What to Watch: Week four of the college wrestling season

Week four of the college wrestling season is underway! This is a big weekend for women’s wrestling with the Missouri Valley Open and a top 10 matchup between King and Presbyterian. The excitement doesn’t stop there, it’s time for the annual Cy-Hawk Dual, and two tournaments college wrestling fans should mark on their calendars. Here are a few events to check out during week four.

Date: Saturday, November 23

Time: 7:00 p.m. ET

Location: Carver-Hawkeye Arena/Iowa City, Iowa

Where to Watch: BIG+ (subscription required)

It’s time for the annual Cy-Hawk Dual between No. 2 Iowa and No. 12 Iowa State. This is the 88th all-time meeting between the two teams. The series dates back to 1912, and it’s the Hawkeyes with a 69-16-2 record against the Cyclones. Iowa has won the past 19 straight duals, with Iowa State’s last series win coming in December of 2004. Tom Brands is 18-0 all-time against the Cyclones as Iowa’s head coach. This season, Iowa holds a 3-0 record, winning all 10 matches in a 49-0 win over Bellarmine on November 15. Iowa State is 1-1 overall this season. The Cyclones opened the 2024-25 campaign with a narrow loss to Stanford, 23-21. Last Friday, Iowa State bested Navy at home, 29-9. Iowa State head coach Kevin Dresser is in his eighth season leading the Cyclones, helping his team to a fourth place finish at the 2024 NCAA Championships with four wrestlers on the podium. The dual begins at 6 p.m. local time (7 p.m. ET) in Iowa, a treat that college wrestling fans won’s want to miss.

Date: Friday, November 22-Saturday, November 23

Time: Friday at 1 p.m. ET, Saturday at 10 a.m. ET

Location: Burns Athletic Complex/Marshall, Mo.

Where to Watch: FloWrestling

Gary Abbott previews one of the most anticipated women’s college wrestling tournaments of the year on TheMat.com. There are a total of 21 NAIA teams and 16 NCAA teams competing at this tournament. The two-day event is one of the top women’s college tournaments of the year, and the action gets underway on Friday.

NAIA teams: Avila, Baker, Campbellsville, Central Christian, Central Methodist, Cumberlands, Dakota Wesleyan, Friends, Grand View, Hastings, Jarvis Christian, Lindsey Wilson, Midland, Missouri Baptist, Missouri Valley, Morningside, Oklahoma City, Ottawa, Texas Wesleyan, William Penn, York

NCAA teams: Central, Chadron State, Colorado Mesa, Emmanuel, Fontbonne, Fort Hays State, Grand Valley State, Iowa, Lindenwood, McKendree, Quincy, Sacred Heart, Texas Woman’s, Tiffin, Westminster, William Jewell

Date: Sunday, November 24

Time: 3:00 p.m. ET

Location: Templeton Gymnasium/Clinton, S.C.

Where to Watch: ESPN+

Two strong NCAA women’s programs battle it out on Sunday as King heads to South Carolina to take on Presbyterian. King, ranked second in the latest NCAA Women's Coaches Poll, holds a 3-1 overall record with victories over No. 5 McKendree, No. 14 Sacred Heart and Brock. King is also set to send wrestlers to the Adrian Invitational this weekend. Presbyterian is 1-0 with a 23-21 victory over Campbellsville at the Throwdown on the Yorktown earlier this month. The dual will be available to watch on ESPN+.

Date: Sunday, November 24

Time: 2:00 p.m. ET

Location: Maturi Pavilion/Minneapolis, Minn.

Where to Watch: BIG+ (subscription required)

Minnesota hosts Campbell on Sunday in what is slated to be Gable Steveson’s return to college wrestling. The two-time NCAA champion and two-time Hodge Trophy winner announced his return to the University of Minnesota wrestling team on November 12. On Monday, Steveson and head coach Brandon Eggum met with the media, with Steveson announcing that he is eyeing a home debut on Sunday with a potential matchup against Campbell All-American Taye Ghadiali. The Golden Gophers are 1-0 overall with a 35-3 victory against Bucknell in the team’s home opener. Prior to the Sunday matchup, Minnesota travels west to take on the North Dakota State Bison in Fargo, N.D., on November 22. Campbell is 1-3 overall, with a win against California Baptist and losses to Wyoming, No. 7 NC State and No. 4 Nebraska.

Date: Sunday, November 24

Time: 9:30 a.m. ET

Location: The Palestra/ Philadelphia, Pa.

Where to Watch: FloWrestling

Eight teams are set to compete at the annual PRTC Keystone Classic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on Sunday. Action begins at 9:30 a.m. ET and will be streamed live on FloWrestling. The teams with wrestlers participating in the Keystone Classic include Central Michigan, Drexel, Edinboro, Franklin & Marshall, Harvard, Lock Haven, Penn and Virginia Tech. Penn will be hosting this event at The Palestra.

Date: Sunday, November 24

Time: 10 a.m. ET

Location: Christl Arena/West Point, N.Y.

Where to Watch: FloWrestling

The Black Knight Invitational, hosted by Army, begins on Sunday, November 24. Eight teams will see athletes competing, including Army West Point, Binghamton, Bloomsburg, Columbia, Gardner-Webb, LIU, Michigan State and Penn State. The event has a 10 a.m. ET start time and will be available to watch on FloWrestling.