Way-Too-Early Prediction for Oklahoma State’s 2026-27 Wrestling Lineup

The wrestling transfer portal closed at the end of last week, and, though wrestlers in the portal can still come out of it, it looks like the Cowboys roster for Year 3 of the David Taylor Era is set.

So, let’s take an early stab at what the Cowboys’ lineup could look like next season, as Taylor brought in another elite recruiting class to pair with his already outstanding team.

Quick note: the NCAA is pushing for a five-for-five eligibility model. That means athletes would have five seasons to compete but eliminate traditional redshirts. I think that could be a big deal in wrestling, as it would no longer make sense for an already good guy to sit for a year and develop. For what it’s worth, Taylor has already proven he isn’t afraid to throw young guys right into things.

125

Weight Overview: Taylor’s first team had a lot of experienced guys on it. His second was filled with exciting youth. But Troy Spratley was a constant in both.

After taking second at NCAAs in Taylor’s first year, Spratley battled to a fifth-place finish at the always-chaotic weight this past season.

Spratley will be entering his senior year, though. The Cowboys are adding stud freshman lightweight Rocklin Zinkin, who just added his third California state title in a highly anticipated bout against a previously unbeaten wrestler. He’s also been a winner at Fargo and Super 32.

With as stacked as the Cowboys are in the lighter weights right now, I’ve also wondered if it’s possible that a guy like Ronnie Ramirez is capable of a cut down from 133 to 125. I don’t know that we’ll need to know the answer to that question this season, but something to think about once Spratley is done.

Prediction: Troy Spratley

133

Weight Overview: This is where things get complicated.

And maybe it shouldn’t be. There’s a world where the answer is simply Jax Forrest, the reigning national champion at the weight. While there is no doubt Forrest will be in the Cowboys’ lineup next season, there’s a question as to whether it’ll be back at 133 or perhaps a jump up to 141.

If his natural growth doesn’t make it a necessity, Forrest will at some point in the next few years have to make the ascent up to 65 kg (about 143 pounds) for the Olympics, as the 61 kg (about 134 pounds) that he’s wrestled freestyle at the past two years isn’t an Olympic weight. For what it’s worth, Forrest is still wrestling 61 kg this freestyle season, so maybe that move up doesn’t happen this year.

Should he make the move up, there are plenty of contenders for this spot.

It starts with Ramirez, who went 11-3 while redshirting this season and looked ready to step into the lineup had it not been for Forrest’s early arrival.

Cael Hughes had some success at the weight in 2024-25, going 8-1, but 133 might be a tough cut for him at this point. He went 140-o as a high schooler and is a four-time Oklahoma state champ, but has dealt with injuries to start his college career.

And twins Jayden and Jordyn Raney are incoming — two Top 10 recruits in the 2026 class. Jordyn has wrestled heavier than Jayden, with Jordyn winning his sixth Kentucky state title this year at 150 pounds. Wrestling at 144, Jayden won his fifth state title. Jayden won Who’s Number One last year at 132 pounds.

Prediction: Jayden Raney

This tells you where I have Forrest and Sergio Vega going, but man, I really have no clue when it comes to 133 and 141.

141

Weight Overview: This weight is in almost the exact same spot with returning national champ Sergio Vega, but it sounds as if Vega might not be long for the weight and could be on his way up.

Many of the same depth pieces at 133 would be in play here, as well. You also wonder whether it’s possible for Tagen Jamison to get back down to 141 if its his best shot in the lineup. Jamison missed this past season with an injury but was already viewed as a big 141 in Taylor’s first year.

Prediction: Jax Forrest

The predictions at 133 and 141 were the toughest because it feels like they can go about five different ways. They were the last two weights I filled in, and even as I’m typing this, I don’t feel confident.

As good as we already know Forrest and Vega are, this segment of the lineup could come down to who Taylor thinks has the most points-scoring potential among the other options. If Ramirez is the best guy for this season among those others, perhaps he gets the 133 spot and Forrest bumps up. If one of the Raneys are the better option, perhaps Forrest stays down and one them gets the 141 spot. It’s a great problem to have if your Taylor, but as someone trying to predict it, I have no clue.

149

Weight Overview: Well, if I didn’t have Vega at 141, where do you think I have him going?

This was a spot manned by Casey Swiderski this past season. Swiderski’s fire felt like a big deal for this young team, with Vega in particular crediting him with a lot following his national title. That’s why this stinks for Swiderski should this be the way things are headed, but Vega won a national title as a freshman without getting taken down — if he can’t make 141 anymore, you’ve obviously still have to keep him in the lineup.

If a Raney also wants to scrap for this spot, it’d likely be Jordyn. These lower/middle weights are so stacked.

Prediction: Sergio Vega

157

Weight Overview: It’s Landon Robideau.

Prediction: Landon Robideau

165

Weight Overview: Dee Lockett had a disappointing end to an otherwise solid freshman season, and I’m excited to see how he uses that disappointment to motivate him this offseason.

Prediction: Dee Lockett

174

Weight Overview: It felt like Alex Facundo was on the precipice of having a true breakout year, but he hit stumbled late.

The answer at 174 could be as simple as Facundo running it back now having gone through the rigors of a full season, but this could also be a spot up for grabs.

I was super impressed with Kody Routledge‘s redshirt year at 165 pounds. He went 6-2 with his losses being to national qualifier Braeden Scoles in the Cougar Clash final and a 10-9 decision to Big 12 champ/fourth-place NCAA finisher Nicco Ruiz. Routledge is going to be a tough to keep out of the lineup much longer.

Some have also wondered whether 174 would be the best weight for Zack Ryder. Ryder was the Cowboys’ 184 pounder last season and finished eighth while battling through injury.

Along with whatever happens at 133/141, this feels like the most hotly contested weight.

 Prediction: Kody Routledge

It honestly feels like a three-sided coin flip. If I knew Ryder would be healthy, I think that’s where I’d lean. But for now, give him the Edmond North product.

184

Weight Overview: Zack Ryder’s run to the podium despite his shoulder dislocating basically every match was one of the better stories of OSU’s postseason.

Will he be able to recover from that in time to be ready to go for next season? That’s the question.

This is the lone spot OSU hit the portal for this offseason, brining in South Dakota State transfer Bennett Burge. Burge finished fourth at the weight in 2024. He wrestled up at 197 pounds this past season, losing to Cody Merrill in the Big 12 tournament. The prevailing thought is that Burge will be headed back down with this move to Stillwater.

Mikey White is another name to watch out for here. White will be a freshman this season. He hasn’t been wrestling all that long, but his potential is evident, finishing his high school senior year at 47-0 with an Indiana state title. He’s the No. 1 190-pound prospect in the country, per Flo.

Prediction: Bennett Burge

197

Weight Overview: Fan-favorite Cody Merrill was thought to be in contention for a podium finish going into nationals this past season, and he more than outkicked that expectation with a second-place finish as a redshirt freshman.

I’ll give a shoutout to Austin Johnson here, as well. Johnson had a great redshirt year, going 8-3 with a win at the Cyclone Open.

Prediction: Cody Merrill

HWT

Weight Overview: This is the only weight where the Cowboys’ starter from this past season ran out of eligibility, but luckily for the Pokes, they have a blue-chipper coming in.

Dreshaun Ross is the top-ranked heavyweight prospect in the 2026 class. He is a four-time Iowa state champ and won at Fargo in July.

Heavyweight is a tough weight to get thrown into as a freshman, but the weight is losing its top four placers from last season.

Prediction: Dreshaun Ross