Posted this on Scout, thought someone here might find it interesting too...since a post was started...
The NWCA Dual Championship Series
Here we are, January 12, and conference duals have now started in earnest for all D1 wrestling teams. Our final dual will be a home match in the Dual Championship Series, which is only 5 and a half weeks away, yet we are not even close to knowing our opponent. Remember, the NWCA Dual Meet Ranking will be used, and will determine who we wrestle. Each non-Big Ten Conference will send their dual meet champion, and there will be 1 at-large selection. We do know it will be in Rec Hall. Here’s the top non-Big Ten teams;
#3 North Carolina State (ACC)
NC State is the highest ranked team outside the Big Ten. They also have the most daunting schedule remaining of all the top non-Big Ten teams. They’re good, no doubt, with a win vs Oklahoma State on their resume, but can they continue their success against a gauntlet of very good opponents. If yes, they’ll surely face the top-ranked Big Ten team. If no, we’ll have to wait to see what other teams do.
Best Wins: Oklahoma State
Losses: None
Remaining top opponents: North Carolina, Nebraska, Virginia Tech, Missouri
#4 Missouri (MAC)
Riding a 35 dual meet win streak, Missouri, top-to-bottom, has a formidable line-up. Their remaining schedule is tough, and the match vs North Carolina State could determine the top non-Big Ten team. This could play out so many ways, it’s tough to make a prediction this early, but if they win out, they’ll surely be the top-ranked non-Big Ten team.
Best Wins: Ohio State, Cornell
Losses: None
Remaining top opponents: Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, NC State
# 5 Oklahoma State (Big 12)
The Cowboys have 2 losses already, but don’t count them out. If they can win against all 5 of the opponents listed below as their toughest remaining, they could be the top non-Big Ten team. Winning against Oklahoma (again) will earn them a spot in the Dual Championship Series as the Big 12 Conference Champ, but a loss or 2 against their other top opponents will likely prevent them from being Penn State’s opponent. I believe their remaining schedule is as daunting as NC State’s, but they have more firepower to pull it off.
Best Wins: Oklahoma
Losses: NC State, Iowa
Remaining top opponents: Missouri, Oklahoma, Cornell, North Carolina, Iowa State
#8 Lehigh (EIWA)
Would love to see a PA school at the top of the non-Big Ten list. Their remaining schedule does contain bouts with Cornell and PSU, but I won’t be predicting a victory against our Nittany Lions, so Lehigh looks to be a team that will have its participation determined by the Cornell dual on January 23rd. Win and they are surely the EIWA dual meet champ. Lose and that honor will go to Cornell. There is an outside chance that both could make the Dual Championship Series (with one being an at-large selection), but I see no way either will be in the top-2 of the non-Big Ten teams.
Best Wins: Oklahoma
Losses: Nebraska
Remaining top opponents: Cornell, Penn State
#9 Oklahoma (Big 12)
At currently the 5th highest non-Big Ten team, Oklahoma may not make the Dual Championship Series. Their 2 losses (Oklahoma State and Lehigh) were blowouts, and they must wrestle consecutive matches against Iowa State, Missouri, and Oklahoma State later this season. The best it appears they can hope for is the lone at-large selection that will be made. Regardless, no way they can be Penn State’s opponent, regardless of what happens.
Best Wins: Rutgers, Michigan
Losses: Oklahoma State, Lehigh
Remaining top opponents: Iowa State, Missouri, Oklahoma State
#12 Virginia Tech (ACC)
With 2 losses, one might think they’re out of the picture to be the highest ranked non-Big Ten school. Au contraire. With a match-up against NC State in their future, and the tough remaining schedules of the teams in front of them, there is a glimmer of hope. The recent loss to Iowa State was a killer, but if they win their against North Carolina, and NC State, and a little help, they can get to the top. This is a team, however, that I’d rather not face, as we met them earlier this season.
Best Wins: Iowa State
Losses: Penn State, Iowa State
Remaining top opponents: North Carolina, NC State
#14 Iowa State (Big 12)
At currently the 7th highest non-Big Ten team, Iowa State looks to be on the verge of missing the Dual Championship Series. Victories against both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State would clinch it, but they’re outmanned, especially against Oklahoma State, and both matches are away. Stranger things have happened, but not this time, imo.
Best Wins: Virginia Tech
Losses: Virginia Tech, Iowa
Remaining top opponents: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State
#15 North Carolina (ACC)
The 8th highest non-Big Ten team is also the 3rd highest ACC team. The only way they can make it to the Dual Championship Series is to beat both Virginia Tech and NC State and earn the ACC’s spot. Not likely.
Best Wins: None
Losses: Rutgers
Remaining top opponents: Virginia Tech, NC State, Oklahoma State
#16 Cornell (EIWA)
At currently the 9th highest non-Big Ten team, Cornell, with 3 losses, may miss the Dual Championship Series. They need a victory against Lehigh on January 23rd to be the EIWA representative, or hope for the lone at-large selection.
Best Wins: None
Losses: Nebraska, Rutgers, Missouri
Remaining top opponents: Lehigh, Oklahoma State
EWL, PAC-12, and SoCon
The dual meet champ for these 3 conferences will earn spots in the NWCA Dual Championship Series. None have teams currently ranked in the top-25. The at-large selection will not come from these conferences, so only the champ gets in. My guesses, right now;
EWL – Edinboro
PAC-12 – Oregon State (maybe Arizona State, if they win the January 29 dual)
SoCon – Appalachian St (maybe Tenn-Chattanooga , if they win the February 5 dual)