Photo by: Ryan Kuttler/Northwestern Athletics
Wrestling Unveils Full 2025-26 Schedule
9/29/2025 12:00:00 PM | Wrestling
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern wrestling will host six home duals in addition to the Midlands Championships, which will return to campus, as part of the 2025-26 schedule announced on Monday. The 'Cats will wrestle three tournaments and 12 duals - including eight Big Ten contests - leading up to the Big Ten and NCAA Championships.
Matt Storniolo's squad will raise the curtain on its season on November 8 at the Michigan State Open, then take on its first dual opponent a week later at SIUE (Nov. 15). The non-conference portion of the schedule will continue on November 23, when the 'Cats visit Princeton for a dual on the East Coast, before heading west for the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 5-6).
Northwestern wrestling's home opener will be held on December 19, when the Wildcats host Lock Haven for a dual meeting at Welsh-Ryan Arena. After the holidays, the team will be back in action for the 61st annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, which will return to Evanston for the first time since 2017 and be held in Ryan Fieldhouse. More information about the event will be available at a later date.
In the new year, the 'Cats will kick off Big Ten action with a home dual against Maryland (Jan. 9) before heading north to take on Wisconsin on the road (Jan. 16). Northwestern's conference schedule is highlighted by a home dual against the defending National Champion Nittany Lions, who will visit Welsh-Ryan Arena on January 18.
After hosting Rutgers (Jan. 23), the Wildcats will embark on a three-dual road stretch, traveling to Michigan (Jan. 30), Michigan State (Feb. 1) and Nebraska (Feb. 8). Dual season will wind down with a non-conference matchup against NIU at home (Feb. 13) ahead of the conference finale against rival Illinois on February 15.
The 2026 Big Ten Championships will be hosted by Penn State in State College, Pa., from March 7-8. Following that, the NCAA Championships will take place in Cleveland, Ohio, at Rocket Arena from March 19-21.
A full listing of Northwestern's 2025-26 schedule follows:
2025-26 Northwestern Wrestling Schedule
Nov. 8 – at Michigan State Open
Nov. 15 – at SIUE
Nov. 23 – at Princeton
Dec. 5-6 – at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational
Dec. 19 – Lock Haven
Dec. 29-30 – Ken Kraft Midlands Championships (Ryan Fieldhouse)
Jan. 9 – Maryland *
Jan. 16 – at Wisconsin *
Jan. 18 – Penn State *
Jan. 23 – Rutgers *
Jan. 30 – at Michigan *
Feb. 1 – at Michigan State *
Feb. 8 – at Nebraska *
Feb. 13 - NIU
Feb. 15 – Illinois *
March 7-8 – Big Ten Championships (State College, Pa.)
March 19-21 – NCAA Championships (Cleveland, Ohio)
* Big Ten Conference dual
The slate is set ??
— Northwestern Wrestling (@NUWrestle) September 29, 2025
Our full 2025-26 schedule has arrived!
??? https://t.co/Jru7FXwdjY pic.twitter.com/KX9Rxp7h4R
Matt Storniolo's squad will raise the curtain on its season on November 8 at the Michigan State Open, then take on its first dual opponent a week later at SIUE (Nov. 15). The non-conference portion of the schedule will continue on November 23, when the 'Cats visit Princeton for a dual on the East Coast, before heading west for the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational (Dec. 5-6).
Northwestern wrestling's home opener will be held on December 19, when the Wildcats host Lock Haven for a dual meeting at Welsh-Ryan Arena. After the holidays, the team will be back in action for the 61st annual Ken Kraft Midlands Championships, which will return to Evanston for the first time since 2017 and be held in Ryan Fieldhouse. More information about the event will be available at a later date.
In the new year, the 'Cats will kick off Big Ten action with a home dual against Maryland (Jan. 9) before heading north to take on Wisconsin on the road (Jan. 16). Northwestern's conference schedule is highlighted by a home dual against the defending National Champion Nittany Lions, who will visit Welsh-Ryan Arena on January 18.
After hosting Rutgers (Jan. 23), the Wildcats will embark on a three-dual road stretch, traveling to Michigan (Jan. 30), Michigan State (Feb. 1) and Nebraska (Feb. 8). Dual season will wind down with a non-conference matchup against NIU at home (Feb. 13) ahead of the conference finale against rival Illinois on February 15.
The 2026 Big Ten Championships will be hosted by Penn State in State College, Pa., from March 7-8. Following that, the NCAA Championships will take place in Cleveland, Ohio, at Rocket Arena from March 19-21.
A full listing of Northwestern's 2025-26 schedule follows:
2025-26 Northwestern Wrestling Schedule
Nov. 8 – at Michigan State Open
Nov. 15 – at SIUE
Nov. 23 – at Princeton
Dec. 5-6 – at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational
Dec. 19 – Lock Haven
Dec. 29-30 – Ken Kraft Midlands Championships (Ryan Fieldhouse)
Jan. 9 – Maryland *
Jan. 16 – at Wisconsin *
Jan. 18 – Penn State *
Jan. 23 – Rutgers *
Jan. 30 – at Michigan *
Feb. 1 – at Michigan State *
Feb. 8 – at Nebraska *
Feb. 13 - NIU
Feb. 15 – Illinois *
March 7-8 – Big Ten Championships (State College, Pa.)
March 19-21 – NCAA Championships (Cleveland, Ohio)
* Big Ten Conference dual
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Saturday, February 08
Wrestling - 'Cats Tame Mustangs, Take Down Cal Poly 29-14 (12/19/24)
Friday, December 20
Michael DeAugustino and Yahya Thomas Join 'Big Ten Wrestling & Beyond' (2/20/23)
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