Nebraska passed its first test of the weekend with flying colors. Sixth-ranked Nebraska beat #16 North Carolina 27-9 on Friday night at the Devaney Sports Center.

Nebraska had three backups in the lineup, and those were the three losses on the night. All of Nebraska’s starters that wrestled against the Tar Heels won their matches.

With #5 Oklahoma State coming to town Sunday, let’s see how the Huskers did on Friday.

Weight-By-Weight Breakdown

157 pounds

The dual started out at 157 pounds where Nebraska’s #6 Antrell Taylor took on redshirt freshman Laird Root.

Taylor used his patented underhook to body lock for a first-period takedown late in the period before adding another takedown in the second period on a low shot — again late in the period for the ride-out.

In the third, Taylor turned things up by collecting a pair of takedowns for the 13-2 win via major decision — Taylor’s 59th career win.

Taylor is now 9-2 on the year going into his meeting Sunday against #2 Landon Robideau of Oklahoma State.

165 pounds

Facing yet another ranked opponent, Nebraska’s #13 LJ Araujo took on the undefeated #20 Bryce Hepner of North Carolina — Hepner transferred there from Ohio State.

This match had a ton of action with some incredible scrambles but not much scoring. After a scoreless first period, Araujo scored an escape to start the second period. Hepner then chose neutral in the third to avoid going under Araujo.

Araujo shot in in the third and was in deep, but the sequence was stalemated when Hepner injured his knee. Choosing bottom after injury time, Araujo took a 2-0 lead when Hepner elected for a neutral start. Araujo then held off Hepner’s late flurry for the 2-0 win via decision.

Araujo is now 9-1 on the year going into his matchup against Oklahoma State’s #2 LaDarion Lockett.

174 pounds

In what is becoming his M.O., Nebraska’s #7 Christopher Minto started slow before scoring in bunches late in the match.

After a scoreless first period against North Carolina’s Collin Carrigan, Minto scored an escape and a pair of takedowns in the second to go up 7-1.

In the third, Minto started on top and was able to get a wrist for a tilt and four near-fall points. Minto then let Carrigan up and scored two more takedowns to go up 17-3. With the riding-time point, it should have been an 18-3 tech fall, but a penalty point on Minto for unsportsmanlike conduct made it a 17-3 major decision.

With the win, Minto is now 9-2 on the year with a match looming on Sunday against the Cowboys’ #6 Alex Facundo.

184 pounds

Giving #9 Silas Allred a night off from making weight, Nebraska went with true freshman Ty Eise against North Carolina’s #22 Jake Dailey. Eise has previously been at 174 this season.

A high-level recruit, Eise performed admirably while being slightly undersized in this match. After a scoreless first period, Eise gave up an escape, a takedown and two near-fall points falling behind 6-0.

In the third, Eise scored an escape before getting in on a low shot for a takedown, cutting the deficit to 6-4. Eise then cut Dailey before looking for the tying takedown, but he never found it. With the riding-time point, Dailey earned the 8-4 decision win to put North Carolina on the board.

Despite the loss, I see this as the type of match that only makes a true freshman who’s redshirting get better — especially one who will likely be relied upon next season as a starter.

197 pounds

In another ranked matchup, Nebraska’s #15 Camden McDanel looked sharp in a 10-2 major decision over North Carolina’s #32 Robert Platt.

McDanel scored a takedown in each period on the way to the major, giving Nebraska the 16-3 lead at the midway point of the dual. In the third, McDanel secured the takedown with just three seconds left, earning his team the bonus point.

With the win, McDanel is now 9-3 on the year going into his matchup on Sunday against Oklahoma State’s #7 Cody Merrill.

285 pounds

After missing the Hustle in the Heartland, Nebraska’s #4 AJ Ferrari took the mat against freshman Mikey Calcagno of UNC.

Ferrari scored the first takedown of the match early in the first period before adding four near-fall points on a cross-wrist tilt, but Calcagno came to play, scoring a takedown of his own late in the period.

Ferrari went on to earn a reversal and ride-out in the second before scoring a third-period takedown that turned into the win via pinfall.

With the win, Ferrari is now 5-1 on the year going into Sunday’s tilt against #8 Konner Doucet.

125 pounds

In Nebraska’s ongoing competition at 125 pounds, sophomore Alan Koehler took the mat Friday against #28 Kysen Terukina.

Koehler gave up a late takedown in the first period before each guy scored an escape point in the second and third periods, respectively. Koehler was unable to get in on his offense in the end, dropping the match 4-1.

With the loss, Koehler is now 9-8 on the year, while redshirt freshman Kael Lauridsen will get his chance against #8 Troy Spratley of Oklahoma — a returning NCAA finalist — on Sunday.

133 pounds

In a rematch of a close loss for #8 Jacob Van Dee last year, the Husker junior flipped the script in this one against #19 Ethan Oakley.

Van Dee was able to score a first-period takedown before riding the period out for 1:19 in riding time. In the second, Oakley cut the lead with an escape.

Van Dee was able to get an escape of his own in the third before holding Oakley off for the 5-1 win via decision.

With the win, Van Dee is now 8-1 on the year and 50-22 for his career going into Sunday’s matchup against #21 Ronnie Ramirez of Oklahoma State.

141 pounds

In another ranked matchup, Nebraska’s #3 Brock Hardy faced #18 Luke Simcox of North Carolina.

Hardy earned a first-period takedown and ride-out to go up 3-0 in the first period before adding an escape in the second. Hardy then started the third period on top and proceeded to ride the period out, securing the riding-time point and the 5-0 win.

With the win, Hardy is now 10-2 on the year and 96-26 for his career going into a premier matchup against Oklahoma State’s #2 Sergio Vega, the true freshman who beat Hardy by major at National Duals.

149 pounds

In the final match of the night, sophomore Scott Robertson took on talented freshman Nate Askew — a 2024 U17 World Team member for Team USA.

After a scoreless first period, Robertson struck first with an escape in the second — he then showed some solid defense in fending off a late Askew attack.

In the third, Askew eventually earned the escape, tying the match at 1-1 — these two eventually went to sudden victory where Askew was able to score a takedown on a re-shot for the 4-1 win over Robertson.

With the loss, Robertson falls to 0-4 on the year.

Starting Sunday against Oklahoma State, #8 Chance Lamer will be eligible for the Huskers, so I would expect to see him in the dual lineup from here on out.

Lamer’s insertion in the lineup couldn’t come at a better time with Nebraska facing Oklahoma State’s #13 Casey Swiderski at this weight on Sunday. In a dual where every match will be crucial, a win here by Lamer in his Husker dual debut would be monumental — he’s currently 10-0 on the year in open tournaments with 35 takedowns scored and none given up.