It might be natural to assume the 2025-26 campaign has Ohio State coach Tom Ryan flying high. 

His Buckeyes are undefeated (8-0), his lightweights are performing at podium-in-March levels and there’s plenty of chatter in the wrestling world about how good this group of the scarlet and gray-clad grapplers can be. 

It’s not an overly bold notion to predict that two undefeated programs will clash in two months when Penn State hosts Ohio State in February.

Ryan won’t make such predictions. Despite opening eyes at the National Duals Invitational — where the Buckeyes handled Wyoming, Minnesota, Nebraska and Iowa on their way to the title — Ryan insists on staying in each current moment. 

“That stuff is for fans, and it’s fun for them,” Ryan said. “But, as cliché as it sounds, we’re focused on the now, trusting our process, staying inside our system. Nothing’s changed.”

Ryan spoke of his team’s need to be ready for Sunday’s showdown with Iowa State, calling the retooled, transfer-laden Cyclones “tough” and saying they “pulled in some really good kids this year.” 

There’s a lot of season left and many big challenges are still ahead of the Buckeyes, which Ryan is well aware. Looking down the road, though, does he believe this Ohio State team is capable of taking down Penn State for the national title in March?

“Yes, I do,” he said. “Is it a tall task? Yes. But crazy things happen in sports. It would take 10 All-Americans for our guys, which has only been done once or twice before, but again, our job isn’t to focus on March. Our job is to focus on the right now. 

“We don’t harp on the end goal. We harp on the present, the training and the system we have in place and on having fun. Habits are formed much better when you’re enjoying what you’re doing than when not. We try to have fun while focusing on getting better — mentally and physically — and to be ready when the time comes.”

However, he returned to thoughts of March.

“It will take one heck of a weekend (to win the national title), but that’s why we do what we do,” Ryan said. “With the tournament in Cleveland this year, in our home state, it’ll be even more special.”

The Mendez Legacy

Two-time national champion Jesse Mendez will go down as one of Ohio State’s all-time greats. That’s a given. He’s trying to become the third Buckeye to win three or more NCAA titles. 

“If you assess all the values of a good team, Jesse epitomizes all those things in himself,” Ryan said. “His work ethic, his habits, how he trains — it’s everything a coach could want. His teammates see that and see the success that follows and it rubs off on them.”

Echoing Ryan’s praise, associate head coach J Jaggers recently described Mendez.

“The fact that others are emulating him,” Jaggers said, “shows that they (themselves) think it’s not impossible to get where he is.”

Mendez arrived as a freshman when Ohio State already had a leader in two-time national finalist Sammy Sasso.

“He was overshadowed by Sasso,” Ryan said. “Not in a bad way, but this team was Sammy’s when Jesse arrived. Jesse had a strong figure pass the torch to him, and Jesse is that leader now. Saying this doesn’t minimize the other guys on this team; it’s a standard for all of them to shoot, a new standard for them. 

“You have to remember that all these guys were the alpha males when they were in high school. They were at the top. Now they have someone above them, someone to watch, someone who brings competitiveness to levels they haven’t experienced before. That’s a good thing. It’s the only way anyone can progress in this sport. Jesse’s the standard bearer for all the guys on this team. What he brings has rubbed off on them.”

Talking about his 141-pounder brought a comparison to Ryan’s mind.

“One of the main reasons I left a scholarship at Syracuse to walk-on at Iowa was because I knew how the Brands brothers (Terry and Tom) trained,” he said. “And I knew ‘knowing’ wasn’t enough. I had to immerse myself in that environment. So I lived with Terry, and I trained with both of them. 

“For guys on our team, Jesse is what Tom and Terry were for me. His total commitment, his pursuit of excellence, his deep desire to get better — all that is modeled every day for these guys. A leader like that is a game-changer for a program.”