WR Marvin Harrison Jr was outstanding last week against Penn State as Harrison makes a push for the Heisman with his 42 catches and 766 yards, along with six touchdowns. He will be a key again for the Ohio State offense, along with the throwing of QB Kyle McCord against Wisconsin.
2 – Henderson Update
Head Coach Ryan Day said RB TreVeyon Henderson is a “full go” for Saturday night against Wisconsin. Henderson has not played since the game in South Bend against Notre Dame.
Both CB Denzel Burke and WR Emeka Egbuka are hopeful for the game.
Former Buckeye coach and player Luke Fickell will be on the sidelines for the Badgers but does not want any extra attention, wanting the focus to be on the players on the field.
Day had nothing but praise for Fickell; Day said, “Nothing but respect for Luke, his staff, the team, the program. Wisconsin’s always an excellent program, and Luke’s done a great job.”
Ohio State needs to keep it simple. No turnovers, force Wisconsin into mistakes on defense and allow Harrison to run wild on the Badgers.
Ohio State will win. Giving 14.5 is a lot of points, so if you are a gambler, I would stay away from the game, but if I had to choose, give the points.
Following an impressive victory over a previously unbeaten Top 10 opponent, the No. 3 ranked Ohio State football team is gearing up to face Wisconsin in a Big Ten showdown on Saturday night in Madison, Wisconsin.
Ohio State, currently holding a record of 7-0 (4-0 in the conference), is coming off a 20-12 win at home against the former No. 7-ranked team, Penn State, who has since dropped to the 10th position in the rankings. The Buckeyes are positioned as the second-best team in the Big Ten East, trailing just behind Michigan, which holds the No. 2 national ranking.
On the other hand, Wisconsin, with a record of 5-2 (3-1 in the conference), pulled off an impressive comeback against Illinois, erasing a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter. This victory was led by their redshirt freshman quarterback, Braedyn Locke, who was making his first start at the collegiate level. The Badgers have now taken the lead in the Big Ten West, ahead of Iowa, who recently suffered a loss to Minnesota.
Speaking about the upcoming game against Wisconsin, Ohio State’s head coach, Ryan Day, emphasized the importance of staying focused and not letting the success of the previous week affect their performance. He acknowledged that Wisconsin is in good form and has a solid chance of winning their division.
In their previous game against Penn State, Ohio State showcased a strong defensive performance, limiting their opponents to just two field goals until a late touchdown in the final minute. The Buckeyes’ defense held Penn State to a mere 240 total yards, including a mere 49 rushing yards. Coach Day praised the defense’s remarkable performance on third and fourth downs, emphasizing their championship-level potential.
Kyle McCord, a first-year starter for Ohio State, had an impressive game, completing 22 of 35 passes for 286 yards and a touchdown. Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. had a standout performance with 11 receptions for 162 yards and a touchdown, earning him the conference’s co-Offensive Player of the Week title.
Ohio State’s defense has been formidable this season, currently ranked fourth in the nation for total defense, allowing only 260.1 yards per game, and third in scoring defense, giving up an average of just 10 points per game.
Notably, Wisconsin’s head coach, Luke Fickell, has a deep connection to Ohio State, having played for the Buckeyes and coached there from 2002 through 2016, including a season as interim head coach in 2011. Fickell stressed that, despite the personal history, the focus should be on the players, the team, and the program.
As for Wisconsin’s quarterback situation, Braedyn Locke took the reins in place of the injured Tanner Mordecai, who broke his throwing hand in the previous game against Iowa. Locke had a strong debut, completing 21 of 41 passes for 240 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning toss to offensive lineman Nolan Rucci in the waning moments of the game. Braelon Allen made a significant impact on the ground, rushing for 145 yards on 29 carries and scoring once.
Historically, Ohio State has dominated this matchup, winning nine consecutive games against Wisconsin since the Badgers’ last victory in 2010.
In their previous meeting last season, Ohio State triumphed over Wisconsin with a score of 52-21, amassing 539 yards of offense while limiting the Badgers to 296 yards. Braelon Allen had a standout performance, rushing for 165 yards on 23 carries, including a 75-yard touchdown.
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