The Mat Stats Show by the NWCA

In this episode, the MatStats crew tackles the "Upon Further Review" culture in collegiate wrestling. Joining the show is Dr. Mike McCormick, former D1 referee and current NCAA Coordinator of Officials, who provided 6 years of comprehensive video review data from the NCAA Men’s D1 Championships (2021–2026).Glenn Gormley crunches the numbers to evaluate referee accuracy, challenge success rates, time impact, and whether the "smoke 'em if you got 'em" mentality skews challenge data. Slideshow: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/slideshow58.pdfAbout Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

Why Does Rice Play Texas? The structure of American collegiate athletics is entirely unique to this country—a cultural and social phenomenon that functions far beyond simple athletic competition. While media conglomerates celebrate massive television contracts and multi-million-dollar multimedia rights agreements, the actual fallout on the ground often results in the immediate destruction of regional identity. On Episode 57 of Mat Stats, the trio of numerical geeks—Jason Bryant, Glenn Gormley, and Kevin Hazard—dissect the massive structural shifts rewriting the collegiate landscape, grounding the conversation in a simple, foundational premise: if an institutional change works for television executives late at night, how exactly does it damage the sport of wrestling? The guys track the evolution of conference alignment and the expansion of the College Football Playoff (CFP), detailing the severe unintended consequences ripping through Olympic sports. Gormley challenges the popular bar-talk theory of restructuring high-level college sports into a minor league baseball scenario, mapping out the logistical nightmare of a five-tier parent-club affiliate system within a 133-team FBS framework. From examining the extreme mathematical probability of Keith Mitchell shooting four consecutive even-par rounds at the U.S. Open to analyzing the weird compression of the March Madness tournament versus the endless 67-day NBA playoff drag, the crew uses hard historical data to separate structural reality from emotional hype. The conversation centers heavily on the preservation of the sport's traditions. With the recent, historic addition of a women's wrestling program at Columbia University—marking the first Ivy League institution to step into the arena—the guys look at how massive institutional endowments can be used strategically to protect the pipeline. From the lost in-state rivalries like Oklahoma-Nebraska and Iowa-Iowa State to the massive financial strain placed on Olympic travel budgets when Stanford faces an ACC conference opponent 2,600 miles away, this episode is a serious, data-driven look at why localized fan experience must always override empty television metrics. Slideshow for Episode 57: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/slideshow57.pdfAbout Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

Episode 56 of The Mat Stats Show wraps up the three-part deep dive into the three-point takedown rule with Glenn Gormley, Kevin Hazard and Jason Bryant taking the research down to the round-by-round and weight-by-weight level. Using six NCAA Division I Championships worth of data before and after the rule change, the crew looks at how scoring changes as the tournament progresses, why early rounds heavily influence the numbers, and what the data says about parity across the bracket. One consistent trend: as the rounds advance, scoring, margin of victory, majors, techs and pins all decrease as the competition tightens.  Episode 56 Slideshow: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/sildeshow56.pdf  The show also dives into how different weight classes compare statistically. Some long-held wrestling stereotypes take a hit, including the old “heavyweight is always 1-0 or a pin” mentality. The numbers actually show a moderate positive correlation between weight and margin of victory, along with more majors and tech falls in the upper weights than many fans might expect. The group also gets into statistical anomalies, including why 125 pounds was the only weight class to see a scoring decrease after the three-point takedown rule went into effect and whether individual wrestlers can skew the numbers over time.  Outside the takedown discussion, the episode touches on the continued growth of college wrestling programs, recognition for longtime wrestling contributors Steve Cole and Nate Naasz, and a broader conversation about the NCAA’s proposed eligibility model changes and how sport-specific structures — especially in wrestling and hockey — could be affected. Episode 56 closes the book on the three-point takedown series, but leaves plenty of future rabbit holes open as more years of data continue to build on the trends Mat Stats has uncovered.About Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

 In Episode 55 of The MatStats Show, hosts Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant, and Kevin Hazard continue their "Moneyball" deep dive into the impact of the 3-point takedown rule. Analyzing over 3,300 matches from the 2021–2026 NCAA Championships, the team investigates whether the recent rise in total points is a result of increased action or merely "scoring inflation".  The data reveals a staggering 228% increase in technical falls, prompting Gormley to suggest that bonus-point thresholds have been "cheapened".The hosts propose modernizing the sport by raising the Major Decision margin to 10 points and Technical Falls to 18 or 20 points. This adjustment aims to restore the historical value of dominance in an era where takedowns now account for 59% of all scoring.The episode also features a "College Business Update," highlighting the financial pressures of Revenue Sharing and massive NIL budgets. With top basketball NIL budgets now estimated at $20 million per year, the crew discusses how these external shifts may eventually force Men’s Basketball to seek a larger share of NCAA revenues. Slideshow for Episode 55: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/slideshow55.pdfAbout Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

Episode 54 of The Mat Stats Show gets back into the speakeasy with Jason Bryant shaking off 25 days, seven countries, two continental championships, 66 medal ceremonies and whatever number of anthems came through Kyrgyzstan and the Balkans. Jason, Kevin Hazard and Glenn Gormley start with a quick look at April in wrestling, including the U.S. Open, high schoolers making noise at the senior level and the fact that wrestling no longer just disappears after the NCAA Division I Championships. The main topic kicks off a three-part Mat Stats series on the three-point takedown rule. Glenn breaks down six years of NCAA Division I Championship data — 2021-23 under the two-point takedown and 2024-26 under the three-point takedown — with 3,659 matches analyzed. The first takeaway: takedowns per minute are down 7.18 percent since the rule change. Scoring moves overall are also down, while stalling and penalties were the only scoring category to increase. That doesn’t automatically mean the rule change is good or bad, but it does give the crew plenty to dig into. Takedowns now account for nearly 59 percent of all points scored, and takedowns plus escapes make up almost 83 percent of the scoring at the NCAA Championships. Episode 54 lays out the first batch of numbers before the next two shows get into margin of victory, majors, tech falls and what the three-point takedown may actually be doing to college wrestling. Slideshow for Epsiode 54: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/slideshow54.pdfAbout Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

Episode 53 of The Mat Stats Show recaps the conclusion of the 2026 collegiate wrestling season across all major divisions, with hosts Jason Bryant, Glenn Gormley, and Kevin Hazard breaking down the numbers behind the NCAA, NAIA, and NCWA championships. The discussion opens with reflections on the NCAA Division I Championships in Cleveland, including Penn State’s record-setting performance and Oklahoma State becoming the first program to crown three freshman champions in the same tournament. The hosts also highlight the postseason landscape across divisions, emphasizing the continued dominance of programs such as Wartburg in Division III and Grand View in the NAIA. The show’s statistical focus examines participation, championships, and competitive balance across the sport. Across the six NCAA and NAIA championships alone, 339 teams representing 46 states, Washington, D.C., and British Columbia qualified wrestlers, producing 41 teams with national champions and 186 programs with All-Americans. Combined participation across NCAA, NAIA, and NCWA levels now exceeds 750 collegiate teams, reinforcing the hosts’ central argument that wrestling has become a truly national sport extending far beyond the traditional Division I spotlight. Additional analysis explores which programs and states produced the most success during the 2026 championship season. Iowa led all states in national champions and All-Americans across the NCAA and NAIA tournaments, while NAIA powerhouse Grand View scored the most combined team points across the six championships.The episode concludes by reinforcing the show’s theme of “Root Locally, Support Nationally,” encouraging fans to recognize the full collegiate wrestling ecosystem—including Division II, Division III, NAIA, and emerging women’s programs—as essential to the continued growth of the sport. Slideshow for Epsiode 53: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/slideshow53.pdfAbout Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

The Mat Stats Show discussed the growth and significance of women's wrestling, highlighting the upcoming NCAA Women's Championship in Coralville, Iowa. The NCAA now has 127 women's wrestling teams, set to surpass rowing in numbers.The NAIA Women's Championship will be held in Park City, Kansas, with 46 teams and 21 qualifiers per weight class. The NCAA Women's Championship will feature 180 wrestlers from six qualifying tournaments. The discussion also touched on the financial challenges in college athletics and the potential for increased women's sports due to new scholarship caps. Slideshow for Epsiode 52: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/slideshow52.pdf About Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

The Mat Stats Show, hosted by Jason Bryant, Glenn Gormley, and Kevin Hazard, discussed the current state of college wrestling, particularly the dominance of Penn State and the potential of Ohio State. They highlighted the upcoming NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships in 2028 and the recent drop of men's wrestling, golf, and swimming at Cal Baptist due to “financial constraints.” The show also covered the NCAA's evolution, its current structure with 1,100 members, and the challenges schools face when reclassifying divisions, including the impact on non-revenue sports. Slideshow for Epsiode 51: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/slideshow51.pdfAbout Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

The discussion on Episode 50 of Mat Stats digs into the growth and challenges of collegiate wrestling. Key points include the significant growth of NCAA wrestling teams, with 137.5% of the increase coming from D2 and D3 schools. The University of Utah's $500 million investment from Otro Capital is highlighted, despite a $17 million loss in 2023-2024.The conversation emphasizes the need for small donations, sponsorships, and NIL deals to support wrestling programs. The hosts stress the importance of fan involvement and the evolving landscape of college sports, urging proactive support to sustain and grow wrestling teams. Slideshow for Epsiode 50: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/slideshow50.pdfAbout Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS

The MatStats boys analyze the participation numbers of Men’s NCAA Wrestling from 1981-82 to 2024-25.  How the new roster cap limits on D1 will affect the numbers and the possibilities to help augment the losses from the roster cap limits. Slideshow for Episode 49: https://www.mattalkonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/slideshow49.pdf NCAA Stats & Participation Report: Link About Mat Stats Welcome to the NWCA’s latest venture to help our favorite sport. Glenn Gormley, Jason Bryant and Kevin Hazard outline their effort to bring statistical analysis to wrestling. Mat Stats is the NWCA’s attempt to bring wrestling up to speed with so many other sports by incorporating stats. It is the same sport, the wrestlers are just older and better.Mat Stats by the NWCA is a monthly podcast by the National Wrestling Coaches Association Apple Podcasts | Spotify | iHeartRadio | Podcast Addict | Castbox | RSS