The National Duals Invitational, a prominent event in collegiate wrestling, has unveiled its top four seeds for the upcoming tournament. Sponsored by Paycom, this event boasts a prize pool of $1 million and will take place on December 12 and 13 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The tournament is set to feature 16 teams competing for significant financial rewards.
The seeding committee has ranked Oklahoma State as the top seed, with Virginia Tech, Ohio State, and Stanford following as the second, third, and fourth seeds, respectively. These rankings are based on projections and national standings for the 2026-27 season. Each of these top four teams will occupy a separate quadrant in the tournament bracket, while the remaining 12 teams will be placed through a random draw.
The full roster of participating teams includes Arizona State, Arkansas-Little Rock, Iowa State, Minnesota, Missouri, NC State, North Carolina, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Maryland, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Stanford, Virginia Tech, and Wyoming. This diverse lineup ensures a competitive atmosphere, with each team having a fair chance at claiming a portion of the prize money.
A bracket reveal show, hosted by FloWrestling, is scheduled for December 1 at 6 p.m. CST. This show will be streamed on FloWrestling’s platforms, including YouTube, Facebook, and X, providing fans with an opportunity to see how the tournament will unfold.
“Seeding this field was no easy task. Every team in this tournament has a legitimate shot at taking home prize money, and our committee spent a lot of time weighing results, rankings and what these rosters look like heading into the season,” said Matt Surber, tournament director. “Oklahoma State, Virginia Tech, Ohio State and Stanford have earned those top spots, but with a random draw for the rest of the bracket, nobody is going to have an easy path to the championship.”
The prize purse for the 2026 event, exceeding $1,230,000, represents one of the largest financial contributions in the realm of college wrestling. The top eight teams will receive monetary awards. The champion team will earn $250,000, which is a $50,000 increase from the $200,000 awarded to Ohio State as the inaugural champions in 2025. The second and third place teams will each receive $175,000, while fourth and fifth place will secure $100,000 each. The sixth through eighth place teams will receive $40,000, $25,000, and $20,000, respectively. Furthermore, all teams will receive a $20,000 participation fee and can compete for an additional $50,000 in team takedown bonuses.
FloWrestling will provide live coverage of the first 27 duals, culminating in the championship dual, which will be broadcast on ESPN on December 13 at 7:30 p.m. CST. This extensive coverage ensures that fans across the nation can follow the action closely.
Tickets for the event are currently available through Ticketmaster and the BOK Center Box Office, allowing wrestling enthusiasts to witness this premier event in person. For further information and updates, interested parties can visit the official website at nationaldualsinvitational.com.
About the National Duals Invitational
The National Duals Invitational is a prestigious collegiate wrestling competition featuring 16 top NCAA Division I teams. Held at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the event offers a substantial prize pool, including $250,000 for the championship team. Sponsored by Paycom, the Invitational aims to provide significant financial incentives to participating programs, enhancing the competitive nature of college wrestling.
Footnotes:
- The National Duals Invitational is sponsored by Paycom. Source.
- The tournament’s prize purse exceeds $1,230,000. Source.
- The championship team will earn $250,000. Source.
Featured Image: Megapixl @ Tale
