Penn St has had an amazing run atop of college wrestling. He made his money in the upper weights, pioneering financing and special medical practices. He recruited amazing talent (especially in the upper weights) and for the most part, took them to higher levels and developed the most dominate multi-time champions in recent memory.
However, the arms race has been legalized and competition by Michigan, Iowa and other schools is making an impact - the field has been leveled. Cael still owns the coaching advantage and will win ties.
Cael also is a younger coach beating out the old blue bloods of Smith, Brands and Ryan. Over the next 5 years, these three coaches will likely turn over to the likes of Askren, Taylor, Burroughs, Snyder, Dake....Iowa style will be reinvented, recruiting against an aging John Smith will end, and who knows what happens at Ohio State, but the money and facilities are in place.
Penn State has now had to dip into the portal instead of its recruiting prowess and talent development. Casey Cunningham likely retires after his son finishes in 5 years. After this olympic cycle, we will see elite athletes make their move.
Askren to Wisconsin, Taylor + Dake to Iowa and Burroughs officially on staff at Penn to take over the ivy league. These big time coaching changes will spread the recruits around and level the playing field. These changes will hurt Penn State and benefit Ohio State the most, not because it is getting the next best set of recruits but because Penn State will drop down to sub 100 points which then makes them beatable.