Is scoring becoming more top-heavy, and is the bottom of the field hollowing out? (2013–2026, excl. 2020)
If talent were being systematically drained from smaller programs, we'd expect a growing pile of zero-scorers and a shrinking bottom tier over time. The distribution of teams across scoring buckets has remained broadly stable across the full 13-year window.
The number of programs producing at least one All-American (top-8 finisher) has held steady at 29–38 per year with no downward trend. Teams scoring zero points fluctuate 3–8 per year, also without a trend. The breadth of competitive programs has not meaningfully shrunk.
Gini coefficient (red line): 0 = perfectly equal, higher = more concentrated. Top-5 share (bars): % of all points scored by the top 5 teams. Neither metric shows a sustained upward trend — 2025 had the lowest Gini on record; 2026 spiked but follows no clear trajectory.
Each line tracks the team at that rank position's score each year. The #1 team (Penn State in most years) has genuinely grown more dominant. The middle and bottom of the pack are essentially flat.
Each dot is one of the 10 weight-class finals. Combined score = winner's points + loser's points. Color: blue = Decision, green = Major Decision, purple = Tech Fall, red × = Fall (no combined score available). Hover any dot for match details.
Team points = advancement (1/win) + bonus (MD +1, TF +1.5, Fall/FF +2) + placement points (top 8). All wrestlers included regardless of seed status.
| Year | #1 Team (pts) | #5 pts | #10 pts | Top-5 Share | Gini | Teams w/ AA | Teams 0 pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Penn State (123.5) | 65.0 | 44.5 | 34.5% | 0.644 | 32 | 7 |
| 2014 | Penn State (109.5) | 62.0 | 43.5 | 32.3% | 0.607 | 38 | 7 |
| 2015 | Ohio State (102.0) | 71.5 | 56.5 | 29.7% | 0.622 | 32 | 3 |
| 2016 | Penn State (123.0) | 82.0 | 50.5 | 33.2% | 0.626 | 35 | 4 |
| 2017 | Penn State (146.5) | 86.5 | 47.5 | 37.8% | 0.655 | 30 | 3 |
| 2018 | Penn State (142.5) | 80.0 | 44.0 | 38.1% | 0.664 | 29 | 6 |
| 2019 | Penn State (138.5) | 63.0 | 51.5 | 32.6% | 0.643 | 31 | 8 |
| 2021 | Iowa (130.0) | 69.0 | 45.0 | 34.1% | 0.598 | 34 | 4 |
| 2022 | Penn State (131.5) | 59.5 | 49.0 | 31.1% | 0.617 | 29 | 6 |
| 2023 | Penn State (137.5) | 64.5 | 48.0 | 31.4% | 0.605 | 33 | 6 |
| 2024 | Penn State (172.5) | 67.0 | 56.0 | 31.6% | 0.628 | 34 | 6 |
| 2025 | Penn State (177.0) | 52.5 | 44.5 | 36.9% | 0.590 | 37 | 6 |
| 2026 | Penn State (181.5) | 84.5 | 45.5 | 41.4% | 0.682 | 31 | 5 |