Cowboys Claim Three National Titles at NCAA Championships — Best Team Finish in a Decade for Oklahoma State
Sergio Vega, Landon Robideau, and Jax Forrest each claim individual titles as Oklahoma State posts 131.0 team points in Cleveland
If it hadn't already, Oklahoma State has established itself back among college wrestling's elite.
The 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships concluded Saturday evening at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, and OSU placed second — its best finish since 2016 — with 131.0 team points, clearing third-place Nebraska by 30.5. Penn State clinched the team title with an NCAA-record 181.5 team points, claiming its fifth-straight national championship.
The Cowboys sent four wrestlers to Saturday's finals round. Three came away as national champions — the most for OSU since 2005.
The night started at 141, where second-seeded Sergio Vega got things going with a 4-1 decision in sudden victory against top-seeded Jesse Mendes of Ohio State. With the win, Vega concluded an undefeated inaugural collegiate campaign, becoming the first true freshman since 1947 to finish undefeated and win an individual title.
Two bouts later, fifth-seeded Landon Robideau downed reigning 157-pound national champion and second-seeded Antrell Taylor of Nebraska with a 4-2 decision. Two near-fall points, an escape and a timely locked hands point was all Robideau needed to finalize the upset bid and gain vengeance from a December loss to Taylor.
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At 197, the seventh-seeded Cody Merrill fought, but fell victim to top-seeded Josh Barr of Penn State in a 6-3 decision. But the night wasn't done.
To close things out, "Funkytown" echoed through the arena as the freshman prodigy Jax Forrest took the mat. In turn, he delivered.
The top-seeded Forrest took care of business against fellow freshman and second-seeded Ben Davino of Ohio State with a 5-2 decision. Forrest's title officially clinched OSU its third individual champion, marking the first time in NCAA history a program has produced three true-freshman national champions.
The Cowboys produced eight total All-Americans. Troy Spratley (125), Casey Swiderski (149), Zack Ryder (184) and Konner Doucet (HVWT) joined Forrest, Vega, Robideau and Merrill in the All-American walk, which took place moments before the opening bout.
OSU's second-place also marks its best finish in the national tournament since 2016. While the dynasty that is Penn State remains intact, the Cowboys inched closer toward chasing down Goliath this weekend. And with the six freshmen likely returning for OSU next season, that might happen sooner than initially expected.
2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships
March 21, 2026 | Rocket Arena | Cleveland, Ohio
Final Team Standings (Top 10)
1. Penn State - 181.5
2. Oklahoma State - 131.0
3. Nebraska - 100.5
4. Iowa - 92.5
5. Ohio State - 84.5
6. Stanford - 67.5
7. Michigan - 66.0
8. Iowa State - 52.0
9. Minnesota - 48.5
10. NC State - 44.5
Finals Round Results
141: No. 2 Sergio Vega (OSU) dec. No. 1 Jesse Mendez (OHST), 4-1, SV-1
157: No. 5 Landon Robideau (OSU) dec. No. 2 Antrell Taylor (NEB), 4-2
197: No. 1 Josh Barr (PSU) dec. No. 7 Cody Merrill (OSU), 6-3
133: No. 1 Jax Forrest (OSU) dec. No. 2 Ben Davino (OHST), 5-2
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