Rutgers @ Ohio State

Ohio State topped Rutgers 17-15 in a hard-fought Big Ten dual at The Ohio State University in Columbus on January 12, 2025. The two teams stayed within striking distance of one another throughout the night, but a single bonus-point result swung the balance in favor of the Buckeyes.

The pivotal moment came at 141 pounds, where Ohio State’s Jesse Mendez dominated Rutgers’ Max Hermes, posting a 17-2 technical fall. That performance earned Ohio State five team points and was the only bonus-point victory of the dual. The margin from that tech fall proved especially valuable in a meet decided by just two points.

With neither side able to run away on the scoreboard, Mendez’s technical fall supplied the separation Ohio State needed. A couple of close decisions and narrow bouts left the overall score tight, and the Buckeyes’ extra bonus points at 141 ultimately made the difference in the final 17-15 outcome.

Mendez’s 141-pound effort stood out as the decisive contribution in Columbus, delivering the bonus that tipped the dual to Ohio State. Rutgers stayed competitive to the end, but that one technical fall was the key swing in a meet that came down to the wire.