Iowa is unanimous No. 1 in first NWCA Division I Coaches Poll of the season

MANHEIM, PA – With the lion’s share of the abbreviated NCAA Division I wrestling season starting this weekend, the NWCA has released its first Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll for the 2020-21 season. Released weekly, the NWCA Division I Coaches Poll is based on dual meet results throughout the season.

After an undefeated dual season in 2019-20 and returning most of its starting lineup, Iowa received all 14 first-place votes and starts the season ranked No. 1 in the nation. As usual, the Big Ten dominates the Top 25 with 11 of its 14 teams ranked. The ACC and Big 12 Conferences each have four schools represented in the Top 25, while the EIWA, Mid-American Conference and Pac-12 each have two apiece.

Methodology: The NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll is voted on by two coaches from each Division I wrestling conference. Each first-place vote is worth 25 points, 24 points for a second-place vote, 23 for a third-place vote and so on through to one point for a 25th-place vote. The poll is based on dual meet results. Teams who are not competing this season are not included in the voting process.

NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll
January 1, 2021

Rank Team (First) 19-20 Record Points Conf. 19-20 Final Dual Rank
1 Iowa (14) (13-0) 350 Big Ten 1
2 Penn State (12-2) 326 Big Ten 2
3 Michigan (7-6) 315 Big Ten 22
4 NC State (15-0) 302 ACC 3
5 Nebraska (11-3) 290 Big Ten 4
6 Oklahoma State (13-3) 277 Big 12 11
7 Ohio State (10-4) 273 Big Ten 5
8 Virginia Tech (11-3) 230 ACC 9
9 Iowa State (10-5) 225 Big 12 21
10 North Carolina (14-3) 198 ACC 7
11 Arizona State (15-2) 195 Pac-12 6
12 Missouri (12-7) 189 MAC 23
13 Minnesota (9-8) 167 Big Ten 13
14 Pittsburgh (10-4) 159 ACC 8
15 Rutgers (10-7) 126 Big Ten 25
16 Purdue (12-5) 116 Big Ten 15
17 Lehigh (12-3) 113 EIWA 10
18 Stanford (11-4) 106 Pac-12 24
19 Wisconsin (11-6) 104 Big Ten 14
20 Oklahoma (5-7) 81 Big 12 NR
21 (tie) Central Michigan (8-4) 51 MAC NR
21 (tie) Michigan State (8-10) 51 Big Ten NR
23 Northwestern (6-7) 50 Big Ten NR
24 Northern Iowa (8-4) 41 Big 12 16
25 Army West Point (10-3) 34 EIWA 17

Others Receiving Votes: Northern Colorado 33, Illinois 30, Virginia 29, Rider 22, Campbell 21, Appalachian State 17, Wyoming 13, Hofstra 5, South Dakota State 4, Navy 3, North Dakota State 2, Northern Illinois 1, West Virginia 1.