jan. 14, 2024)
WON — Oregon State, 27-9 (Jan. 21, 2024)

Last Five Duals
January 29, 2023: Iowa State 18, Oklahoma State 11
January 30, 2022: Iowa State 20, Oklahoma State 12
January 30, 2021: Oklahoma State 16, Iowa State 15
January 26, 2020: Oklahoma State 23, Iowa State 9
January 27, 2019: Oklahoma State 22, Iowa State 15

Rivalry Restored?

This could be the best and most competitive dual of the season. Iowa State and Oklahoma State have a long and storied history dating back to the 1920s — and this could be an all-time classic in the series. 

These two teams used to rule college wrestling and both are trending upward after bleak years during this century. Each program will be favored in five matches if the top-rated wrestler on each side is used. 

Iowa State has won two straight duals in the series, and the last time the Cyclones won three in a row was from 1980-82. And they have never won four in a row. Iowa State is favored, so this is an opportunity to make a statement against a historic rival. 

Years Iowa State and Oklahoma State finished first and second at the NCAA Championships

Say What?

This rivalry has its share of memorable moments — especially if you ask former Cyclone Dan Gable. He recalls the February 9, 1968, dual where Oklahoma State won 23-5, and the fans sent an apology to the Des Moines Register for the poor officiating. Gable spoke to then Oklahoma State head coach Myron Roderick years later and Roderick said the referee owed him money. You can fill in the blanks from there.

Swing Matches

Like any great dual, the outcome is determined by swing matches. None is bigger than the 141-pound match between #8 Anthony Echemendia (Iowa State) and #9 Tagen Jamison (Oklahoma State).

Jamison, a freshman transfer from Minnesota, has dropped two of his last four, including a 4-3 loss to Oregon State’s Cleveland Belton on January 21. Echemendia has won seven in a row and is undefeated this year.

Both wrestled at the Cliff Keen-Las Vegas Invitational but did not face each other. Jamison finished fifth and Echemendia finished seventh. 

Below are their results against common opponents this season. 

Every match is a swing match in a rivalry dual, but pay close attention to these.

125: Rankings mean nothing here. This might be the craziest weight class in college wrestling history so Iowa State’s Kysen Terukina and Oklahoma State’s Troy Spratley are dead even. 

157: Iowa State’s #9 Cody Chittum is undefeated in 2024 with a signature win over Arizona State’s Jacori Teemer. Oklahoma State’s #15 Teague Travis is undefeated at 157 pounds after starting the year at 149. His recent 7-6 win over NC State’s Ed Scott proves he’s in the mix. 

184: Oklahoma State’s #2 Dustin Plott is 16-1 during his senior campaign, but he hasn’t faced anyone quite like Iowa State’s #9 Will Feldkamp. The Cyclone junior is dangerous and can hit big moves from anywhere. Plott needs to stay solid and just get the win. No reason to get crazy against a wrestler who wants it to get crazy. 

Will The Stars Shine Bright?

Iowa State’s David Carr and Oklahoma State’s Daton Fix are in the home stretch of their successful college careers. Both have won medals at the World level, too — and are legitimate contenders to make future senior-level World teams.

Fix and Carr are favored in their respective matches, but how they win is more important than the victory itself. 

The Cowboy star is 6-0 on the season with a fall, two techs, and two major decisions. Iowa State’s eighth-ranked Evan Frost will be a tough test, but bonus points could determine the outcome of this dual.

Carr has been on a tear since his third-place finish at the Cliff Keen-Las Vegas Invitational. He earned bonus points during his last five matches, including two falls, two techs, and a major. He faces third-ranked Izzak Olejnik, so the task is tall against the Northern Illinois transfer who finished eighth at the 2023 NCAA Championships. 

Olejnik dropped a 5-1 match to West Virginia’s Peyton Hall on Jan. 14 and has an opportunity at home against the best opponent he has faced all season. Losses by Frost and Olejnik can still be wins if they can keep their matches to decisions. Every point is crucial in this dual.

Who Will Start At 149?

Each team has two quality options at 149 pounds, but who will get the nod? 

Iowa State’s #8 Casey Swiderski will be favored regardless of who Oklahoma State uses, but the Cyclone star hasn’t competed since the Cliff Keen-Las Vegas Invite on Dec. 1, 2023. Senior Zach Redding is 5-3 on the season and has been the starter since Dec. 18.

Oklahoma State’s Sammy Alvarez is ranked #25 with a 3-3 mark this season. Jordan Williams is 7-4 and has been the starter, too — but lost 10-0 to NC State’s Jackson Arrington on Jan. 5. 

Will Freshmen Decide The Dual? 

The 174-pound match between Iowa State’s MJ Gaitan and Oklahoma State's #30 Brayden Thompson will come at a critical time in the dual if the meet starts at 125 pounds. Thompson is favored because he’s ranked and Gaitan is not, but this could go either way.

It Could Come Down To Heavyweight

The final two matches will likely decide this dual (if it starts at 125). Luke Surber is favored at 197 for Oklahoma State and Yonger Bastida is favored at 285 for Iowa State. Instant classic status doesn’t come easy, but this dual has all the ingredients for must-watch television.