Did the Penn State wrestling dynasty just produce the greatest college wrestling team ever?

There is no question that Penn State wrestling has built one of the greatest dynasties in sports history Where it fits in the pecking order is a matter of perspective. Resources differ across college wrestling, and it’s not as big of a sport as college football or college basketball, let alone the pro sports. Regardless, the word dynasty applies, and the numbers back it up.

Under the direction of head coach Cael Sanderson, Penn State has won 11 of the 13 contested NCAA Tournaments since 2011 and has the most individual champions since then with 38. The next closest program, Cornell, has just 14. And only two others, Oklahoma State and Ohio State, have more than 10. We could go on and on by looking at the number of All-Americans in that stretch, dual meet records, and so on. Nothing more should need to be said. There is simply no discussion to be had.

A conversation that is being had right now, though, focuses on this question: Is the 2023-2024 Penn State wrestling team the greatest college wrestling team of all time?

The 2023-2024 Penn State wrestling team is the best ever, and here’s why

It’s true that, unlike 2001 Minnesota, the 2023-2024 Penn State wrestling team did not have 10 All-Americans. But, that team had no champions. This one had four.

It’s also true that two teams from both Penn State and Iowa have crowned five national champions in one season, while Oklahoma State has done it once. This one did not. Should that be held against it? It could be. But, it should not be. That’s because it had a school-record six finalists, putting it in a position to do something no other school ever has, and that’s possibly crown six in one year. It did not do so, of course. But, having the chance to do so is rare air to be in in the first place.

More: Everything Penn State coach Cael Sanderson said after winning the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championship

There are other supporting facts and numbers to make the case:

–Penn State is the first team to ever have two four-time NCAA champions in its lineup at one time now that Carter Starocci and Aaron Brooks won at 174 and 197 pounds, respectively. It also is the first team to ever have both win their fourth in the same season.

–A team is only as good as its parts. Would any other team that came before it be able to accomplish what this one did after it lost a returning All-American in December? All Shayne Van Ness’ replacement, freshman Tyler Kasak, did was go 24-5 from January through March, including seven straight wins after a first-round loss at nationals to finish third.

–The Nittany Lions had eight All-Americans, and all 10 of its wrestlers made it to the Round of 12.

–It went a perfect 12-0 during the dual meet season. The combined score of all of its wins was 428-69. And, Penn State won the team title handily without any points from now four-time NCAA champ Carter Starocci.

More: Recap: Penn State wrestling crowns four NCAA champs, wins team title; Brooks named most dominant, outstanding wrestler

If all of that is not enough supporting evidence, we’ll offer a final trump card. Penn State set a new NCAA record with 172.5 team points at nationals. It clipped the 170 Iowa put up in 1997 while also setting a new margin of victory record with a one hundred (100) point advantage over second-place finisher Cornell. That Hawkeye team has previously been considered the best ever. It had five national champions. So, it beat the Lions in that regard. Which makes the Sanderson’s side effort at nationals all the more impressive. It took more parts to score more points.

Keep in mind that eight of the Nittany Lions’ 10th participants scored double-digit points in the team race, and five of them put up at least 20 points. Some carried more water than others, but all carried some. Last but not least, to revisit the dual meet point from above, the previous record-holding Iowa team had a loss on its dual meet ledger.

Arguments can and will be made about how the sport is different now. There were no three-point takedowns in 1997 to lead to faster technical falls. There certainly wasn’t a transfer portal to help fill obvious holes in a lineup, either. And other changes have been made over the years, as well. But, regardless, the answer to the question in the headline is clear. Yes, the Penn State wrestling dynasty did just produce the best college wrestling team ever. And, Nittany Lions fans should enjoy the ride for as long as it lasts.