Iowa and Penn State have the best rivalry in sports

In case you haven’t heard, there’s a reasonably large wrestling twin occurring tonight. At 7:30PM (God’s time), #2 Iowa will head to State School to tackle #1 Penn State. Each groups are undefeated, and eying an opportunity at a nationwide title in March. Lengthy gone are the times of twin titles, and a few are chirping that duals simply don’t matter any extra. Certain, the person matches matter for establishing seeding come event time and giving the wrestlers prime competitors to sharpen their abilities towards. However what does a twin matter when the NCAA doesn’t acknowledge a twin champion? The perfect event groups aren’t all the time the most effective twin groups, and the wrestlers’ seedings should not affected by how their teammates did. However don’t inform any of the sixteen thousand followers within the Bryce Jordan Heart, or numerous others watching from residence, any of that. Don’t inform any of the wrestlers that. Don’t inform Shane Sparks that.

Whether or not it has consequence or not, a twin has an electrical ambiance that rivals anything in sport. I’ve been to nationwide title soccer video games, prime ten basketball video games, playoff hockey video games, you identify it. However the most effective ambiance I’ve ever been to was an Iowa-Penn State wrestling twin. And tonight, we get one other probability to witness it.

These groups are good. They’ve 19 ranked wrestlers between them, together with 4 unanimous quantity ones and 5 different top-five wrestlers. They’ve every crushed Intermat’s #3 (Iowa State), and Penn State simply beat their #7 (Michigan) whereas Iowa beat their #10 (Nebraska). They’re the one unbeaten groups left in wrestling, and I don’t assume anybody would disagree that they’re #1 and #2. And it’s been that method for some time.

Over the past 4 seasons, Iowa and Penn State are 87-1 towards everyone else. In 2020, Iowa have been heavy favorites going into NCAAs after successful Huge Tens, with three primary seeds in comparison with Ohio State’s two and 5 different groups with only one. 9 Iowa wrestlers have been seeded within the top-eight, the place they’d be favored to earn all-American standing. That event was canceled, however Iowa returned 9 starters the next yr and took residence the highest prize by 15.5 factors. In fact, final yr Penn State reclaimed their prize, ending 36.5 factors forward of Michigan for first, and 57.5 forward of Iowa in third place. It was their first title since 2019, however their ninth since Cael Sanderson took over twelve years in the past. Additionally they have 9 particular person champions over the past two years, far outpacing the sphere.

Penn State is Goliath. I don’t wish to take away from that by lumping Iowa in. However these two groups have been the most effective two groups in wrestling for a protracted, very long time. They’ve received each title however one (two if we rely 2020) since 2008 (9 for Penn State, 4 for Iowa, not counting 2020). They get the most effective recruits. They churn out all-People. They win titles.

I shouldn’t should promote this to you. This rivalry is among the greatest in all of sports activities. Tonight’s twin will outline a season of labor within the eyes of the followers, the media, and sure the very wrestlers competing. There will not be a trophy on the road, however you may wager that this can be a title combat. So seize your popcorn, discover your seat, perhaps heat up with a bit of OSU-Michigan motion, however be sure you’re prepared at 7:30 for some phenomenal wrestling.