No. 10 Illinois and #15 Little Rock are programs on the rise after breakout 2025 seasons. And both square off in the opening round of the National Duals Invitational on Saturday, November 15, at 9 a.m. CT. 

The Illini finished 10th at the NCAA Championships, marking Mike Poeta’s highest finish at the national championships during his four-season tenure as head coach. 

The Trojans finished 17th, the highest finish in their six-season history, all under Neil Erisman. 

Both teams are down a starter or two, but this will be a competitive and fun meet, and it’s the first time they’ve dueled. 

Michael Gioffre is expected to start at 149 if he’s eligible. If not, Will Baysinger gets the nod. Dylan Connell is replacing #21 Cade Lautt at 197 for the Illini. 

Little Rock won’t have #19 Josiah Hill at 285 pounds for a spell, giving Kaden Darwyn and Michael Gasper their opportunity. 

These are important weights for both teams with high-profile wrestlers at 197 and 285. No. 3 Stephen Little (Little Rock, 197) and #7 Luke Luffman (Illinois, 285) can score big team points if the dual comes down to the wire. 

All eyes will be on 2025 NCAA champion and top-ranked Lucas Byrd (Illinois) as he begins his quest for a second 133-pound national title. He is expected to win, but Little Rock hopes to mitigate the damage with freshman Dillon Cooper. 

Like most toss-up duals, unranked wrestlers ultimately determine the outcome. However, 157 and 165 are important for both teams. No. 8 Kannon Webster (Illinois) faces #20 Brock Herman at 157, and #9 Braeden Scoles faces #5 Matt Bianchi at 165. 

2025-26 Illinois Overview

Head coach: Michael Poeta (fifth season)

Assistants: Jeremy Hunter, Austin O’Connor, Bryan Medlin, Eric Schultz

2025 NCAA tournament finish: 10th

2025 NCAA tournament record: 20-14

2025 NCAA tournament points: 44.5

2025 Big Ten tournament finish: 5th

2025 dual record: 9-4 (4-4)

Returning All-Americans: 2 (Lucas Byrd, Edmond Ruth)

Returning national qualifiers: 8 (Spencer Moore, Lucas Byrd, Danny Pucino, Kannon Webster, Braeden Scoles, Chris Moore, Dylan Connell, Luke Luffman)

Key Off-Season Transfers: Spencer Moore (North Carolina), Michael Gioffre (Virginia), Cade Lautt (North Carolina)

Last NCAA champion: Lucas Byrd (2025)

Highest NCAA team finish: 2nd (1930, 1938)

Highest NCAA team finish under Poeta: 10th

Most national placers in a season under Poeta: 1 (2022, 2024, 2025)

2025-26 Little Rock Overview

Head coach: Neil Erisman

Assistants: Javier Maldonado, Albert White, Austin Schafer

2025 NCAA tournament finish: 17th

2025 NCAA tournament record: 13-11

2025 NCAA tournament points: 22.5

2025 Pac 12 tournament finish: 2nd

2025 dual record: 17-3 (3-0 conference)

Returning national qualifiers: 3 (Matty Bianchi, Stephen Little, Josiah Hill)

Returning All-Americans: 2 (Stephen Little, Matty Bianchi)

Last NCAA champion: None

Highest NCAA tournament finisher: 4th (Nasir Bailey, 2024)

Highest NCAA team finish: 17th (2025)

Highest NCAA team finish under Erisman: 17th (2025)

Most national placers in a season under Erisman: 2 (2024, 2025)

Probable Lineups

Illinois
125: #13 Spencer Moore, SR or Caelan Riley, JR (Illinois)
133: #1 Lucas Byrd, SR (Illinois)
141: #16 Danny Pucino, SR (Illinois)
149: Michael Gioffre, JR, or Will Baysinger, SO
157: #8 Kannon Webster, SO (Illinois)
165: #9 Braeden Scoles, SO (Illinois)
174: Colin Kelly, FR (Illinois)
184: Chris Moore, SO (Illinois)
197: Dylan Connell, SR (Illinois)
285: #7 Luke Luffman, SR (Illinois) 

Little Rock
125: Jeremiah Reno, SR, or Tyler Harper, FR (Little Rock)
133: Dillon Cooper, FR (Little Rock)
141: Brennan Van Hoecke, SR (Little Rock) or Jayden Gomez, SR, or Cael Keck, JR
149: #20 Brock Herman, SO (Little Rock)
157: #28 Jaivon Jones, SR (Little Rock)
165: #5 Matty Bianchi, SR (Little Rock)
174: Gunner Holland, FR or Kodiak Cannedy, JR, (Little Rock)
184: #24 Brock Delsignore, SR, or Jake Stacey, FR (Little Rock)
197: #3 Stephen Little, JR (Little Rock)
285: Kaden Darwyn, SO or Michael Gasper, SR

Ranked wrestlers

Illinois
125: #13 Spencer Moore
133: #1 Lucas Byrd
141: #16 Danny Pucino
157: #8 Kannon Webster
165: #9 Braeden Scoles
285: #7 Luke Luffman

Little Rock
149: #20 Brock Herman
157: #28 Jaivon Jones
165: #5 Matt Bianchi
184: #24 Brock Delsignore
197: #3 Stephen Little

Key Matchups
157: #8 Kannon Webster (Illinois) vs #28 Jaivon Jones (Little Rock)
165: #9 Braeden Scoles (Illinois) vs #5 Matt Bianchi (Little Rock)
174: Colin Kelly (Illinois) vs Kodiak Cannedy or Gunner Holland
197: #21 Cade Lautt (Illinois) vs #3 Stephen Little (Little Rock)

Prediction

Any prediction is predicated on who is in the line-up, but Illinois has a bit more firepower in the lower weights, and that should carry them through. Give the edge to the Illini, but big wins from Matty Bianchi and Stephen Little could make this interesting.