Can Ohio State Turn a Heavyweight Rematch Into a Title?
Our preseason call at 285 favors proven wins over a spotless record, but a familiar Penn State threat complicates the path.
Picking a heavyweight champion means deciding which losses we can live with. Ohio State’s leading candidate has beaten AJ Ferrari twice, yet a sudden-victory loss to a returning challenger leaves a compelling rematch hanging over our prediction.
- Nick Feldman, Ohio State #1 at 285 · 25-7
- Konner Doucet, Oklahoma State #2 at 285 · 22-5 · NCAA 4th place
- Ben Kueter, Iowa #3 at 285 · 14-9 · NCAA 5th place
- Wyatt Voelker, Northern Iowa #4 at 285 · 7-1
The strongest alternative
Konner Doucet Oklahoma State #2 at 285 · 22-5 · NCAA 4th place
Konner Doucet is our main threat. Oklahoma State’s heavyweight went 22-5 and finished 4th at the NCAA tournament. His 1-0 win over Christian Carroll offers evidence of tight-match execution, while a fall against Dayton Pitzer shows another way he can finish.
Doucet’s losses explain our hesitation. Yonger Bastida beat him 4-1, Isaac Trumble won 4-0 and Taye Ghadiali won 5-1. We like his tournament finish, but those results leave questions about whether he can generate enough offense against his toughest opponents.
The rematch that could change everything
Cole Mirasola Penn State #7 at 285 · 19-8
Cole Mirasola is our dark horse because his case includes a direct challenge to the favorite. Penn State’s heavyweight went 19-8, beat Nick Feldman 4-1 in sudden victory and defeated Ben Kueter 4-3. He has already demonstrated that this upset is within reach.
Mirasola’s losses make a title run harder to trust. Kueter also beat him 2-0 and 4-0, while Christian Carroll defeated him 9-6. We see enough in his best wins to envision a breakthrough, but those reversals keep our confidence measured.
Our title call
Nick Feldman Ohio State #1 at 285 · 25-7
Our prediction for the 2026-27 NCAA title at 285 is Nick Feldman. The Ohio State heavyweight went 25-7 and beat Ferrari 5-4 and 4-1 in sudden victory. Winning that matchup through different finishes gives us a stronger reason to back him than his preseason position alone.
Feldman’s losses to Mirasola, Ferrari and Juan Mora prevent an easy endorsement. Still, his 6-2 win over Kueter and 8-6 victory over Nathan Taylor broaden the case beyond Ferrari. We like Feldman to win the title because his victories show several paths through this field, even with a dangerous rematch potentially ahead.