Exciting news for wrestling fans! The National Duals Invitational, a major collegiate wrestling tournament backed by Paycom, is gearing up for its return this December in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This year, six more teams have qualified automatically, joining the ranks of some of the best programs in the country.
The tournament allows the top 10 finishers from the NCAA Championships to qualify automatically. Due to scheduling conflicts with final exams, several Ivy League teams are unable to participate. This has opened up spots for teams like Virginia Tech, Wyoming, Arizona State, Missouri, Illinois, and Lehigh, giving them a shot at the prize money.
Speaking of prizes, the total purse for 2026 exceeds $1.23 million! The winning team will snag $250,000, which is a $50,000 increase from the previous year. Other payouts include $175,000 for second and third place, and $100,000 for fourth and fifth. Even teams that don’t win will receive $20,000 just for showing up, plus they can compete for additional bonuses.
According to Matt Surber, the tournament director, this event aims to highlight elite wrestling while offering significant financial rewards. The stakes are high, making it an event that wrestlers and fans won’t want to miss. Moreover, in a recent social media poll, 87% of fans expressed excitement about the increased prize money, indicating a growing interest in college wrestling.
The tournament runs from December 12-13 at the BOK Center. Fans can catch all the action on FloWrestling. For more details, check out the official page at nationaldualsinvitational.com.
In a broader context, this event demonstrates the increasing trend of financial backing in college sports, reflecting statistics from a recent NCAA study that reported a 20% rise in funding for collegiate athletics over the past five years. Wrestling, too, is seeing a resurgence in popularity, with increased viewership and attendance at events across the country.
