Huskers Welcome Purdue on Friday

Following a dominant win over No. 16 Northern Iowa last weekend, the No. 6 Nebraska wrestling team (7-3, 0-0 Big Ten) opens Big Ten competition Friday night by hosting Purdue at the Devaney Center. The Huskers will take on the Boilermakers (7-1, 0-0 Big Ten) at 7 p.m. (CT). 

Friday’s dual on Jan. 9 will be streamed to subscribers on B1G+, with live stats available on TrackWrestling. Tickets for the dual are available at huskers.com/tickets. 

Nebraska and Purdue could feature six ranked matchups, including two potential rematches. At 157, No. 5 Antrell Taylor and No. 19 Stoney Buell are tied 1-1 in their career series, with both victories coming by major decision. At 197, No. 12 Camden McDanel holds a 1-0 record against No. 23 Ben Vanadia. Purdue brings six ranked wrestlers to Lincoln, including three in the top 20.  

Top Bout to Watch:
165: No. 8 LJ Araujo is projected to face No. 4 Joey Blaze. Araujo has gone to sudden victory in each of his last two bouts, both against ranked opponents, and enters the weekend with a 9-3 record. Blaze is unbeaten on the season at 12-0 after moving up to 165 this year, having previously competed at 157 during his freshman and sophomore seasons. Both wrestlers have faced common opponent Ryder Downey. Araujo fell in sudden victory last weekend against Northern Iowa, while Blaze dropped a decision to Downey in December of 2024. 

History
Series: Nebraska leads, 14-2-0
Last Meeting: Feb. 23, 2025, in West Lafayette, Ind. (Nebraska won, 35-6) 

Up Next
Nebraska heads to Minneapolis to take on Minnesota on Friday, Jan. 16. The dual is scheduled for 8 p.m. (CT) and will be televised on BTN. 

#6 Nebraska’s Projected Lineup
125: Alan Koehler (9-9, 1-5) or Kael Lauridsen (6-5, 1-4)
133:  #8 Jacob Van Dee (10-1, 7-0)
141: #3 Brock Hardy (11-3, 7-3) or Blake Cushing (1-3, 0-1)
149: #11 Chance Lamer (11-1, 1-1) or Scott Robertson (1-6, 0-2)
157: #5 Antrell Taylor (11-2, 7-2)
165: #8 LJ Araujo (9-3, 5-3) or Jagger Condomitti (4-0, 0-0)
174: #6 Christopher Minto (11-2, 8-2)
184: #9 Silas Allred (10-3, 6-3)
197: #12 Camden McDanel (10-4, 7-3)
HWT: #4 AJ Ferrari (5-1, 5-1) 

Purdue’s Projected Lineup
125: Ashton Jackson (4-5, 1-1) or Isaiah Quintero (6-7, 3-1)
133: Blake Boarman (7-7, 5-3)
141: Vincent Paino (4-1, 1-0)
149: #21 Gavin Brown (15-3, 8-0)
157: #19 Stoney Buell (10-4, 3-1) or Isaac Ruble (7-4, 3-1)
165: #4 Joey Blaze (12-0, 7-0)
174: #16 Brody Baumann (12-4, 6-1)
184: #25 James Rowley (8-5, 5-3)
197: #23 Ben Vanadia (13-4, 8-0)
HWT: Hayden Filipovich (5-5, 5-3) or Tyson Russell (0-3, 0-0)

*Based off Intermat Rankings
*Overall record, dual record