With ramped up transfer activity, and pending activity, it got me thinking about the returning points graphic I did last year with color coded sources. I started building the data and it struck me how few returning points are actually up for grabs in the portal this year.
For returning points I am being strict in the definition. This is based on points scored in the 2025 tournament. I know if it is your team you want to put on those rose colored glasses and talk about the most points the wrestler has ever scored (sorry Richie Figueroa), or what you think they are capable of scoring (everyone is a potential finalist in someone's opinion). But I am unmoved.
Portal Points Available
Only 25.5 returning points have transferred so far (1.8% of all points scored). And only 26 remaining points are looking for a new home. There are 51.5 total points (3.6%) looking to, or already, transferred (vs. last year 120.5 or 8.4%).
That's it.
Everything else is about potential, that most elusive of mistresses.
What about those 120.5 transferred points from 2024?
They only scored 111.5 points in 2025.
But it was a tale of two cities.
Returning Points
In general there are fewer returning points this year. A lot fewer.
Last year 196 wrestlers who scored 1,066.5 points (out of 1,437.5, 74.2%) returned in 2025.
This year 206 wrestlers who scored 863.5 points (out of 1438, 60%) return for 2026.
For returning points I am being strict in the definition. This is based on points scored in the 2025 tournament. I know if it is your team you want to put on those rose colored glasses and talk about the most points the wrestler has ever scored (sorry Richie Figueroa), or what you think they are capable of scoring (everyone is a potential finalist in someone's opinion). But I am unmoved.
Portal Points Available
Only 25.5 returning points have transferred so far (1.8% of all points scored). And only 26 remaining points are looking for a new home. There are 51.5 total points (3.6%) looking to, or already, transferred (vs. last year 120.5 or 8.4%).
That's it.
Everything else is about potential, that most elusive of mistresses.
What about those 120.5 transferred points from 2024?
They only scored 111.5 points in 2025.
But it was a tale of two cities.
- In Stillwater the four transfers each exceeded their 2024 total in 2025. In aggregate they beat their prior year points by 33.
- In Iowa City one transfer exceeded his 2024 total and two missed, for an aggregate 20 fewer points in 2025.
Returning Points
In general there are fewer returning points this year. A lot fewer.
Last year 196 wrestlers who scored 1,066.5 points (out of 1,437.5, 74.2%) returned in 2025.
This year 206 wrestlers who scored 863.5 points (out of 1438, 60%) return for 2026.
