Manheim, Pennsylvania — Two new teams entered the USA Today/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll released on Tuesday. Wyoming (5-2) and Northwestern (6-1) entered the poll for the first time this season.
The Cowboys are fresh off a 4-0 weekend which saw them head to North Carolina and pick up wins over American, Army West Point, Duke, and then-No. 19 North Carolina. Northwestern slid up to No. 25 despite losing by a point to No. 12 Illinois. Losses by previously ranked Oklahoma and North Dakota State aided the Wildcats move up.
The top 17 positions remained unchanged although there were a number of head-to-head duals between ranked teams with the biggest held on international soil. Third-ranked Oklahoma State (6-0) split five matches with fifth-ranked NC State (10-1) but it was bonus victories by heavyweight Derek White and All-American Kaid Brock at 133 that was the difference in the 19-16 Cowboys win in Naples, Italy. The Tussle for the Troops was the first NCAA dual meet held outside of North America.
No. 7. Iowa (8-0) blasted Michigan State 49-6, while Michigan (5-1) picked up a trio of wins — a 43-0 victory over Indiana, a 25-14 win over then-No. 24 Purdue and a 28-10 win over Princeton. Arizona State also picked off North Carolina 27-9 in Chapel Hill. Illinois snuck past Nebraska on criteria before edging Northwestern 18-17 on Sunday in Champaign.
West Virginia knocked off No. 18 Oklahoma and No. 25 North Dakota State. Pittsburgh also topped No. 18 Oklahoma, dropping the Sooners out of the Top 25. North Carolina slid five spots to No. 24.
The USA Today/NWCA Division I Wrestling Coaches Poll is comprised of two voting coaches from each Division I wrestling conference. Points are 25 for each first-place vote, 24 for second, 23 for third all the way to a 25th-place vote is one point.
Future Poll Dates (Tuesdays unless otherwise noted): January 16, January 23, January 30, February 6, February 13, February 20, February, 27.
| Rank | Team (First) | Record | Points | Conference | Previous |
| 1 | Penn State (11) | 5-0 | 395 | Big Ten | 1 |
| 2 | Ohio State (5) | 8-0 | 389 | Big Ten | 2 |
| 3 | Oklahoma State | 6-0 | 367 | Big 12 | 3 |
| 4 | Missouri | 12-0 | 350 | MAC | 4 |
| 5 | NC State | 10-1 | 334 | ACC | 5 |
| 6 | Lehigh | 6-1 | 316 | EIWA | 6 |
| 7 | Iowa | 8-0 | 312 | Big Ten | 7 |
| 8 | Michigan | 5-1 | 304 | Big Ten | 8 |
| 9 | Virginia Tech | 5-1 | 268 | ACC | 9 |
| 10 | Arizona State | 3-2 | 254 | Pac-12 | 10 |
| 11 | Northern Iowa | 2-1 | 234 | Big 12 | 11 |
| 12 | Illinois | 3-2 | 212 | Big Ten | 12 |
| 13 | Cornell | 4-2 | 194 | EIWA | 13 |
| 14 | Minnesota | 6-3 | 191 | Big Ten | 14 |
| 15 | South Dakota State | 5-2 | 179 | Big 12 | 15 |
| 16 | Wisconsin | 4-0 | 172 | Big Ten | 16 |
| 17 | Rutgers | 3-3 | 145 | Big Ten | 17 |
| 18 | Central Michigan | 4-3 | 119 | MAC | 21 |
| 19 | Nebraska | 3-3 | 104 | Big Ten | 20 |
| 20 | Lock Haven | 4-0 | 86 | EWL | 22 |
| 21 | Rider | 5-2 | 64 | EWL | 23 |
| 22 | Purdue | 5-2 | 49 | Big Ten | 24 |
| 23 | Wyoming | 5-2 | 46 | Big 12 | NR |
| 24 | North Carolina | 5-4 | 38 | ACC | 19 |
| 25 | Northwestern | 6-1 | 15 | Big Ten | NR |
Others Receiving Votes: Navy 13, West Virginia 12, Oklahoma 9, American 8, Edinboro 6, Utah Valley 5, Drexel 4, North Dakota State 4, Kent State 1, Pittsburgh 1.
Dropped out: No. 18 Oklahoma, No. 25 North Dakota State.