The University of Northern Iowa’s big weekend that produced two wins over ranked teams, including an 18-15 victory over the University of Oklahoma, has propelled the Panthers as high as 18th in the national rankings.

The Panthers, who improved to 6-2 with a win over Northwestern to down a second ranked foe last weekend, jumped to 18th in Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine’s dual rankings. UNI improved to 24th in WIN’s Tournament Power Index as well.

UNI came in 21st in the USA Today/NWCA/AWN Division I Coaches Poll released Tuesday, receiving 198 points. It was the first time this season the Panthers cracked the top-25. They host No. 7 Missouri (7-1) on Sunday, beginning at 2 p.m. at the West Gym in Cedar Falls.

UNI Coach Doug Schwab is scheduled to be a guest on this week’s “Pinning Combination” podcast with The Predicament’s Wyatt Schultz and The Gazette’s K.J. Pilcher.

The University of Iowa is fourth in the USA Today/NWCA/AWN Coaches Poll, while holding third in both WIN rankings. The Hawkeyes (14-1) handled Michigan and Michigan State last weekend and head to Minneapolis for a dual Saturday against the University of Minnesota, ranked third in the coaches poll and fourth in both WIN rankings.

Iowa State moved into a tie with The Citadel for 29th in WIN’s TPI and received 18 votes in the coaches top-25.

USA TODAY/NWCA/AWN COACHES POLL

Rank Team (First) Points Record Previous

1 Penn State 400 7-0 1

2 Oklahoma State 390 8-0 2

3 Minnesota 379 11-1 3

4 Iowa 371 14-1 4

5 Ohio State 359 9-2 6

6 Illinois 341 5-2 5

7 Missouri 337 7-1 7

8 Cornell 330 7-2 8

9 Virginia Tech 323 11-2 9

10 Oregon State 302 5-3 10

11 (tie) Virginia 294 11-3 11

11 (tie) Central Michigan 294 10-3 12

13 Nebraska 293 8-3 14

14 Wyoming 261 7-3 15

15 Edinboro 257 7-3 16

16 Oklahoma 248 7-4 13

17 Pittsburgh 242 6-4 17

18 Michigan 228 6-4 18

19 Bloomsburg 223 11-2 20

20 Wisconsin 214 5-4 19

21 Northern Iowa 198 6-2 NR

22 Purdue 167 10-5 22

23 Northwestern 127 5-5 21

24 Penn 104 4-2 24

25 Boise State 101 6-5 25

Dropped out: Maryland

Others receiving votes: Maryland 96, Navy 34, Rutgers 33, North Dakota State 20, Iowa State 18, Kent State 16

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