MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Following the NCAA’s release of conference allocations on Thursday, additional matches were identified that weren’t in the original RPI calculation. That led to an evaluation of the original allocations with a new RPI, which included those matches.

 

The Big 12 was originally awarded six qualifying spots at 165 pounds and a total of 39 qualifying spots in the conference. However, following the new calculations the Big 12 was awarded five spots at 165 for a total of 38 spots.

 

 

Conference allocations for the 2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, as well as the third edition of the NCAA Coaches’ Rankings Panel and RPI Rankings were announced by the NCAA on Thursday.

 

The Big 12 Conference was awarded 38 automatic qualifying spots, third most behind the Big Ten (77) and Eastern Intercollegiate Wrestling Association (42). The 165-pound weight class will qualify the top six finishers at the 2017 Big 12 Championship – the most of any weight class. A weight-by-weight breakdown is listed below.

 

Each qualifying tournament received spots based on each athlete’s Division I winning percentage, the coaches’ rankings and the ratings percentage index (RPI). Leagues were awarded one qualifying spot for each wrestler who reached threshold in two of three categories. Qualifying spots will be awarded to wrestlers based on qualifying tournament finish, regardless of whether or not they met the threshold.

 

Following the completion of qualifying events, the NCAA Division I Wrestling Committee will select the remaining 49 at-large qualifiers. Selections will be made based on the following criteria: head-to-head competition, quality wins, coaches’ ranking, results against common opponents, RPI, qualifying event placement and winning percentage. At-large selections will be announced on March 7.

 

A pair of Mountaineers rank in the top-33 of their respective weights in the coaches’ rankings. Jacob A. Smith is No. 5 at 197 pounds, while Dylan Cottrell is No. 11 at 165 pounds.

 

Cory Stainbrook joins Smith and Cottrell in the RPI rankings. Cottrell ranks at No. 7 at 165, with Smith coming in at No. 8 at 197, and Stainbrook at No. 26 in the 133-pound rankings.

 

The 2017 Big 12 Wrestling Championship will take place March 4-5 at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 2017 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships will run March 16-18 at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.