NCAA Announces First Coaches’ Rankings Ahead of 2026 DI Wrestling Championships

The NCAA has released the first coaches’ rankings for the 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.

The rankings are established by a vote of three coaches from each weight class. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider wrestlers who have been selected as starters in their respective weight classes. Wrestlers must have competed in eight Division I matches in their weight class, with at least one occurring within the last 30 days.

Nine of the ten weight classes are led by Big Ten Conference wrestlers, with Penn State taking the lead in five. Former national champions hold the top rankings in four classes.

Lucas Byrd, a 2025 national champion who made Illinois history as the first wrestler to win a national championship in the 133-pound weight class, leads all 133-pound wrestlers. Jesse Mendez of Ohio State leads the 141-pound weight class, where he hopes to win his third consecutive national championship. Levi Haines (2024) and Mitchell Mesenbrink (2025), Penn State national champions, are leading their respective weight classes.

The other three Penn State wrestlers who lead their weight class are Shayne Van Ness (149 pounds), Rocco Welsh (184 pounds), and Josh Barr (197 pounds). Nic Bouzakis at 125 pounds and Brandon Cannon at 157 pounds lead their weight divisions for Ohio State. Yonger Bastida of Iowa State leads the way among the heavyweights.

The NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will consider the coaches’ ranking, as well as head-to-head competition, quality wins, Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), conference tournament placement, results versus common opponents, and win percentage, when making at-large selections.

The 2026 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will be held March 19-21 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, the city’s third time hosting.