What: #2 Iowa (8-0) vs #22 Illinois (3-4)
When: Friday, January 26, 2024, at 8 p.m. CT (9 p.m. ET)
Where: Champaign, Illinois (Huff Hall)
How to watch: Big Ten Network

What: #2 Iowa (8-0) vs Northwestern (0-2)
When: Sunday, January 28, 2024, at 2 p.m. CT (3 p.m. ET)
Where: Evanston, Illinois (Welsh-Ryan Arena)
How to watch: BTN+

Iowa (8-0)
WON — Cal Baptist, 40-0 (Nov. 4, 2023)
WON — Oregon State, 25-11 (Nov. 19, 2023)
WON — Iowa State, 18-14 (Nov. 26, 2023)
WON — Penn, 22-13 (Dec. 1, 2023)
WON — Columbia, 38-3 (Dec. 8, 2023)
WON — Nebraska, 22-10 (Jan. 12, 2024)
WON — Minnesota, 22-9 (Jan. 15, 2024)
WON — Purdue, 34-6 (Jan. 19, 2024)

Illinois (3-4)
WON — SIUE, 28-7 (Nov. 2, 2023)
LOST — Navy, 23-18 (Nov. 4, 2023)
WON — Central Michigan, 32-3 (Nov. 19, 2023)
WON — North Carolina, 20-13 (Nov. 19, 2023)
LOST — Pittsburgh, 22-9 (Dec. 3, 2023)
LOST — Missouri, 29-6 (Dec. 21, 2023)
LOST — Ohio State, 36-6 (Jan. 12, 2024)

Northwestern (0-2)
LOST — Northern Illinois, 18-17 (Dec. 19, 2023)
LOST — Maryland, 29-15 (Jan. 14, 2024)

Ranked Wrestlers

Iowa
125: #6 Drake Ayala, SO (11-2)
133: #18 Brody Teske, SR (6-2)
141: #1 Real Woods, SR (12-0)
149: #14 Caleb Rathjen, SO (8-2)
157: #2 Jared Franek, SR (11-1)
165: #6 Michael Caliendo, SO (12-1)
174: #13 Patrick Kennedy, JR (8-2)
197: #13 Zach Glazier, SR (11-0)
285: #28 Ben Kueter, FR (1-0)

Illinois
133: #29 Anthony Madrigal, SR (1-2)
141: #22 Danny Pucino, JR (7-6)
149: #10 Kannon Webster, FR (10-1)
165: #32 Chris Moore, FR (7-5)
174: #5 Edmond Ruth, JR (12-1)
184: #30 Dylan Connell, SO (3-4)
285: #11 Luke Luffman, SR (8-3)

Northwestern
157: #22 Trevor Chumbley, JR (10-5)
165: #18 Maxx Mayfield, JR (11-6)
184: #23 Troy Fisher, SR (8-4)
197: #27 Evan Bates, SO (6-6)

Storylines To Follow

To Redshirt Or Not To Redshirt
Illinois has several options who aren’t competing this season, including two-time All-American Lucas Byrd (injury) and the Braunagels — Danny and Zac — who are taking Olympic redshirts.  The Illini can make this interesting even without three line-up staples. 

Mike Poeta’s squad is favored in four matches — if true freshman Kannon Webster gets the nod at 149 pounds. Webster is 10-1 on the season, including a third-place finish at Midlands when he competed unattached. 

The Toulon, Illinois, native has competed in four of his five competition dates and has one to use. Will Webster compete against Iowa and stay in Redshirt? 

Iowa’s 149-pound Dilemma
Iowa has several options 149-pound options. Victor Voinovich and Caleb Rathjen are the frontrunners after splitting time last week. Each might compete in one dual apiece this weekend, too. 

Voinovich defeated Purdue’s Marcus Polanco 19-4 on January 19.
Rathjen defeated Minnesota’s Drew Roberts 7-2 on January 15. 

This weekend’s results could determine who will wrestle at the Big Ten Championships on March 9-10 in College Park, Maryland. 

Fighting Illini
Illinois is favored in four matches against Iowa (if Webster wrestles).

149: #10 Kannon Webster (Illinois) vs #14 Caleb Rathjen or Victor Voinovich (Iowa)
174: #5 Edmond Ruth (Illinois) vs #13 Patrick Kennedy (Iowa)
184: #30 Dylan Connell (Illinois) vs Aiden Riggins (Iowa)
285: #11 Luke Luffman (Illinois) vs #28 Ben Kueter or Bradley Hill (Iowa)

Will Ben Kueter Wrestle?
Intrigue is high for Ben Kueter — a football and wrestling standout. The U20 World champion has one match under his belt: a 5-3 decision over Minnesota’s Bennett Tabor. The true freshman heavyweight has four competition dates remaining and could see action in one or both of this weekend’s duals. 

Iowa’s Bradley Hill is 10-3 on the season after posting a 19-4 technical fall over Purdue’s Tristan Ruhlman on Friday.

Wildcats
Northwestern has four wrestlers ranked in the top 33 and are favored in one match against the Hawkeyes. Senior Troy Fisher — #23 — will face likely unranked Aiden Riggins.