Kent State Wrestling Announces 2026-2027 Schedule
9/15/2026 1:21:00 PM | Wrestling
KENT, Ohio- The Kent State Wrestling team enters year two of the Golden Era under Head Coach Josh Moore and will face a challenging schedule for the 2026-2027 season. The schedule features 13 dual meets, four opens with four home dual meets, and two home opens. The program will spend all season long celebrating 100 years of Kent State Wrestling.
"We are excited to challenge our guys with a few changes to our schedule this year," said Moore. "Overall we have added some depth, which will provide some needed competition within the roster, and we believe a stronger dual meet team as well. Our staff couldn't be happier with how this team has developed while supporting each other throughout the past year."
Before the season begins, the Golden Flashes will host the team's wrestle-offs in an open event inside the MAC Center on Sunday, October 18th, at noon. Attendance at the event will be open to the public to see who will represent the starting line-up for the blue and gold for the start of the season.
The Flashes will start the regular season with a challenging dual meet on the road against the Purdue Boilermakers of the Big Ten on November 1st. It will be the return to Holloway Gymnasium for Kent State assistant coach Devin Schroder where he spent six years on the Boilermaker wrestling team. On November 7th, Kent State will head to East Lansing, Michigan, for an open at Michigan State for the second consecutive season.
"Starting the season off with a Big Ten dual and a quality event in the Michigan State Open will show us where we are at as a team," Coach Moore added.
The 2026-2027 home-opener will take place inside the MAC Center November 13th against the Buffalo Bulls, a place where KSU visited twice last season for a tri-meet and the Mid-American Championships.
After a three-week break, the Golden Flashes will travel to Central Pennsylvania to take on Lock Haven University on December 3rd. It will be the annual battle between the Coach Moore brothers and the return to Lock Haven for assistant coach Fred Garcia.
Two days later, the blue and gold will host the first Kent State Open before traveling to Ohio State's Covelli Center to take on the Buckeyes on December 18th. Two days after that, they will head back home for a second Kent State Open on the 20th.
The 2027 new year will start off strong with a trip to the Soldier Salute collegiate wrestling tournament in Coralville, Iowa on January 2nd and 3rd for a chance to go up against wrestlers from some of the top programs in the country.
"One event that stands out is the Soldier Salute in Iowa," said Moore. "It will be our first time out there and it will be a great experience for our program."
On January 9th, conference action will resume as the Flashes will host George Mason for the first time since they joined the MAC in 2019. Defending MAC Champion Rider will come into the MAC Center for a conference dual on January 22nd as well.
The team will round out January with three duals in three days with a trip to Western Pennsylvania. They will travel to Edinboro on the 28th before going two hours southeast for a tri-meet against Clarion and Long Island University on the 30th.
The Grudge match is set for February 5th, as KSU will try to hang on to The Grudge Match Trophy after defeating rival Ohio last year by criteria, 20-19. Next they will go up to Central Michigan for another conference dual with the Chippewas.
The last home event of the season will come on Friday, February 19th, as Kent State will take on Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in a dual. Two days later they will hit the road for the final dual of the season against Mercyhurst.Â
The road to the post-season will end in the St. Louis area for Kent State. On March 5th and 6th, they will compete in the MAC Championships hosted by SIUE in Edwardsville, Illinois. Two weeks later, the NCAA Championships will be held in St. Louis, Missouri from March 18th-20th.
Complete Schedule
Nov. 1 at Purdue- 1 P.M.
Nov. 7 at Michigan State Open- All Day
Nov. 13 vs. Buffalo- 7 P.M.
Dec. 3 at Lock Haven- 6.P.M
Dec. 5- Kent State Open- 9:30 A.M.
Dec. 18 at Ohio State- 7 P.M.
Dec 20- Kent State Open 2- 9:30 A.M.
Jan. 2+3- Soldier Salute(Coralville, Iowa)- All Day
Jan. 9 vs. George Mason- 2 P.M.
Jan. 22 vs. Rider- 7 P.M.
Jan. 28 at Edinboro- 7 P.M.
Jan. 30 at Clarion/LIU- 2 P.M.
Feb. 5 at Ohio- 7 P.M.
Feb. 12 at Central Michigan- 7 P.M.
Feb. 19 vs. SIUE- 7 P.M.
Feb. 21 at Mercyhurst- TBA
March 5+6- MAC Tournament(SIUE)- 12 P.M.
March 18-20- NCAA Championships at St. Louis
Tickets
Stay tuned for the announcement of when Kent State Wrestling Season Tickets will go on sale for the 2026-2027 season. For information on season tickets or other ticket packages, contact the Athletics Ticket Office at 330-672-4455 or by emailing athletictickets@kent.edu.
Blue and Gold Travel Network
Fans looking to travel for games this year can use the Blue and Gold Travel Network to save on hotels while giving back to Kent State student-athletes by booking at www.blueandgoldtravelnetwork.com.
Follow Kent State Wrestling
For complete coverage of Kent State Wrestling, download the official Kent State Golden Flashes app (iOS, Android) and follow the Golden Flashes on social media on X, Instagram, and Facebook for news and updates.
