Bucknell University Athletics
Wrestling Announces Explosive 2026-27 Slate
8/26/2026 4:20:00 PM | Wrestling
LEWISBURG, Pa.- Elite tournaments and a challenging slate of duals comprise Bucknell Wrestling's 2026-27 schedule, as the Orange & Blue continue to propagate the program's mantra of dueling any and all competition. The Bison will host eight matches while traveling to the prestigious and loaded Cliff Keen Invitational in high-stakes Las Vegas and the talent-stuffed Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga.Â
Head coach Dan Wirnsberger trimmed six duals from the 2025-26 season but replenished the docket with Cliff Keen, the Michigan State Open at his alma mater, and Southern Scuffle. All three tournaments are designed to sharpen the Bison starting lineup for top-tier competition and potential entry into the Top 25 poll.Â
The dual schedule includes a heavy dose of perennial top-25 and top-30 foes with Iowa State and Minnesota joining the traditional gauntlet of Army, Columbia, Cornell, Lehigh, Lock Haven, and Navy. The buffet of choice opponents will pay dividends in March when the Orange & Blue roll into the EIWA Championships and the NCAA National Championships.
"We set up our schedule to once again challenge our athletes by competing against the best competition in the country," Wirnsberger said. "There is no doubt that this schedule will best prepare our wrestlers for March. I feel it is important to give our guys the best opportunity to succeed during the regular season and we will continue to have the philosophy of wrestling anyone, anywhere, and anytime. Go Bison!"
The season starts when November begins with the main lineup traveling to Iowa State and the rest of the squad participating at the Clarion Open. On Nov. 7, Bucknell sends a contingent to the Michigan State Open.
Nov. 15 features a riveting doubleheader. Bucknell opens both its home and conference schedules when Long Island University visits Davis Gym. Bucknell owns a 6-0 series record against the Sharks. The day concludes with the 27th renewal of the Susquehanna Showdown at local foe Lock Haven. The Susquehanna Showdown, after the past decade, has developed into one of collegiate wrestling's most underrated and fiercest rivalries.
Bucknell returns to the Midwest for a busy weekend against North Dakota State (Nov. 20) and Minnesota (Nov. 22). The Bison and Golden Gophers renew hostilities after dueling in 2023 and 2024.Â
The Orange & Blue remain on the road, jetting to Las Vegas for the Cliff Keen Invitational on Dec. 4 and 5. The field features some of the nation's best squads, including Cornell, Iowa State, Michigan, Oklahoma State, and Virginia Tech.
The Bison finally resume home competition on Dec. 20 with the Bucknell Tri. EIWA foe Hofstra and Big Ten power Purdue will participate. Hofstra participated in last year's Bucknell Quad, dropping a 31-7 decision to the host Bison. Bucknell and Purdue will clash for the first time in program history.Â
Following the Christmas break, the schedule restarts at the spirited Southern Scuffle hosted by the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Jan. 2-3. Â
Bucknell entertains conference foe Army (Jan. 15) and travels to Cornell (Jan. 16).Â
Two weeks later, the Orange & Blue renews its series with EIWA foe Binghamton on Jan. 30. The two programs last wrestled in 2020.Â
League play continues with a road trip to Morgan State on Feb. 5 and Feb. 7 when Navy sails into Lewisburg. The Bison are 4-0 against Morgan State.Â
Another weekend of conference duals starts on Feb. 12 when Lehigh visits in the Keystone Clash and on Valentine's Day with the Bison motoring to American. Bucknell rallied from a 15-point deficit last year in an epic 22-21 win over American.Â
The regular season concludes on Feb. 20 with a home doubleheader against Bloomsburg and Columbia. Bucknell trails 8-13-1 all-time in the I-80 Fight against Bloomsburg but has won the last four duals.Â
Army hosts the 2027 EIWA Championships on March 5-6. Bucknell finished third last season matching its best placement in program history.
The NCAA National Championships are on March 18-20 and take place in St. Louis. Last season, the Bison placed two wrestlers – Dylan Chappell and Noah Mulvaney – in the top 16.
