Wisconsin linebacker T.J. Watt would like a unique birthday gift this year. Urban Meyer is 34-13 in his career against Top 25 competition, including 13-3 at Ohio State.
Advertisement
Ohio State is ranked third in the nation (first in the Big Ten) with 53.2 points per game.
After Ohio State had gone into the locker room at halftime with the lead, the Buckeyes changed their strategy in the second half by sitting back on defense and making the Hoosiers come at them. The scarlet and gray have so many playmakers all over the field on both sides of the ball that the opposition has a hard time keeping up. It led to Barrett scoring yet another rushing touchdown to make the score 20-16.
That 68-yard run was Wisconsin’s longest play from scrimmage since the 2014 season.
Ohio State got the ball first in overtime, with Barrett ending the possession with the pass to Brown for the go-ahead score.
Corey Clement finished regulation with 164 yards on 22 carries. They did some good things against us. Ohio State has a tremendous defense that is giving up just 10.8 points and 246.4 yards per game this season, including only 148.6 passing yards per contest.
The Buckeyes trailed 16-6 at halftime before mounting a furious comeback. MI has a similar ground attack to Ohio State and a almost equal defense. “This Big Ten football”, Barrett said. Barrett is the leader of this team and he showed you why.
That definitely came back to haunt the Badgers in the second half, as those were eight points left on the scoreboard that would have won the game. “Yet, you know what, we want to be the best we can be”. Freshman QB Alex Hornibrook has taken over for Bart Houston, but his play has left much to be desired.
The Buckeyes then completed the comeback victory in the extra frame on Barrett’s touchdown pass to Brown and the defensive stand.
Dating to 2009, Wisconsin, which did not play last weekend, is 8-1 coming off a bye. Throw in No. 10 Nebraska and the Big Ten has four Top 10-ranked teams for the first time since 1960.
After unveiling new uniforms that incorporated Indiana’s trademark candy stripes on their shoulders and a script IN on the trousers, IN hopes of changing course, it didn’t quite work.
Barrett picked up 318 total yards against an exceptionally stout Wisconsin defense, including a seven yard touchdown pass that proved to be the gamewinning score.
The Badgers tromped around to the tune of 236 yards rushing, including the -34 from the quarterback who is by no means a runner.
Advertisement
To that, there seemed to be a big lack of intensity in all of the Buckeyes! The teams met in the Big Ten opener last season in Madison and Iowa forced four turnovers in a 10-6 victory. Barrett also rushed 21 times against the Badgers, though, putting up a tough 92 yards and two touchdowns. In receiving, Robert Wheelwright posted 46 yards in three catches while Dare Ogunbowale added 23 yards and a touchdown in three catches. Beathard countered with a 5-yard TD pass to Noah Fant, giving the Hawkeyes a 42-14 advantage. Other than a brutal five-interception game against Wake Forest, Lagow has lived up to expectations in his first year as successor to Nate Sudfeld.
