Penn State tops Nebraska 27-12 at Rec Hall
Penn State collected multiple bonus-point wins, including technical falls by No. 1 Luke Lilledahl and No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink, to build a 15-point margin.
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State defeated Nebraska 27-12 at Rec Hall on Jan. 30, 2026.
The Nittany Lions built their lead with a string of bonus-point victories. No. 1 Luke Lilledahl opened the dual with a 20-4 technical fall at 125, scoring multiple third-period takedowns after a three-takedown first period to force the stoppage. No. 1 Mitchell Mesenbrink later posted a 20-5 technical fall at 165, adding a reversal and a late takedown that pushed the bout to the technical-fall threshold.
Penn State added major decisions at the upper weights to extend the margin. Rocco Welsh won by major decision at 184 and Josh Barr recorded a 21-9 major decision at 197, both contributing bonus points that widened the gap after the midway point of the dual.
Nebraska countered with three wins that kept the meet competitive through the middle weights. Brock Hardy, ranked No. 3 at 141, rallied for a pin over Braeden Davis, and No. 4 AJ Ferrari earned a 1-1 decision at heavyweight. Antrell Taylor produced the day’s most notable upset, edging No. 2 PJ Duke 2-1 in overtime at 157 with an overtime escape that delivered the deciding point.
Penn State’s ability to convert bonus opportunities proved decisive. Nebraska won important bouts and scored an upset, but the Nittany Lions’ two technical falls and two major decisions supplied the extra team points that produced the 15-point margin.
The dual included several top-ranked matchups that shaped the result: No. 1 Lilledahl and No. 1 Mesenbrink recorded tech falls, No. 1 Welsh and No. 1 Josh Barr added majors, and No. 2 PJ Duke fell in a narrow overtime decision. The meet score was Penn State 27, Nebraska 12.