The Illinois wrestling team continues its Big Ten schedule this weekend on the road, going up against a ranked team for the first time this season. The much improved Big Ten currently has nine teams ranked in the top 25.

“As good as we were last year as a conference and as well as we did nationally, I think the Big Ten conference is even better this year than last,” head coach Mark Johnson said.

Last weekend, Illinois easily handed Purdue its first loss in the conference, taking the match by a final score of 27-7.

The Illini go up against an Indiana team on Friday that is 2-0 in the Big Ten, has won its last 11 matches and is ranked 15th in the nation. But the past is in Illinois’ favor. The Illini have won the last seven matches against the Hoosiers and are 8-1 in the last nine.

Senior Kyle Ott at 125 lb. will face Indiana’s Joe Dubuque. Ott and Dubuque faced each other for the national championship last year, but Dubuque took the national title. This time around, the top spot for the 125 lb. weight class is on the line.

“That’s a big match up,” Johnson said. “(Ott) has to wrestle his match. Last year he was the aggressor and I think he has to keep it that way this time.”

Dubuque is 12-0 on the season and the top ranked wrestler in the 125-lb. weight class. Third-ranked Ott is 5-0 on the season and has not seen as much action this season due to 11 knee surgeries he has suffered in the past.

“Dubuque is a tough wrestler,” Ott said. “He’s very intense. If I want to beat him this weekend, I’ll just have to wrestle him tough and keep my intensity up.”

On Sunday, Illinois faces unranked Ohio State, who is winless in conference play and 4-6 overall. Although Ohio State is considered a weaker team in the conference, senior All-American Pete Friedl is not taking them for granted.

“We just have to go out there, take care of business, work hard and we’ll come out with a win,” Friedl said. “Every team has a couple good quality guys on their team. We never want to look over anyone or take anything off our performance.”

Ohio State has two wrestlers in the top 15, with J Jaggers ranking 8th nationally in the Amateur Wrestling News, and heavyweight Kirk Nail coming in at No.11 nationally. Although Illinois boasts three of the top five wrestlers in the nation and is ranked third in the nation, Johnson said the match against Ohio State is a big one.

“Every Big Ten match is big,” Johnson said. “The match at Ohio State is no different.”