Iowa’s Nasir Bailey reacts after defeating Penn State’s Braeden Davis in a 141-pound match Jan. 16, 2026 at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo: Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen)

Eli McKown | Des Moines Register

IOWA CITY — There’s no sugar coating what happened in Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Friday night.

Penn State dominated Iowa wrestling for its fifth consecutive dual win over the Hawkeyes, winning nine of 10 bouts in a 32-3 rout. Iowa’s lone win came at 141 pounds, with Nasir Bailey getting his best win of the season over No. 7 Braeden Davis.

Aside from that? An ugly night for Iowa as the Hawkeyes suffered major-decision losses at 149 and 165 and a loss by fall at 197.

Of the 10 bouts, six were decided by less than a takedown. The lack of offense plagued Iowa all night, as Iowa had just two takedowns to Penn State’s 15.

Friday’s 29-point loss was Iowa’s largest margin of defeat in six decades. Oklahoma defeated the Hawkeyes 39-0 during the 1965-66 season.

Below is a match-by-match roundup of Friday’s beatdown, along with interviews from Nasir Bailey and Iowa head coach Tom Brands.

How bad was Iowa’s loss on Friday?

Hawk Central staffers did some digging through the Iowa wrestling media guide and found that Friday’s 29-point loss was the Hawkeyes’ largest margin of defeat in six decades.

Oklahoma beat Iowa 39-0 during the 1965-66 season.

Iowa wrestling vs. Penn State results

• 125 – #2 Luke Lilledahl (P) dec. #6 Dean Peterson (I), 11-5
• 133 – #4 Marcus Blaze (P) dec. #8 Drake Ayala (I), 4-2
• 141 – #11 Nasir Bailey (I) dec. #7 Braeden Davis (P), 3-2
• 149 – #1 Shayne Van Ness (P) major dec. #17 Ryder Block (I), 13-4
• 157 – #3 PJ Duke (P) dec #12 Jordan Williams (I), 4-2
• 165 – #1 Mitchell Mesenbrink (P) major dec. #3 Michael Caliendo (I), 11-2
• 174 – #1 Levi Haynes (P) dec. Gabe Arnold (I), 4-2
• 184 – #4 Rocco Welsh (P) dec. #1 Angelo Ferrari (I), 2-1 TB1
• 197 – #1 Josh Barr (P) pinned Brody Sampson (I), 3:42
• 285 – #13 Cole Mirasola (P) dec. #5 Ben Kueter (I), 4-3