National Duals

[OSUBigBadBob]

The National Duals Invitational, Sponsored by Paycom, Brings High-Stakes Wrestling to Tulsa​

OKLAHOMA CITY – The National Duals Invitational, sponsored by Paycom, will welcome some of the top collegiate wrestling talent to BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the weekend of Nov. 15-16.

“Hosting the National Duals Invitational by our fantastic sponsor, Paycom, is a game-changer for D1 wrestling. Due to the unprecedented challenges in NCAA Division I athletics today, it is more imperative than ever to have more big moments in intercollegiate wrestling so we can substantially grow our fan base and viewership,” said Mike Moyer, Executive Director, National Wrestling Coaches Association.

The premiere 16-team event will feature some of the top NCAA Division I teams, with a total purse of more than $1 million up for grabs. The top 8 teams will all earn payouts, with the winning squad walking away with $200,000. The second- and third-place teams will earn $150,000, while fourth place earns $75,000. Fifth through eighth place will each earn between $50,000 and $20,000, respectively. All participating teams will receive $20,000 for attending.

Ticket details and the full roster of teams competing will be announced on or before July 15.

“I am excited for the sport of wrestling to have a competitive field at the inaugural National Duals Invitational,” said Chad Richison, Paycom’s founder and CEO. “Investing in student athletes and non-income-generating sports is important in today’s ever-evolving collegiate landscape.”

Thirty-four-time NCAA champion Oklahoma State will serve as the host school.

“Bringing a prestigious wrestling tournament of this magnitude to Oklahoma is exciting for the sport, and the winnings will be significant in helping universities build out their programs at an even higher level. We continue to be grateful for Mr. Richison and Paycom’s support of wrestling in the state of Oklahoma and nationally,” said Chad Weiberg, Oklahoma State Vice President and Athletic Director.

This event will be held at the BOK Center, which was also the site of the 2023 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships and is the current home of the 2025 Big 12 Championships.

“We’re excited to host the inaugural National Duals Invitational at BOK Center, and we’re proud that our venue has become a top choice for major wrestling events,” said BOK Center Vice President Keller Taylor. “This event offers the perfect stage for top-tier competition, and we can’t wait to welcome thousands of passionate supporters. BOK Center is ready to deliver an unforgettable experience filled with the energy, intensity and excitement that only live wrestling can bring.”

Paycom, a leading provider of comprehensive, cloud-based human capital management software, has been a long-time supporter of collegiate and professional athletics in Oklahoma and beyond.

“We’re thrilled to have the inaugural National Duals Invitational in Tulsa,” said Joel Koester, Tulsa Sports Commission Director of Sports Sales. “This prestigious event further solidifies Tulsa as America’s amateur wrestling hub, and with its history of sustained success, there is no better partner than Oklahoma State. We’re so excited for Oak View Group and the BOK Center to host some of the best collegiate wrestlers in the country and can’t wait for two days of top-level competition.”

“This is another fantastic opportunity for Tulsa to shine on the national stage,” said Renee McKenney, Senior VP of Tourism, Tulsa Regional Chamber and President, Tulsa Regional Tourism. “After the success of the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships and the yearly draw of Big 12 Championships, wrestling fans know Tulsa as the premiere amateur wrestling destination in the country. Our local restaurants, businesses and hotels are ready to welcome thousands of wrestling fans to Tulsa!”

 

[OSUBigBadBob]

The $ makes a huge difference IMO, should be a good group of teams

 

[CowboyMedic]

 

[CowboyMedic]

The $ makes a huge difference IMO, should be a good group of teams

Maybe that'll draw PSU in.

 

[dvpoke25]

This is a great idea and should be an exciting event. At that time of the year, I can’t imagine many good arguments for why you wouldn’t want to compete and help grow the sport while also rewarding your athletes with some money.

 

[OSUBigBadBob]

This is a great idea and should be an exciting event. At that time of the year, I can’t imagine many good arguments for why you wouldn’t want to compete and help grow the sport while also rewarding your athletes with some money.

Will be interesting to see if they share the $ with the athletes or just goes to the program.

 

[oklahomaglory]

Will be great if the price money is shared with the athletes. The athletes then can put more pressure on the school admin to participate for non-blue bloods. Hopefully Big 10 teams join, else, no worries. More good wrestling is more good wrestling, whether they join or not.

 

[Gabe H Coud]

Wish we had the team we had this year for this haha

 

[dvpoke25]

I assumed it would go to the athletes similar to the NIL tournament happening in Vegas with basketball. Think that one is a million per team. Wonder how these teams would split it up. Could easily share it with every member of the team or you could just give it to the kids who make the starting lineup and compete.

 

[vhsalum]

No Iowa, no PSU... le sigh.

 

[OSUBigBadBob]

Wish we had the team we had this year for this haha

I have faith we will get some really good transfers in again.

 

[Air_Thurman]

Penn State has to do what is best for Penn State. Can you imagine if wrestling a couple more marginally tough duals lead them to winning nationals by 90 instead of a 100 points? Not sure how the sport would survive.

 

[CowboyUp61]

i reserved my hotel before the hotels found out about it and jumped the price.

 

[dvpoke25]

No Iowa, no PSU... le sigh.

Their athletes loss. Gonna be a great event with or without them.

 

[BrockBronson]

Can’t call this a national dual without PSU. 200K is a lot of money to most of us but to these bigger programs it’s peanuts. Plus why would these people want to donate 200K to the PSU program. Thanks everyone

 

[Air_Thurman]

Can’t call this a national dual without PSU. 200K is a lot of money to most of us but to these bigger programs it’s peanuts. Plus why would these people want to donate 200K to the PSU program. Thanks everyone

Spoiler alert: you can call it the national duals without PSU because that is exactly what is going to happen.

 

[dvpoke25]

How much NIL is each Penn state wrestler getting? If they won it every year and split that up amongst the guys in the starting lineup, they are costing a kid 80k in his college career by staying home. Maybe just me but I would’ve wanted that money when I was a college athlete. But to each their own. Show will go on without Penn state.

 

[TheJimReaper]

I have faith we will get some really good transfers in again.

I still haven’t given up on the Rocco Welsh dream

 

[Harleycowboy]

Can’t call this a national dual without PSU. 200K is a lot of money to most of us but to these bigger programs it’s peanuts. Plus why would these people want to donate 200K to the PSU program. Thanks everyone

It is called the National duals and if Penn. St or Iowa chooses not to compete, that is their choice. I guess a team can choose not to compete at Nationals if they choose also. I think, these kinds of decisions probably are not good for wrestling. If a top wrestler even great wrestler chooses not to compete at Nationals whoever wins that weight class is the National Champ despite that wrestler who may even be great, states well I wasn't there.

 

[alex1fly]

There's only so much time high visibility teams will exclude themselves from an event like this. Especially if the wrestling media calls the winner "Dual Champions" the entire season. Can't imagine wrestlers themselves not wanting to go to a national duals event, has to be a coaching/admin decision of "well we just don't wanna". It hypes people up, advertising dollars follow, it's a no-brainer.

 

[Air_Thurman]

There's only so much time high visibility teams will exclude themselves from an event like this. Especially if the wrestling media calls the winner "Dual Champions" the entire season. Can't imagine wrestlers themselves not wanting to go to a national duals event, has to be a coaching/admin decision of "well we just don't wanna". It hypes people up, advertising dollars follow, it's a no-brainer.

End of the day, it has a chance to be an exciting event that is a blast for fans. If some programs don't want to be a part of that ... cool. Wrestling needs more exciting, marquee events and I'm glad our leadership is proactive in making that happen.

 

[osu2082]

This can be really good for college and is really needed.

 

[Gabe H Coud]

Honestly really just shows you that Penn state has 0 desire to grow the sport. And for good reason, juggernaut with Cael. But really only hurting their program in the long run by talking down on this event

 

[vhsalum]

Honestly really just shows you that Penn state has 0 desire to grow the sport. And for good reason, juggernaut with Cael. But really only hurting their program in the long run by talking down on this event

This isn't hurting their program. If the event becomes big enough, he'll come.

It IS hurting the sport. I'm trying to figure out what "big events" the sport has outside of: the posteason and the Iowa-PSU, Iowa-Okstate duals

 

[tom_v31]

Maybe that'll draw PSU in.

💰💰💰💰💰. It’s called bate.

 

[tom_v31]

Their athletes loss. Gonna be a great event with or without them.

There will be sooooo much excitement. Honestly, any top team not participating, will participate in the following years. Something like this is too enticing.

 

[tom_v31]

I still haven’t given up on the Rocco Welsh dream

If he changed his mind at this point, he wouldn’t look so good.

 

[Chasingthirty-five]

It’s called bate.

Is it though?

Lol sorry couldn’t help myself.

 

[Chasingthirty-five]

The brilliance of what they did by choosing 16 is why this should work out long term. The 4 team invitational thing just didn’t do it. Now the next step for me, and sorry if I missed it, is how to get this thing televised appropriately. Unfortunately that’s football season so we can cross ESPN/Fox off the list. Would be nice to be on cable with someone that may shell out some more money. But I would settle for Flo I guess. ESPN+ probably draws a better crowd.

 

[ionel]

But maybe @Pennstate1985 will show up. We get them one fan at a time. If Chad builds it he will come.

 

[Travis25]

I understand why PSU and Iowa will probably say no. I do not like it, but I understand it. They are going to do everything in their power to keep OSU (and the State of Oklahoma) from reascending the throne.

The money is great, and I would think is enough to entice everyone but PSU and Iowa to join. I am somewhat concerned that the Big 10 schools will band together to come up with their own version of this. Brands and Sanderson both hinted that something else was in the works when they were asked about this.