University of Oklahoma Athletics

JH lead WR 21

Eight Sooners Ranked in First Coaches Rankings

February 12, 2021 | Wrestling

NORMAN - The NCAA announced that the Big 12 Conference earned 45 pre-allocations to the 2021 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships in St. Louis. In addition, eight Sooners were ranked in the initial coaches rankings.

The allocations are spread amongst all 10 weight classes, with six classes earning five spots (125, 133, 149, 165, 197 and 285). The 141, 174 and 184 earned four allocations, while 157 collected three.
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In recent years, pre-allocations have been determined by a formula measuring Division I winning percentage, ratings percentage index and coaches' ranking. A decrease in overall matches, and in particular non-conference matches, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, led the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee to transition to using the five-year historical average to determine pre-allocations for 2021.

For any adjustments in conference alignment over the last five years, historical pre-allocations stayed with the conference where they were earned. The competition status of schools for 2021 also did not impact the calculation of pre-allocations.

The Sooners have a wrestler ranked in every weight class except 125 and 165 pounds. The rankings are used to help seed the NCAA Championship.

The Division I Wrestling Committee will meet to select the remaining at-large qualifiers to fill out the 33-man bracket in each weight class, which will be announced March 10, via NCAA livestream while brackets and seeding will be announced on NCAA.com at 4 p.m. March 11.

Thursday, March 19
Saturday, March 07
Friday, March 06
Sunday, February 08