Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Bo Bassett + Iowa Hawkeyes: A new era in college wrestling?

Starting point is 00:00:00 From the Penn State side of things, when Bo Bassett committed, not a lot changed, but that's not how Iowa sees it. You are locked on college crossover part of the locked on podcast network, your team every day. You are locked on to some Penn State and Iowa wrestling in this locked on crossover. I'm Zach Seiko of Locked On Nittany Lions. He is Trent Condon of Locked On Hot Guys. And thank you so much for making us your first listen to M Watch today. Trent, Bo Bassett commits. He's been committed for a little bit here, but Penn State strong 2024 and 2025 class that this was just by naturally going to happen that

Starting point is 00:00:47 the paradigm was going to at least make an attempt to shift Oklahoma State is certainly getting into the conversation as well so we're going to cover a lot of it but first and foremost I say that not a lot has changed because of what they've done in 24 25 I think it's still gonna be a long time before anybody challenges Penn State, but how does Iowa see this? Because they are getting the top prospect in the class of 2026. And he's going to create a domino effect where he's not the only prospect that's going to follow to the Hawkeyes. hoping for from the Iowa perspective. It wasn't about just the individual Bo Bassett, which is an incredible talent, a guy that is a lot of people project a national champion, possibly a multi time national champion. So it's yes, a very talented guy that has big accolades and maybe I was best individual talent that they've got since Spencer Lee. So that's where the excitement lies. But it's the understanding and the way that the

Starting point is 00:01:45 blueprint that Penn State has built, what you have to do is not just about Bo Bassett. You have to beat a lineup. You have to put together a lineup that has three, four, maybe five national champions in it. That's what you're looking to build. And with Bo Bassett, it's not just him, the wrestler, it's what comes along with it. He has a background, he has social media, he has excitement, he is a guy that Iowa fans hope is the Pied Piper, that he is going to bring those other guys with him, that there are other people that want to be in the training room with him, that want to be maybe getting a little of that NIL money that goes along with it. That's what you hope you create with this because he's got the background, he's got the social media following, he's got the personality. Now, can he get other people

Starting point is 00:02:28 to follow him to Iowa City? Iowa's brand power combined with Bo Bassett's brand power. I'd never thought of it that thoroughly, but that's a good point that yes, you are going to get, I guess in a sense, a larger presence with Flow Wrestling, right? Flow Wrestling and Bo Bassett have a relationship. So I think, and I think that's just part of the way that Iowa operates because Penn State doesn't do a lot of the publicity or anything like that. They seem pretty, they're close to the vest. You'll get some, you'll get some media promotion pre-season and some stuff going into the post season, but not the way

Starting point is 00:03:05 that I, I feel like I see a lot of content centered around Iowa wrestling, whether that's an inside look or an interview with a wrestler or anything. And I'm not, that's not a good or a bad thing. That just is what it is. And that's why Bo Bassett almost fits in a little bit better with Iowa than anywhere else. You know, another part of this this what you look at is a lot of people say well for Penn State no big deal right we're kind of moving on well the other programs are trying to figure out a way because what they have done for the last 12 years hasn't worked. Yeah there's been glimpses and Iowa had the run they would have dominated the championship

Starting point is 00:03:39 in 2020 got the championship the year after that but that was a two year run. We saw Ohio State make their one year run. But overall, when we're talking about it, all encompassing, Penn State has broken the mold. So teams have tried it one way. It hasn't worked. Now I was trying it this direction. Now the reason that I was able to do this from a financial sense, and I know the $5 million figure is out there, that Bo Bassett got $5 billion. Now, what I have been told in wrestling communities at the University of Iowa is that number, $5 million is incredibly high. But it's not jump change. We are still talking definitely seven figures easily during the course of his four year career. So that is not crazy to go along with it over the four years. But that aside, the money is immense. And how they're able to do that is they have two very big financial backers that are only about Iowa wrestling.

Starting point is 00:04:29 That's not about the football program. This is not about the basketball program or anything else. This is about wrestling. It's how they built the new facility. And now this is how they're able to go about it. So the finances are there, the ability to put things and to become the space for NIL. You want to make big money in collegiate wrestling, Iowa is the place. So that is what they're trying to sell. That's what they're able to do financially right now. And I think that helped with Bo Bassett. But Iowa fans, they all

Starting point is 00:04:55 know this. It can't just be about Bo Bassett. This has to be something big. This has to be something all encompassing and in the changing landscape of college athletics and we look around how many programs across the country of the what 90 that wrestle at the division one level how many of them are going to be funding how many scholarships when we're talking about roster limits and the way that's going to look for college wrestling I mean that's a more big picture kind of question that maybe is a little bit scary when we talk about college wrestling already has been consolidated so much and so few programs across the country and we know Iowa, Penn State, Oklahoma State, those programs are going to be fine but what about even that next year? Now I hear a program, I look here in our state, UNI has had a lot of success under former Iowa national champion

Starting point is 00:05:40 Doug Schwab and for a program like that done well. Well now can they even hope to compete for top tens? Iowa's been trying to build and build and build. It's been a decade now of Kevin Dressler and he hasn't been able to get over the hump. Will programs like that be able to even compete for a trophy to finish in the top four anymore because of what is happening in college athletics? Iowa, Penn State, Oklahoma State, we know they're going gonna be fine. It's kind of scary when you look at the overall look at the programs and college wrestling as a whole. I think that's an excellent point because when you mention a Northern Iowa,

Starting point is 00:06:12 I would imagine that an Iowa State or an Ohio State and a Michigan don't get left behind because financially they can be competitive, but we know that Oklahoma State, Iowa and Penn State respectively, definitely have an initiative towards funding wrestling programs respectively. So let's talk about that initiative, the word initiative. Iowa lost to Penn State two years ago, 29 to six.

Starting point is 00:06:36 Of course, I'm not, I'm not even talking about the postseason here, 29 to six in the dual meet and then most recently 30 to 8 this past season was there almost you can't miss on Beau Bassett regardless so Iowa you know went back and made sure that Beau Bassett was going to commit or was there always this understanding that he was going to where did how what was Iowa's confidence level before and after that 30 to 8 final? You know I think maybe there were it was more the fans that got concerned about it. From the people that I've talked to

Starting point is 00:07:08 and leading up to the commitment before the duel, Iowa felt very confident about their spot. They felt like they were in good shape. And from what I had heard, it would have been a surprise to people inside the wrestling building if Iowa didn't get Bo Bassett at that time. So I don't think anything changed,

Starting point is 00:07:23 but you know how it is, Zach. When fans see a loss like that, they see the absolute domination didn't get bobas it at that time so I don't think anything changed but you know how it is Zach when fans see a loss like that they see the absolute domination that Penn State put on them you get concerned and you start maybe talking yourself into a narrative that isn't there and and I definitely saw a whole lot of that you know the fan base after that Friday night a couple weeks ago now they were as upset as I have ever seen. And it was every- Understandably so. You know, they've lost before.

Starting point is 00:07:48 They've gotten dominated in nationals before. And, you know, the one part when we kind of look at the beginning of the dynasty of Penn State and the way that it built is those duels, a lot of times were incredibly close. It was just that Penn State had built themselves up to such a great tournament team that we knew the path was going to be incredibly difficult

Starting point is 00:08:03 from an Iowa perspective. Now, when you're seeing on top of it, the duels just lead to this kind of domination. And now it happening continually. I think that's where the frustration is really, all right, we know tournament wise, it's going to take an absolute perfect tournament for it to happen. But at least we can hang around at duels. And now that's not even happening anymore. happening anymore. So Penn State setting an ultra precedent, but they're now behind when it looks, when you look at the distant future, 2026 Oklahoma State has two of the top three overall prospects. Iowa has the top overall prospect. What is Penn State's response and how is Iowa shaping up for the future? We'll discuss that more here on this Lockdown Crossover. as I was shaping up for the future, we'll discuss that more here on this Lockdown crossover. And today's show is brought to you by Wayfair. After the holiday hustle, and I know that seems so far away, but there is nothing like giving your home a little TLC, and you can find that decluttering and refreshing your

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Starting point is 00:10:08 Iowa's response. This is Oklahoma State's counter because of what Penn State did for 2024 and 2025 respectively. Those classes for 2024, for example, Luke Lilladal, Zack Ryder, Joe Sealy, the Mirasola twins, and then you look at 2025, oh, well, Joe Seely, the Mira Sola twins. And then you look at 2025. Oh, well Penn State missed out on the top three prospects. Yeah, in 2025, they got Marcus Blaze and PJ Duke. Depending on who you ask, those guys are the consensus number one and number two prospects.

Starting point is 00:10:36 So this is a response to Penn State. Penn State doesn't necessarily need to respond. And yes, they are behind when it comes to the class of 2026 but they already have a top 20 pound for pound prospect in Sam Herring a teammate of Bo Bassett's a teammate of Jack's force at bishop of court presently i mean we are talking about junior high school wrestlers but these guys are generational talents that we are talking about Dreshawn Ross as well and i imagine that know, it's not even about Penn State. Losing the likes of Drayshon Ross to Oklahoma State definitely made Iowa say, okay, we need,

Starting point is 00:11:09 at a very minimum, Bo Bassett, because this guy is from the state of Iowa himself. So this is all a reaction to what Penn State has done over the past couple of cycles. I'll take this a step further, Trent. I don't think that Penn State is necessarily focused on 2026 as it presents itself. I think they go in pairs of years of cycles where it's 2024, 2025.

Starting point is 00:11:33 Okay, maybe you let off the gas a little bit, or if you understand your surroundings, 2026 isn't a make or break cycle for you from Penn State's point of view, but it means that 2027 and 2028 become that much more important. You know, I think from the Iowa perspective, it's a little bit concerning that, yes, you got Bassett, that's great, but I think they were anticipating they were going to get two of the three. And he went when you mentioned both Forrest and Ross, both of those guys to have both of them end up at Oklahoma State. I think that's a concerning part of it from an Iowa angle. And I think you bring it up very well because it was a thought that I had, you know,

Starting point is 00:12:06 Penn State, are they a little bit worried? Not just about the Bobass part of it. All right, Pennsylvania kid leaving the state and going to Iowa, we saw Spencer Lee and what that turned into. So, but also not getting any of those top five guys in the class of 2026. And I think you answered it though pretty well there, Zach,

Starting point is 00:12:23 because it's not just about that class. Now, if it continues and we're talking a year from now in the class of 2027, and they don't get that top tier guy, they don't get any of those top tier wrestlers, the guys that are built to become national champions early in their career, then maybe we're having the conversation. But from your perspective, from the Penn State side,

Starting point is 00:12:44 is that kind of the thought process right now? No need to hit the panic button now, but if we're having the conversation. But from your perspective, from the Penn State side, is that kind of the thought process right now? No need to hit the panic button now. But if we're having this conversation again next year, then maybe the discourse is gonna change. Potentially dependent, right? I think 2026 is so, it's about the publicity because Trent, the biggest difference between Marcus Blaze and PJ Duke

Starting point is 00:13:02 and Bo Bassett and Jacks Forest is the media presence. The the the dual meets are streamed, the commitments are promoted, all these different interviews. I couldn't find a PJ Duke commitment video or it just happened. He committed to Penn State. And I think that's just the difference above all else is that Iowa from its brand perspective wants to be out there, wants to be in the spotlight and Penn State kind of want to continue, wants to continue to fly under the radar. So when you look at Marcus Blaze and PJ Duke, they just kind of passively committed to Penn State from the, from the public perception. But when you look at Bo Bassett, when you look at Jack's forest, it was this media buildup.

Starting point is 00:13:39 It's all these future presentations of how they train, how they wrestle and everything else. And you can't find anything like that between Blaze and Duke. So that's just a side note of all of this. But if it doesn't make sense for Penn State and it doesn't make sense for the wrestler, Kale Sanderson has said this time and time again that they're not going to force it. As much as they would like a wrestler just from a talent and from a determination standpoint, Bo Bassett and Jax Forrest makes sense. But

Starting point is 00:14:06 Penn State does operate differently compared to the likes of Iowa. I can only speak so much to David Taylor in Oklahoma State because they really haven't set any standards quite yet. We know that they have the Penn State blueprint, they're going to build out the RTC program, but he's only been doing this for not even a year. So that's what I mean when I, when I say let's, I can, I can only see what is that media presence going to be like for, is David Taylor going to combine different elements of things or is he going to follow Penn State to a T? I don't know.

Starting point is 00:14:35 Or is he just going to do his own thing? What, from your guys' look at things on the Penn State side, what do you look at the next half decade? Who's a more concerning program, Iowa or Oklahoma State? If you're asking me, I mean, Penn State's going to say both just because if you ask Kale Sanderson directly, I personally say Oklahoma State. I feel like to an extent, Iowa because you mentioned about, yes, NIL is a factor, financials are going to be a factor and that's how Iowa's positioning itself. I think that's almost recruiting against yourself in a way

Starting point is 00:15:07 because then does the money, what goes around comes around ultimately hurts Iowa in a sense, well, Bo Bassett, we know that he's getting XYZ, why am I not earning that? Why am I not getting that offer? And then I'm gonna go somewhere else, right? I'm speaking purely in hypotheticals. Maybe Iowa has not done that,

Starting point is 00:15:23 but I think it can lead to potentially that if Iowa isn't careful, but there's obviously smarter people that are running the show than I could ever imagine. So I think that's a concern is that Iowa almost has to, Penn State doesn't have to compete against itself. I don't think Oklahoma State has to compete against itself.

Starting point is 00:15:41 I think to an extent, if Iowa continues down this path, they will have to compete with themselves in a sense, recruiting, right? Dre Sean Ross going to Oklahoma State. He's in the state of Iowa. He is from Iowa. That is slightly concerning. So for 26, 27, it's because of where Penn State is. Josh Barr is going to anchor the lineup. Luke Lilladal, you have PJ Duke, you have Marcus Blaze that could come in and start right away. So they are going to lose Greg Kirkfleet, Bo Bartlett and Carter Staracci after the season, but then Josh Barr becomes the face of the lineup to go with Mitchell Messenbrink for two more seasons, to go with Tyler Kasach for two more seasons, Shane Van Ness for two more seasons. So there's still those household names in the lineup and it's kind of a group of four where they anchor the lineup and then these other wrestlers, these other athletes come in and make

Starting point is 00:16:28 a name for themselves progressively over time. So Penn State's set up where they can essentially hedge any sort of outside friction from an Iowa and Oklahoma state. Where is Iowa presently? Because I'm intrigued just, you know, this is a portion of the lineup, but Angela Ferrari did show a lot against Carter Starachi He showed and I and from simply from that duel Carter wasn't kidding when he said that hey I thought the other guy was better than than Gabe Arnold who called me out even though he didn't mention a name He just said I thought the other guy is better, and I'm expecting him to start well a Carter Carter knows I was line up. I guess pretty well. So Gabe Arnold and then Angela Ferrari at one 84, they can't both start.

Starting point is 00:17:12 And then I'm hearing rumors that AJ Ferrari is going to make a, make a comeback to Iowa at one 97. What does that all look like for, for the 2025 26 lineup in itself? You know, the, the AJ Ferrari thing, there are wild rumors all over the place. Personally, I would be surprised to see him make a return to Iowa City. Angelo has made, obviously, a tremendous run during his freshman campaign. They're very excited about him. His personality, though, compared to, I guess, your everyday run of the mill

Starting point is 00:17:44 wrestler, yeah, he's a little out there. AJ's just at a different level, though, and we've seen that. personality though compared to I guess your everyday run of the mill wrestler yeah he's a little out there AJ's just at a different level though and we've seen that and you know going back to the Soldier salute last year and the double birds that he threw up to the Hawkeye crowd after he got it done not wearing an I was single at as he was wrestling open in that beat I don't know if the it's completely fractured but I would be really surprised by that one well I think what the thought process is Gabe Gabe Arnold is probably not going to be able to cut down. And I don't think that they see him being able to be at his best

Starting point is 00:18:14 cutting down to 74. So I would anticipate you'll see Angelo be the one that bulks up and gets up to 97. They go that direction after the graduation of Stephen Buchanan this year, the transfer whose, he's just been tremendous for the Hawkeyes this year. So I think Ferrari, because of his build, Angelo Ferrari, I got to make sure we put the first names in along with it. I think he would be the one that has the ability to bulk up. Remember, Gabriel is not a real tall guy either. I mean, to think that he would be able to bulk up.

Starting point is 00:18:42 I mean, you were talking about just a rock, a bowling ball of power if he would be able to get up to 97. I just don't see that. So I think that's kind of the thought process. I don't see a path for AJ coming back. And the other part is, you know, what do you do now with Ben Keeter? After going through his campaign, you saw him against Kirk LeVitt. He's still got a long ways to go.

Starting point is 00:19:01 And he's one of those tweener guys, right? He's incredibly athletic. He is strong. He is physical, but against those bigger heavyweights, he really struggles about that one. He also has been playing football. He took football off this season. Is he going to go back onto the football field? That's a question. I would be surprised personally, if he is back out there on the football field, and

Starting point is 00:19:20 he just concentrates solely on football going forward or wrestling, excuse me, going forward. So at least in the upper weights, that's kind of the thought now. I know they're really excited about some of the guys that they're bringing in. And again, the NIL funds that are going to be there and the ability to plug holes in the lineup, I think that is what I was looking to do.

Starting point is 00:19:37 Yes, you cannot build the foundation of your wrestling program by doing that, by just going out there and getting the mercenaries, getting the one year guys. That's not a way to build a cohesive lineup. You have to be able to do it. But when a hole's there, when a weight doesn't look very good,

Starting point is 00:19:52 you look at what's happening at 49 this year. And it's just, it's been a very frustrating season, a 41 excuse me, for Iowa 141 this year. If you have another year like that, the ability to have the funds to be able to plug it, that's what I was gonna have to do to try to run able to plug it, that's what I was gonna have to do to try to run down Penn State. And that's what I mean when I say Iowa in a sense

Starting point is 00:20:09 is almost competing against itself. You set this precedent where wrestlers were pushed out to make way for those quote unquote mercenaries or just somebody trying to maximize. I don't blame them for trying to maximize their final year of eligibility, but now those wrestlers are gone because of the college athletic attrition.

Starting point is 00:20:26 So I was constantly going to be playing catch up with itself in a sense, if that's the case. So I don't think that can continue. And then we've mentioned Oklahoma State, Penn State. I was trying to catch Penn State. Well, Oklahoma State's trying to not only catch Iowa, but then push them down to catch up to Penn State. What is David Taylor's plan and all of this? We'll discuss that more after a quick break. All right, Trent, let's wrap up.

Starting point is 00:20:57 I've talked to Lockdown Oklahoma State. They obviously seem very confident. It's kind of the same thing. Hey, we have at least a blueprint to build out the RTC program, build out what we're doing with NIL, and everybody's aligned. Penn State certainly has alignment. Iowa, same thing.

Starting point is 00:21:14 Everybody's all on the same page. The objective, the goals might be slightly different, but everyone says, okay, this is our path. Let's stick to it, and anybody that's not a part of it can get out of our way. So Oklahoma State, just because David Taylor did wrestle at Penn State, he was able to see and pick up some pointers and I don't know if he ever sat down with Kale Sanderson and said, hey how would you run the program? What would you tell me about this and that? Because he now is the enemy, but he at least has even a semblance of the blueprint to match what Penn State does and that starts with the RTC program and then you build out the

Starting point is 00:21:48 lineup from there because there's a lot of respectable figures that are wrestling internationally. Zahid Valencia for crying out loud right he's the one that kind of started all this the the Singlet poll which allows Aaron Brooke you know whether whether or not people think that it actually happened Aaron Brooks still was able to get into the final, defeats David Taylor. And imagine if David Taylor goes off to the Olympics that he doesn't end up at Oklahoma State. So I've mentioned that I think that Oklahoma State is best positioned, is

Starting point is 00:22:17 better positioned than Iowa. I'm not saying that Iowa is going to completely fall off, but if Oklahoma State passes them to catch up to Penn State, I'm saying I'm not surprised. So how does Iowa feel about Oklahoma State now getting into this three-team race? I think it has to be concerning because you were chasing one. And now you're not chasing two.

Starting point is 00:22:36 But there's another one that's right there running the same race that you are and trying to track down the behemoth. So I think it has to be a concern. I think getting Ross outside of the state of Iowa, that was a big one. And we've seen a couple guys that have gone out to Penn State that Iowa thought they had a strike a hold on it, that didn't come to fruition. But I think overall, that is the concerning part about this. They have the financials, they can go out there and spend. Okay, that's a part of it. And that's not how Penn State's doing it. They did it a different way. And they're able to kind of build their program in a different way because of that. And the wrestling club that goes along with it. But I think now seeing this, seeing what they're doing early in the David Taylor and the returns that he's gonna be, I'll be honest, you know, I've heard people for years and years go out, Iowa fans, go out and hire David Taylor, David Taylor. And maybe personality is just too much, and we've had personality from Dan Gable.

Starting point is 00:23:25 He had personality, and his press conferences were worth the price of admission. If you had to pay to get in, you would do it because it was that much fun. You never know what you're gonna get out of Tom Brands. The Tom Brands press conference is up and in, and David Taylor is boring. Well, Kale Sanderson's boring too.

Starting point is 00:23:38 Both these guys are just, I mean, it's paint dry, right? Listen to them talk about it in a monotone voice. That's what you're gonna get. But eventually, it's not what happens for me in the paint dry, right? Listen to him talk about it, but monotone voice, that's what you're gonna get. But eventually, it's not what happens for me in the press conference, right? It's what happens in that wrestling room. It's the building up. Those are the things that matter.

Starting point is 00:23:53 And because of that, that's maybe why at the time, I was not on board of going out and getting David Taylor, but already seeing the fruits of his labor and what's happening less than a year on the job, I can understand where people are coming from with him. And if you're Iowa, I don't want to try to frame this as a good thing for Penn State, but it kind of almost dilutes because I, let me, let me explain it this way. It dilutes the competition to where Penn State can still benefit for the short term because if Oklahoma

Starting point is 00:24:23 State is an, I don't, if David Taylor's not at Oklahoma State, they don't get Dre'shaun Ross. They don't get Jax Forrest. They probably go to Iowa for different reasons. Dre'shaun Ross, because it gets a chance to stay home and that's probably, that was probably his second school if I had to guess. I don't know. That's purely, that's purely a guess. But then Oklahoma State, David Taylor flies in. They miss on Beau Bassett. They fly in that night to go meet with Jax Forrest and say, we gotta get you on board.

Starting point is 00:24:50 You're going to be one of the headline prospects of this class of 2026. And it's because of that relationship with David Taylor that pays off in that recruitment. So in an alternate world where David Taylor's still at NLWC where he goes off to the Olympics and he's basically he's not at Oklahoma State. Jax Force ends up at Iowa. Drey Sean Ross ends up at Iowa. This RTC program doesn't get built out so it doesn't necessarily affect Penn State as much as it does for the Hawkeyes.

Starting point is 00:25:20 And David Taylor, I'm sure there were also people from a Penn State perspective, they thought he was gonna come back home, he'd be an assistant under Cale, and he would be the heir apparent, right? I'm sure there was people who said that theory. Well, that theory for now is off the board and who knows in five, ten, fifteen years, whatever it is that Cale hangs it up, who knows what programs look like? Who knows what it is? Because I will tell you as an Iowa fan, it doesn't last forever. It feels like it's gonna last forever. Nittany Lion fans, it feels like right now it's gonna last forever. I will tell you, nothing lasts forever. And whenever that is,

Starting point is 00:25:54 maybe Oklahoma State then is the dominant power. Maybe he doesn't want to go up to the cold northeast in the winter anymore and he's happy being down in still water. Whatever it is, we don't know. And because of that, that certainly changes the equation. I'm sure what a lot of Nittany Flyen fans hoped and thought was gonna happen eventually. Yeah, that certainly seemed to be the, it seems like an afterthought now, like a pipe dream of some sorts,

Starting point is 00:26:17 but that probably was the expectation that David Taylor was going to be the coach in waiting to join as an official assistant on staff and then eventually take over for Kale Sanderson. And it would have been a perfect transition. I don't think you could have asked for it any better, but he's very set. He's set up well. So if you said to me, Hey, what is the likelihood that David Taylor returns to Penn State? And if Kale Sanderson retired in five to 10 years, do you think, do you think David Taylor

Starting point is 00:26:41 would take the job? And I don't think he would. I think Oklahoma State has given him the resources. From what I've heard in passing is just that David Taylor was saying no. And then Oklahoma State, okay, well, what about this? And then what about this? And they made it worth his while. So I think that's going to go a long way. More than just a couple of seasons. That's going to go a long way for potentially decades. And David Taylor's only in his thirties, so he could be coaching there for the next 20, 30 years in itself. For Ohio State, Michigan, I think it's those other power schools, the

Starting point is 00:27:17 ones that definitely can financially compete. It's a three team race. And as much as I'd like to say, hey, the Buckeyes are in it, hey the Wolverines are in it, right they have you know everything backing from Cliff Keene, Virginia Tech, NC State, seems like everybody else has just fallen off and it's just it's just our three respective schools. It does right now the one thing that I'm interested to see when we get everything figured out what the new level of NIL roster limits what that's going to look like, full funding of is, and it's really two programs. If Michigan or Ohio State decide, you know what, we're gonna spend, we're gonna spend as much as anybody because they have the financial resources to do that and they can and they

Starting point is 00:27:56 have it to this point, not at the level that we've seen, but if they make that choice, that could definitely change it. That is, again, a hypothetical that is out there that, but it could happen and if it does happen, look out, because we're going to be talking about a different type of sport if all of a sudden the Ohio State, Ohio State kind of on its own level

Starting point is 00:28:12 and Michigan to a different level, if both those programs start spending like we see with the big three right now. That's going to do it for this locked on crossover between Locked On Nittany Lions and Locked On Hot Guys. I'm Zach Seco, he is Trent Condon. If you're new to both of our shows, subscribe to the YouTube channels wherever you get your podcasts. Let us know your thoughts down in the comments section, whether you're a Penn State, Iowa or Oklahoma State fan. How do you think this shakes up

Starting point is 00:28:35 the dynamic of college wrestling? And for your second, thank you for making us your first Listen and Watch. For your second Listen and Watch, check out Locked On Big Ten, Penn State and Iowa are in the Big Ten conference. Craig Scheman does a great job of talking about all 18 schools within the conference. So thank you so much for being a part of this conversation and we'll talk to you very soon on both Locked On Nittany Lions and Locked On Hawkeyes.

Locked On Hawkeyes - Daily Podcast On Iowa Hawkeyes Football & Basketball - Bo Bassett + Iowa Hawkeyes: A new era in college wrestling?

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