The NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships begin Thursday at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri. ESPN will have 19 hours of live coverage with all 640 games.
Here's everything you need to know about the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships!
How can I watch the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships?
Every mat and every match will be covered from start to finish, including three nights of primetime wrestling action on ESPN. Coverage will also include a live MatCast viewing option, as well as simulcasts of all linear windows, on ESPN+. ESPN has presented the NCAA Wrestling Championships since 1980, making it one of the company's longest-running events.
Here is the full schedule:
*All times Eastern
THURSDAY
First round: noon ET on ESPNU and ESPN+
Second round: 7 pm ET on ESPN and ESPN+
The MatCast show will air at noon ET and 7 pm ET on ESPN+ Individual matcasts will be available on ESPN+
FRIDAY
Quarterfinals: Noon ET on ESPNU and ESPN+
Semifinals: 8 pm ET on ESPN and ESPN+
The MatCast show will air at noon ET and 8 pm ET on ESPN+. Individual mat broadcasts will be available on ESPN+.
SATURDAY
Medal Round: 11 a.m. ET on ESPNU and ESPN+
Championship: 7 pm ET on ESPN and ESPN+
The MatCast show will air at 11 a.m. ET on ESPN+
What are the main stories?
The Nittany Lions are vying for their 11th national team title in the last 13 NCAAs. Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks are looking to become four-time national champions, a feat accomplished by head coach Cael Sanderson during his career at Iowa State.
In addition to Starocci and Brooks, five other past champions are in the field. Vito Arujau (Cornell, 133 pounds) won in 2023, Keegan O'Toole (Missouri, 165 pounds) won in 2022 and 2023, current 165-pounder David Carr (Iowa State) won at 157 pounds. In 2021, Shane Griffith (Michigan) won at 165 pounds. with Stanford in 2021, and current 174-pounder Mekhi Lewis (Virginia Tech) won at 165 pounds. in 2019.
Oklahoma State's Daton Fix looks to break through and win a national title after finishing as a finalist in 2019, 2021 and 2022. Matt Ramos (Purdue), Real Woods (Iowa), Levi Haines (Penn State), Parker Keckeisen (Northern Iowa) , Tanner Sloan (South Dakota State) and Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State) are all 2023 finalists looking to win their first national title. 2022 finalist Ridge Lovett (Nebraska, 149 pounds) returns after redshirting last season and looks to become the first Cornhusker to win a title since Jordan Burroughs in 2011.
NCAA individual champions earn an invitation to the US Olympic Trials on April 19-20 at Penn State.
Where can I find more ESPN wrestling coverage?
Check out ESPN's preview of the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships for more information.
