Iowa hosts Penn State in non-conference dual in December

Everyone was excited to find out what would be posted on Twitter account associated with University of Iowa Coach Tom Brands.

The result was even better than anyone could have predicted.

Messages between @TomBrandsHAWK and @caelsanderson contained hints at the possibility of a dual between Iowa and Penn State, which was unfortunately left off the Big Ten regular season dual schedule. It didn't seem right that the programs that own the last six NCAA team titles - Iowa from 2008-10 and PSU from 2011-13 - wouldn't meet up for the first time in more than three decades.

It appears social media was a perfect catalyst because the Hawks will host the Nittany Lions at Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City on Saturday, Dec. 21, starting at 8 p.m. It will be aired on BTN.

Here is a link to Brands' Twitter account where you can view the conversation between the two championship coaches and competitors.

https://twitter.com/TomBrandsHAWK

Below is a news release from the UI SID:

IOWA WRESTLING

Hawkeyes to host Penn State in nonconference dual

IOWA CITY, Iowa -- The University of Iowa and Penn State University announced Friday that the two schools will meet in a nonconference wrestling dual on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 8 p.m. (CT) on Mediacom Mat inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

The Hawkeyes and Nittany Lions have met every year since 1982, but their annual meeting was omitted from the Big Ten schedule when conference dates were announced earlier this summer. The upcoming dual will be the 36th meeting between the schools. Iowa leads the all-time series, 26-7-2.

Iowa and Penn State have combined to win the last six NCAA titles. The Hawkeyes have won 23 national championships in program history, including a three-year run from 2008-10, while the Nittany Lions enter the 2013-14 season as three-time defending NCAA champions.

The dual is considered a special event, and is not included in the Iowa wrestling season ticket package. Season ticket holders will have the first opportunity to purchase tickets to the dual beginning Sept. 23. Beginning Oct. 7, all seats will be available for purchase to the general public. Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for youth. There is no admission charge for UI students or children five-years old and younger, but everyone entering the arena must have a ticket.

The dual will be televised live by BTN at 8 p.m. (CT). The complete BTN wrestling schedule will be announced at a later date.