The #1 ranked team in the nation, the Penn State Nittany Lions, finish their weekend road trip with a stop in Champaign, Illinois to take don't the #13 Fighting Illini!

Penn State vs Illinois Preview + Predictions

Penn State defeated Ohio State last Friday night in Columbus 27-13. This is the first competition for Illinois since February 1 and the last competition of their regular season. 

You can watch the dual live on BTN+. Below are the projected lineups, followed by updates of all the action delivered in real-time!

Projected Lineups

125: #8 Luke Lilledahl, Penn State vs Caelan Riley, Illinois

133: #7 Braeden Davis, Penn State vs #3 Lucas Byrd, Illinois

141: #3 Beau Bartlett, Penn State vs #16 Danny Pucino, Illinois

149: #2 Shayne Van Ness, Penn State vs #17 Kannon Webster, Illinois

157: #1 Tyler Kasak or Joe Sealey, Penn State vs #27 Jason Kraisser, Illinois

165: #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State vs #16 Braeden Scoles, Illinois

174: #2 Levi Haines, Penn State vs #22 Dan Braunagel, Illinois

184: #1 Carter Starocci, Penn State vs #12 Edmond Ruth, Illinois

197: #2 Josh Barr, Penn State vs #13 Zac Braunagel, Illinois

285: #2 Greg Kerkvliet or Cole Mirasola, Penn State vs #10 Luke Luffman, Illinois

We are five minutes past the 2:00PM ET start time and wrestlers are still warming up on the mat so we may have a little bit of a delayed start. It's also Senior Night in Champaign so perhaps that pushed things back a bit. 

125: Luke Lilledahl, Penn State vs Caelan Riley, Illinois

1st period: And now we get underway, a little less than 10 minutes after 2 o'clock. Lilledahl, as is his custom, attacks early and finishes quickly and he has three points in the first 30 seconds of the dual. Escape for Riely after a minute of wrestling but Lightning Luke immediately tackles him for three more. It's 6-1. After another minute of wrestling Riley escapes but Lilledahl gives Riley no time to breath and shoots immediately after the escape is awarded. Catch and release again and it's 12-3. Luke rides out the period. Luke is on pace for a second period tech. 

2nd period: Lilledahl takes down. He escapes quickly. A double leg for Lilledahl and he finishes to make it 16-3. An escape for Riley and Lilledahl is looking to go feet to back on the next double. Riley bellies out but the match is over, second period reach for Lilledahl!

125 final: Lilledahl over Riuley by tech-fall, 19-3 4:19

Penn State 5, Illinois 0

Lightning Luke strikes first for @pennstateWREST ⚡

He secures the 19-3 tech fall to get things rolling in this one 🔥#B1GWrestling on @BigTenPlus 💻 pic.twitter.com/jaX1HORMmX

— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 16, 2025

133: #7 Braeden Davis, Penn State vs #3 Lucas Byrd, Illinois

1st period: The marquee bout of the dual is underway! Davis is at PSU by way of Michigan. Byrd is a native Ohioan. No score after about a minute of wrestling. The score bug has unfortunately disappeared from the broadcast but the physical scoreboard in the arena occasionally pops into view. Shot by Davis and Byrd nearly scores on the reattack but Byrd fights him off to a stalemate about halfway through the period. Another shot by Davis and he's in deep, Byrd has to scramble. He rolls over across his back, gets to neutral and snaps Davis down for a ferocious go behind. Byrd leads 3-0 as the period expires. 

2nd period: Byrd goes down. Off his first move Davis tries to step over and catch Byrd on his back. They keep scrambling and Byrd eventually get the escape to make it 4-0. Davis staying aggressive. Byrd matching with physicality. Whip over attempt from Byrd is stopped by Byrd changes direction and gets another go-behind. 7-0 has Byrd will try and rideout the last 30 seconds of the period. He succeeds. 

3rd period: Davis' choice. He looks at the corner then takes bottom. Davis escapes without much difficulty to make it 7-1. Can Davis find a way through Byrd's defenses for the comeback? He'll need to make his move quickly, time is not on his side. Byrd does not have riding time secured and likely won't. Byrd keeping his distance, no stall warning yet so he'll be able to run out the clock fi Davis doesn't force the action. Now Byrd drives Davis out of bounds and Davis gets hit with a stall warning. 15 seconds left. Byrd on the attack, looking for the major. Davis holding on the best he can. Time runs out with no takedown call. A ranked win for senior Lucas Byrd in his last home dual of his storied Illinois career!

133 final: Byrd over Davis by decision, 7-1

Penn State 5, Illinois 3

An emotional win for Lucas Byrd on @IlliniWrestling Senior Night 👏#B1GWrestling on @BigTenPlus 💻 pic.twitter.com/YiQjmUHnpL

— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 16, 2025

141: Beau Bartlett, Penn State vs Danny Pucino, Illinois

1st period: Bartlett trying to keep the momentum going after his big win over #1 Jesse Mendez last week. Bartlett level changes and fires off a double early but Pucino defends. Now Pucino finds an angle and snatches up a single leg. He's got Bartlett hopping on one foot but Bartlett is very tough to finish on. And they go out of bounds, no score. Quick high-crotch for Bartlett and now Pucino is hopping on one foot. And Bartlett is able to finish and Bartlett collects the first points of the match with about 30 seconds left in the period. Bartlett slaps in a cradle and rolls through for a two nearfall just before the buzzer sounds. 5-0 at the break.

2nd period: Bartlett gets a turn on bottom. He's out in a hurry to make it 6-0. And the score bug makes a welcome return to the broadcast. Shout out to the announcers as well, they are doing a great job on the mic. Action slows down as Bartlett starts taking ground from Pucino. Level change from Pucino but they go out of bounds. And the period ends, still 6-0. 

3rd period: Pucino takes bottom. Optional start and it's 6-1. Pucino's gotten to Bartlett's legs before, can he get there again and give himself a shot at an upset? He shoots, but Bartlet's reattack is too fast and the Nittany Lion extends his lead to 9-1. Pucino is out without much resistance from Bartlett to make it 9-2 with a minute left. Bartlett drives Pucino out of bounds and Pucino picks up his first stall warning with about 30 seconds to go. I don't believe riding time is locked up. Bartlett still attacking looking for bonus. And the match ends, it's a regular decision for Beau Bartlett. 

141 final: Bartlett over Pucino by decision, 9-2

Penn State 8, Illinois 3

149: Shayne Van Ness, Penn State vs Kannon Webster, Illinois

1st period: Another ranked matchup. Limp Bizkit's Rollin plays don't he PA as both wrestlers toe the line. Van Ness taking ground. And Webster hit with a stall call as Van Ness finishes an attack for the first points. Webster escapes after 46 seconds to make it 4-1. Less than a minute left in the period. And they end the period in neutral, same score.  

2nd period: Webster takes bottom. Van Ness rides long enough to take the RT clock over a minute. Webster escapes shortly thereafter to make it 3-2. Throw by knee pick for Van Ness and a violent three points are earned by Van Ness to make it 6-2. Webster escapes quickly. Webster shoots by Van Ness to powerful on the reattack and it's 10-3 in short time. Period ends and Van Ness firmly in control of this match. 

3rd period: Van Ness chooses down. He's out with little difficulty, 10-3. Webster close on a reattack of his own but Van Ness wrestles back to neutral. Van Ness relentless in the next flurry and Webster goes to the mat, Van Ness is close to a teceh. Scoreboard says 14-3 so I may have missed another stall call on Webster. Van Ness kicks him free to make it 14-4. No more takedowns but Van Ness has riding time so tack on another point and put it in the books as a major decision, 15-4. 

149 final: Van Ness over Webster by major decision 15-4

Penn State 12, Illinois 3

No. 2 Shayne Van Ness wins via major decision, 15-4. #B1GWrestling x @pennstateWREST pic.twitter.com/uWF15TByEF

— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 16, 2025

157: Joe Sealey, Penn State vs Jason Kraisser, Illinois

1st period: Kasak still recovering from an injury so it's Joe Sealey for the Nittany Lions trying to shake off his 10-1 loss to Brandon Cannon of Ohio State last Friday. Kraisser will be a very tough test for the true freshman. Kraisser, from the wrestling Kraissers of Maryland, is a senior grad transfer who spent his first two collegiate seasons in Campbell and his last three at Iowa State. And about two minutes into the match we have our first significant scramble. Sealey trying to come around for the three but Kraisser has a firm grip on one of Sealey's legs. And a stalemate is called in short time. No scores on the restart and we'll take the 0-0 score into the second. 

2nd period: Kraisser takes bottom. Kraisser frees himself after 15 seconds to break the goose egg off the board. Things start to pick up again about half way through the period. They're scrambling in a similar position to last period. Kraisser not giving up on that leg, stopping Sealey from getting the go-behind. And action is stalemated. Sealey back in on a shot in short time, Kraisser locked around the crotch, rolls through and avoids giving up the takedown as the period expires. 

3rd period: Sealey takes down, though the corner wanted him to take neutral. Too late says the ref. Kraisser with a nice mat return, came close to getting nearfall as Kraisser stopped a granby from Sealey mid-roll. Very tough ride from Kraisser. He's got Sealey all tied up, hammer lock and chicken wing plus double boots. And potential dangerous called giving Sealey a restart. Riding time is just over a minute with 42 seconds left in regulation. Kraisser picks up a second caution, the next one will be a point. And Sealey gets a good jump on the whistle and escapes with 30 seconds to go. Riding time will give Kraisser the win if he can avoid giving up any more points. And Sealey goes super duck, slamming Kraisser to the mat. There's the clutch three! Or is it? Kraisser fights to get hip to hip and throws in a whizzer but the takedown was awarded before that. Time expires and it would be a 4-2 win if the call stands. Illinois head coach Mike Poeta throws the challenge brick. Coach Sanderson of course agrees with the original call. And the call is overturned, no takedown! I'm surprised! Looked like three before that whizzer went in. But I'm not a ref so you shouldn't listen to me! Kraisser gets the dub! 

We'll have a short intermission before we get back to action and the second half of the dual. 

157 final: Kraisser over Sealey by decision, 2-1

Penn State 12, Illinois 6

165: Mitchell Mesenbrink, Penn State vs Braeden Scoles, Illinois

1st period: Two Wisconsinites and high school teammates now on the mat. Snap down from Mesenbrink and he grabs both ankles of Scoles' for three points in the first 30 seconds. Mesenbrink has Scoles flat on his stomach. And a stall call on Scoles halfway through the period. Scoles doing everything he can just to build up to a base but Mesenrbink is relentless, alternating between a variety of arm holds all while driving off his toes and applying maximum pressure. Another stall call makes it 4-0. Or actually 5-0, that's the third stall call, I must have missed one. So the period mercifully ends for Scoles as Mesenbrink has amassed over two minutes of RT. 

2nd period: Mesenbrink chooses down. He's up quickly to make it 6-0. Mesenbrink in on a single, has Scoles hopping but Scoles slips his leg out. Scoles trying to find his offense, which is a very tough thing to do against a guy like Mesenbrink. Nice level change and shot from Scoles and he's got a leg but Mesenrbink sprawls and defends for a stalemate. Short time left in the period. Single to a double and Mesenbrink scores just before time expires to make it 9-0. 

3rd period: Scoles elects to go underneath again. He stands and is free after about 15 seconds. Mesenbrink in on a shot but Scoles defends, trying to lock around the crotch. And a stalemate is called, a little over a minute left in regulation. Scoles not fading, still holding his own in the center. Riding time locked up so 9-1 is effectively 10-1 for Mesenbrink. Final 30 seconds. Ankle pick for Mesenbrink, he has Scoles hopping, and they go out of bounds, no score. Final seconds are spent in a hand fight, and it's a 10-1 major for Mesenbrink, one of his closest bouts of the season. 

165 final: Mesenbrink over Scoles by major decision, 10-1

Penn State 16, Illinois 6

165 - No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink battles to a a 10-1 major win 🤩#B1GWrestling x @pennstateWREST pic.twitter.com/uZL12zfeNe

— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 16, 2025

174: Levi Haines, Penn State vs Dan Braunagel, Illinois

1st period: PSU's upperweights are incredibly tough but Illinois has some studs as well and this bout could be another slugfest. A couple of attempts from Braunagel, Haines defends. These could be the four heaviest hands in a college match this season. One minute to go in the first. Haines picking up the pace. And in short time Haines reaches in, has a single and finishes for three. The period ends 3-0. 

2nd period: Haines chooses bottom. He's out quickly to push his lead to four. And a lot of handfighting ensues but not a lot of flurries. The Period ends still 4-0. 

3rd period: Braunagel chooses to go back underneath. Braunagel sits out, crab ride for Haines, tried to suck back for some nearfall but Braunagel bellies back out. Now Haines has a leg in and Braunagel looks to be trapped on the mat. Stalemate called, as Braunagel got to his base and neither wrestler was able to improve their position. Braunagel fights to his feet on the restart and finally gets on the scoreboard. 30 seconds to go, 4-1 Haines leads. Braunagel in deep and that was Braunagel's best chance at a takedown. Haines too tough though and he kicks free. Add on riding time and it's a 5-1 regular decision for Levi. 

174 final: Haines over Braunagel by decision, 5-1

Penn State 19, Illinois 6

184: Carter Starocci, Penn State vs Edmond Ruth, Illinois

1st period: Penn State going from strength to strength with another returning NCAA champ, in the case, a four-time returning NCAA champ. Ruth is very tough but will obviously have his hands full! Fierce handfighting, with Starocci taking ground and after about 50 seconds Starocci drops down to Ruth's legs for three. Starocci cuts Ruth after riding for about 45 seconds. Starocci staying aggressive. Ruth jumps out of another low leg attack. Starocci shoots Ruth out of bounds for a stall call. I missed the first stall because Starocci picks up a point. Starocci drives Rutger to the boundary again and this time gets a takedown. He'll ride out the period and it's 7-1 after 3 minutes. 

2nd period: Ruth chooses down and Starocci has him flat on his belly for about 30 seconds before Ruth is hit again for stalling to make it 8-1. Starocci trying to run an arm bar and chicken wing but potentially dangerous is called. Optional start on the next whistle and Ruth is out to make it 8-2. Another takedown in short time makes it 11-2. Ruth able to escape just before the period ends and it's 11-3 going into the final stanza. 

3rd period: Starocci on bottom, he's out in no time to make it 12-3. Single leg plus a foot sweep and it's 15-3. Free release and it's 15-4. A takedown plus rideout will give Starocci the tech-fall, but it may come earlier. Another stall call give Starocci two more points to make it 17-4. Starocci pressuring, and Ruth backed up one too many times. Another stall call and it's a disqualification. Starocci gets six team points for the Nittany Lions. 

184 final: Starocci over Ruth by disqualification (stalling) 6:14

Penn State 25, Illinois 6

184 - Carter Starocci forces six stalls gets a DQ win after leading 17-4 ⭐️ #B1GWrestling x @pennstateWREST pic.twitter.com/KuFTocAtVf

— Big Ten Wrestling (@B1GWrestling) February 16, 2025

197: Josh Barr, Penn State vs Zac Braunagel, Illinois

1st period: Barr the redshirt freshman will take on the veteran senior Zac Braunagel. Barr hits the gas early, double leg is finished for three within the first minute. Braunagel able to build up to his base but Barr breaks him back down a few times to ride for a minute. Braunagel escapes after 90 seconds of riding time goes on the board for Barr, it's 3-1. Barr shooting in, Braunagel defending, Barr on a leg in the final seconds, and it's three more just before the period ends. 6-1 in favor of Barr. 

2nd period: Barr chooses bottom and is out quickly, 7-1. Perfectly timed low double and a clean finish makes it 10-1. We stop with a little more than half of the period left on the clock for blood time for Barr.  That gets cleaned up Barr goes back to riding tough. Looked like Barr was trying to cut Braunagel but Barr reattacks too quickly and the escape was never awarded. Barr spending too much time on the ankle and he picks up a stall warning. Now Braunagel able to escape off the next restart. Barr instantly on a shot but Braunagel with some nifty defense and the period ends 10-2. 

3rd period: Braunagel chooses bottom, he's up and out within 10 seconds. Riding time essentially secured. Barr drops on a single leg. Barr tries to limp arm through a Braunagel whizzer, then cracks back on the leg and now he's got three more. Release to make it 13-4. One minute left. Double leg from Barr but Braunagel managed to snag a leg of Barr's and we get a stalemate. 37 seconds left on the clock. Barr collects a single leg as Braunagel gets dinged for stalling and concedes a point, but not the takedown. It's 14-4 but we get a stalemate after a long scramble. Just 8 ticks left on the clock. No more takedowns but add the riding time point and its a 15-4 major decision for Barr.

197 final: Barr over Braunagel by major decision 15-4

Penn State 29, Illinois 6

285: Cole Mirasola, Penn State vs Luke Luffman, Illinois

1st period: True freshman Cole Mirasola gets the nod for the second straight dual, allowing Kerkvliet to take the weekend off. He'll have a very tough test against senior Luke Luffman. Decent movement in the first 90 seconds but no level changes. A classically tactical heavyweight bout so far. Mirasola drops to a knee but doesn't get close to Luffman's legs. 30 seconds left in the period. Big snap from Luffman but Mirasola avoids Luffman's follow up attack. Bagels on the board after three minutes. 

2nd period: Luffman on bottom, his first stand attempt is thwarted. Luffman gets up to his feet and Mirasola can't bring him back down. Mirasola hit with stalling while Luffman frees himself for the first point. Mirasola shoots in but Luffman down blocks and threatens Mirasola with a cradle until Mirasola bellies out and Luffman collects three points for a 4-0 lead. Two big mat returns and Luffman gets the rideout. 

3rd period: Mirasola wisely chooses neutral in the third and final regulation period of the dual. Luffman looking for a throw by, taking ground from Mirasola. One minute remains, still 4-0, although Luffman probably also has over a minute of RT. Mirasola swing single at about the 30 second mark, Luffman defends. Final seconds ticking away. And that'll do it, one final victory for the senior in Huff Hall!

No riding time point by the way.

285 final: Luffman over Mirasola, 4-0

Penn State 29, Illinois 9

This win also makes it 70 straight dual meet wins for Coach Sanderson and the Nittany Lions, tying an all-time NCAA record that has stood for about 60 years or so. Penn State can break that record next weekend against American, and they'll be prohibitive favorites to do so.

Penn State also clinches the Big Ten regular season title. Not bad these Nittany Lions!

Thanks for reading this live blog, your time is very much appreciated! Apologies for the typos and see you next time!