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Live Updates: No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. Wisconsin Badgers

Live stats, information and analysis from Columbus as the No. 3-ranked Buckeyes open Big Ten conference play against the Badgers.

Eddie Marotta

In this story:

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State is ready to begin Big Ten action on Saturday night, as they take on a Wisconsin team that has dropped eight consecutive match-ups against the Buckeyes. 

The Badgers hold one of the nation's top-ranked defenses heading into Saturday night, which is sure to test a Buckeye offensive attack that is flying high after a 77-point showing against Toledo.

More on the Buckeyes: 2022 Stats | 2022 Schedule | College Football Scoreboard

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Fourth Quarter

  • Final stats:
OSU Wisconsin Final Stats
  • Ohio State's drive stalls and they're forced to punt.
  • Kyle McCord has entered the game for the Buckeyes.
  • Braelon Allen busts free for a 75-yard touchdown on the Badgers first play of the drive, and Wisconsin answers the OSU touchdown with one of their own. 52-21, Buckeyes.
  • C.J. Stroud has now thrown for at least 5 touchdowns in five of the last eight games for Ohio State.
  • C.J. Stroud on the night: 17-27, 281 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT.
  • Drive Summary: 5 plays, 75 yards, 2:25 TOP, Touchdown.
  • TOUCHDOWN BUCKEYES! Stroud and Egbuka connect for the duo's second touchdown of the night, as Egbuka's speed burns the Badger defense after the reception. 52-14, Ohio State.
  • Jay Shaw is called for pass interference on third down, as C.J. Stroud tries to connect with Marvin Harrison Jr. after scrambling out of the pocket. First down Buckeyes from the WISC 32.
  • Emeka Egbuka takes a big hit but holds onto the football to secure a first-down reception. Buckeyes at midfield again.
  • TreVeyon Henderson shows off his shiftiness and gains 11 yards and a first down to open the OSU drive.
  • Touchdown Wisconsin. Jackson Acker finds the end zone off of the play-action by Graham Mertz. 45-14, OSU.
  • Wisconsin continues grinding, pushing the ball inside the OSU 5.
  • Graham Mertz completes to Isaac Guerendo for 19 yards down to the Buckeye 6.
  • Wisconsin converts on third down, moving the ball down to the OSU 30.

Third Quarter

  • Third quarter stats:
OSU Wisconsin third quarter Stats
  • Drive Summary: 4 plays, 38 yards, 2:02 TOP, Touchdown.
  • TOUCHDOWN OHIO STATE! Stroud fires a laser to Emeka Egbuka, and the Buckeyes continue to roll. 45-7, OSU.
  • TreVeyon Henderson just reached 100 yards rushing on the night, as he and Miyan Williams have now eclipsed the 100-yard mark. This is the first time since 2019 that the Buckeyes have had two 100-yard rushers in the same game.
  • Another ugly punt from Wisconsin leads to a 12-yard runback from Emeka Egbuka, and Ohio State will start their next possession on the WISC 38.
  • Jesse Mirco pins Wisconsin back inside their own 5-yard-line to start the next drive, and a hold on the Badgers' during the return will back them up even further prior to their next offensive possession.
  • Stroud throws incomplete on 3rd-and-13, and the Buckeyes are forced to punt for the first time tonight.
  • Dawand Jones is called for holding and the Buckeyes are pushed back for a 2nd-and-15.
  • Wisconsin shanks the punt for the second time tonight, and OSU will take over near midfield at the WISC 49.
  • Graham Mertz throws incomplete on third down, and Wisconsin is forced to punt.
  • Skyler Bell finds some wiggle room on a screen pass and gains 15 on 2nd-and-19.
  • Wisconsin's Logan Brown is called for a personal foul that backs the Badgers up to their own 16 on second down.
  • Drive Summary: 8 plays, 72 yards, 3:38 TOP, Touchdown.
  • TOUCHDOWN OSU! C.J. Stroud connects with Julian Fleming on the duos second big play of the drive, as Fleming barrels into the end zone through multiple Badger defenders for the score. 38-7, Buckeyes.
  • Julian Fleming stays on his feet and turns a short third-down throw into a gain of 31 down to the WISC 17.
  • TreVeyon Henderson pushes forward for a gain of 6 and the Buckeyes are in Wisconsin territory.
  • Stroud connects with Emeka Egbuka for a gain of 18 and a Buckeye first down at the OSU 46.
  • C.J. Stroud is nearly intercepted by Nick Herbig on the first play of OSU's drive, but the pass falls incomplete.
  • A well-timed blitz from the Buckeye defense forces Graham Mertz to throw the ball Into the dirt on 3rd-and-7 and OSU forces a quick punt to begin the third quarter.
  • Braedon Allen with a big gain on 3rd-and-2, but a hold moves the play back.
  • Wisconsin starts the third quarter with possession of the football.

Second Quarter

  • First half stats:
OSU Wisconsin Halftime Stats
  • Mertz's fourth-down pass is broken up by Tanner McCalister.
  • Timeout Wisconsin, 0:11 left in the half.
  • Braedon Allen catches Mertz' 3rd-and-4 throw short of first down yardage at the OSU 41.
  • Timeout Wisconsin, 0:20 remaining in the first half.
  • Graham Mertz scrambles for a short gain and slides short of the first down.
  • Timeout Wisconsin, 0:26 left in the first half.
  • Play is stopped as Clay Cundiff is down with an apparent leg injury following a three-yard reception.
  • C.J. Stroud is intercepted for the first time this season, as John Torchio picks the ball off with 0:38 left in the first half.
  • The Buckeyes quickly advance the ball to their own 30 and call their final timeout of the half with 0:43 remaining in the half.
  • Sonny Styles is called for a personal foul on the punt return, and OSU will be backed up inside their own 10 to start their next drive with 1:19 remaining in the half.
  • Mertz throws incomplete on 3rd-and-9; Wisconsin goes three-and-out.
  • Isaac Guerendo with a solid runback on the kickoff, setting up Wisconsin at their own 42 to start the next drive.
  • Miyan Williams has eclipsed the 100-yard mark on the night, with 11 attempts for 101 yards and 2 TDs.
  • Drive Summary: 13 plays, 68 yards, 6:11 TOP, Field Goal.
  • Field Goal, OSU. Noah Ruggles converts on the 25-yard attempt as the OSU's drive stalls at the WISC 7. 31-7, Buckeyes.
  • TreVeyon Henderson gets the carry on 3-and-5, picking up 3 yards. OSU sends out the field goal team.
  • Cade Stover re-enters the game and Stroud just misses him in the end zone.
  • Mitch Rossi gets the carry on 3rd-and-1, converting the first down at the WISC 15.
  • Miyan Williams bounces the fourth-down run to the outside and picks up the first on a gain of 9 down to the WISC 27.
  • Ohio State is stopped just short of a first down on third and faces a 4th-and-1.
  • Cade Stover took a hard hit and exited the game attempting to make a leaping reception.
  • Miyan Williams with another big gain on the ground for the Buckeyes, picking up 25 yards to the WISC 45.
  • Graham Mertz scores on a QB sneak and Wisconsin is on the board. 28-7, Buckeyes.
  • Timeout, Ohio State. 8:43 remaining in the half. 
  • Allen takes the Wildcat snap and is stopped just short of the goal line. 1st-and-Goal, Wisconsin.
  • Braelon Allen rushes for 8 and Wisconsin is inside the Buckeye 10.
  • Wisconsin converts on 3rd-and-9 as Graham Mertz finds Skyler Bell for a gain on 26. Wisconsin down to the OSU 14.
  • An 11-yard rush from Graham Mertz pushes Wisconsin into OSU territory for the first time, down to the 41-yard-line.
  • Jyaire Brown gets flagged for pass interference as Wisconsin moves to their own 37.
  • Drive Summary: 8 plays, 67 yards, 3:21 TOP, Touchdown.
  • MIYAN WILLIAMS WALKS IN FOR SIX! Williams converts a third and short with a tough run, then waltzes into the end zone to extend the Buckeye lead. 28-0, OSU.
  • Miyan Williams with a tough run on third and short, and OSU is inside the WISC 5 yard line again.

First Quarter

  • First Quarter Stats:
OSU Wisconsin 1st Quarter Stats
  • Miyan Williams rushes for a gain of 14 yards to the WISC 31.
  • Stroud finds Marvin Harrison Jr. on a quick slant on 3rd-and-4, gaining 14 yards and a first down. Harrison limped off the field at the conclusion of the play.
  • Mertz finds Skyler Bell but was pushed out-of-bounds by Tanner McCalister short of first-down yardage.
  • Jack Sawyer sacks Graham Mertz on second down, forcing a 3rd-and-10.
  • Ohio State kicks the ball out-of-bounds following the touchdown, and Wisconsin starts their next possession from the 35.
  • Drive Summary: 7 plays, 70 yards, 3:24 TOP, Touchdown.
  • TOUCHDOWN CADE STOVER! Huge first quarter for the tight end, with 4 receptions for 51 yards and 2 TDs already. 21-0, Buckeyes.
  • Henderson with another strong run, barreling forward for an OSU first down inside the WISC 3.
  • TreVeyon Henderson gains 16 yards down to the Wisconsin 12 after some fancy footwork.
  • Timeout, Ohio State. 5:05 remaining in the first quarter.
  • Cade Stover continues his big first quarter, picking up 12 on his third reception of the night. OSU down to the WISC 28.
  • Emeka Egbuka moves the sticks for the Buckeyes on their opening play of the drive, and Marvin Harrison Jr. follows it up with a first-down reception of his own. Buckeyes already in Wisconsin territory.
  • After a gain of 8 on 2nd-and-15, the Buckeye defense forces an incompletion on third down, as Wisconsin quickly goes three-and-out following the interception on their opening drive. OSU football from their own 30.
  • Tommy Eichenberg drags Isaac Guerendo down for a loss of 5 on Wisconsin's opening play of their second drive.
  • Drive Summary: 2 plays, 16 yards, 0:41 TOP, Touchdown.
  • TOUCHDOWN BUCKEYES (AGAIN)!! C.J. Stroud connects with Cade Stover, who leaps over a Wisconsin defender to find the end-zone! 14-0, OSU.
  • Tanner McCalister picks off Graham Mertz! Wisconsin's opening drive comes to an abrupt end, as McCalister returns the interception 30 yards down to the WISC 16.
  • Wisconsin with three consecutive rushing attempts to open the game, converting a first down on 3rd-and-1.
  • Drive summary: 6 plays, 88 yards, 2:41 TOP, Touchdown.
  • TOUCHDOWN BUCKEYES! Miyan Williams finds the end-zone on a 2 yard rush, capping off a quick first drive for Ohio State. 7-0, OSU.
  • Emeka Egbuka finds lots of open field, gaining 33 yards on a dart from C.J. Stroud that moves the Buckeyes down to the WISC 2.
  • TreVeyon Henderson bursts forward for a gain of 10 and another Buckeye first down. 
  • Stroud hits Cade Stover over the middle of the field for another big gain, this time for 22 yards down to the Wisconsin 45 yard line.
  • C.J. Stroud finds Marvin Harrison Jr. for the first time tonight, picking up a first down for the Buckeyes on a gain of 18.
  • Jyaire Brown muffed the opening kickoff of the game, but recovered. OSU starts with possession at their own 12.
  • Wisconsin won the opening coin toss and deferred. OSU will start tonight's game on offense.

Pregame

  • Officials for tonight’s game:
    • Referee: Jerry McGinn
    • Umpire: Brad Hudak
    • Linesman: Michael Maisner
    • Line Judge: Mark Bennett
    • Back Judge: Jake Kemp
    • Field Judge: Reginald Berry
    • Side Judge: Gaylon Williams
    • Center Judge: Eric Oliver
  • Denzel Burke has a large cast on his hand, and will be inactive tonight. Ward looked to be warming up with the team, but is not in uniform.
  • Wisconsin LT Jack Nelson will not play tonight.
  • Ohio State will be without DE Omari Abor, WR Kam Babb, CB Cam Brown, CB Jordan Hancock, LB Mitchell Melton, LB Teradja Mitchell, DT Zach Prater, RB Evan Pryor, TE Joe Royer, and WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba for tonight's game.
  • "The Madness": Ohio State released a trailer previewing Saturday night's showdown against Wisconsin.
  • Ohio State will be wearing its black alternate uniforms against Wisconsin. The Buckeyes are 3-0 all-time when wearing their black alternates.

Game Preview: Ohio State’s Toughness To Be Tested Against Wisconsin

The Buckeyes have won eight straight against the Badgers, including three victories in the Big Ten Championship Game.

Ohio State opens Big Ten play on Saturday with a primetime matchup against Wisconsin, which pairs one of the nation’s best defenses with an offense that wants to run the ball and keep the Buckeyes' top-ranked attack off the field.

“Anytime you’re in conference play, it ramps up a little bit. Everything means a little bit more,” head coach Ryan Day said this week. “Wisconsin’s a very good team, epitomizes everything the Big Ten’s all about. They’re always well-coached, they’re always sound and they have good talent, so this is going to be a big challenge.”

That’s not to say Ohio State hasn’t been challenged so far this season, as the opener pitted the Buckeyes against a top-five opponent. But the Badgers’ defense is much better than Notre Dame’s – or Arkansas State and Toledo, for that matter – and the offense will have to earn every yard as a result.

On the flip side, Wisconsin arguably has the best running back in the conference outside of Columbus in sophomore Braelon Allen. He’s the type of player that gave Ohio State trouble last season, which is why the Buckeyes spent all offseason focused on improving their toughness on defense.

“You're going to get this when you get into conference play, and we knew that," Day said. "That's why we've talked about this going into the game. We know their style of play, and it’s not unique to Wisconsin, so we have to be able to play in these styles of games.

“Our guys have been practicing with a little bit more of an edge and a little more physicality ... We know that this is what we have to do if we’re going to make a run at the Big Ten championship. We have to beat Wisconsin.”

General Info

Date: Sept. 24, 2022
Where: Ohio Stadium (Columbus, OH)
Expected Weather: 66 degrees, partly sunny
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET

Current Betting Numbers

Spread: Ohio State (-19)
O/U Total: 57
Betting: Check out the new SISportsbook!

How to Watch/Listen

Television: ABC
Streaming: fuboTV (get a 7-day free trial)
Announcers: Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sideline)

Local Radio: Ohio State Sports Network from Learfield IMG College
Flagship: WBNS 97.1 The Fan
Announcers: Paul Keels (play-by-play), Jim Lachey (analyst), Matt Andrews (sideline reporter), Skip Mosic (pregame/halftime/postgame host and producer)

Series History

Ohio State leads Wisconsin, 61-18-5
* OSU record at home: 29-5-3

LAST TIME THEY MET
2019: Ohio State 34, Wisconsin 21 (Big Ten Championship Game)

Coaching Matchup

* Ryan Day
* At Ohio State: 4th Season, Record: 37-4
* Overall: Same

* Paul Chryst
* At Wisconsin: 8th Season, Record: 67-24
* Overall: 86-43

Ohio State Capsule

While Ohio State’s offense got all of the attention last Saturday night – and rightfully so with 763 total yards – defensive coordinator Jim Knowles was not pleased by the Buckeyes’ performance on the other side of the ball in the 77-21 win over Toledo.

“I don’t think we did a great job, and that starts with me,” Knowles said. “I think it was not at the level that we want our defense to be. Silver Bullet caliber, it wasn’t there. (It’s) always great that you win and you can learn from it, but I think that starts with me. I just feel like I didn’t do a good enough job preparing them for it.”

The Rockets put up 307 yards of total offense against the Buckeyes, including a 50-yard touchdown pass, 40-yard touchdown pass and a 23-yard touchdown run by quarterback Dequan Finn, whose dual-threat abilities gave the defense some issues.

“He was really talented,” Knowles said. “I learned a lot personally, too, because – when you go against an option team – how do you simulate that in practice? It’s difficult. How do you simulate a scrambling quarterback? Near impossible, it really is, because you’re not tackling in practice to get that sense of speed.

“I thought we had some schemes and some ideas but we didn’t execute them very well, and when you don’t execute, that’s not the players’ fault. That’s my fault. You’ve got to continue to be creative to find ways to do it, so I learned a learned a lot from the experience and we’ll get better.”

Wisconsin Capsule

Of course, Wisconsin presents a different challenge this week, as the Badgers would like to keep the ball on the ground in Allen, whose 6-foot-2 and 238-pound frame makes him hard to bring down with just one person.

“He’s different,” Knowles said. “Big, strong back. (I’ve) certainly gone up against guys like him before, but in the big back category, he’s as good as any that I have seen. We have to make sure we have great form when we tackle him and rally to the football. It’s going to be a team effort because he is very talent.”

Allen has rushed for 332 yards and five touchdowns on 50 carries the season, and the Buckeyes’ ability to stop him will show how far they’ve come since last year’s losses to Oregon and Michigan, when they gave up 269 and 297 yards on the ground, respectively.

“It’s been good,” Knowles said of the run defense. “It can get a lot better. I think that last week could’ve been better. I’m still looking for us to dominate in all aspects at the point of attack. We’re not there yet.”

Wisconsin redshirt junior quarterback Graham Mertz is someone who Ohio State is plenty familiar with, meanwhile, as he was considered the Buckeyes’ top target at the position in the 2019 recruiting class.

In his two-plus years as a starter, he’s had his fair share of highs – including going 20-of-21 for 248 yards and five touchdowns in a win over Illinois in his first career start in 2020 – and lows – as he threw 11 interceptions compared to 10 touchdowns last season.

Mertz appears to have improved this offseason, as he’s completed 71.0 percent of his passes for 697 yards and six touchdowns with only two interceptions in three games this fall. Which version shows up on Saturday could go a long way in determining the result, though.

“He’s very talented throwing the football,” Day said. “You can see it when the ball comes out of his hands, and now he has some years of experience under his belt … Between that and the offensive line, they have a good group over there. This will be our biggest challenge we’ve had on defense.”

Major Storylines

  • This marks the 110th season of Big Ten (or Western Conference) play for Ohio State, while Wisconsin was one of the conference’s founding members in 1896. Still the Buckeyes are the conference’s all-time leader in wins with 534.
  • The Buckeyes (10) and Badgers (5) have combined for 15 divisional titles since the Big Ten moved to a divisional format in 2011.
  • Ohio State has won eight straight games against Wisconsin, including a pair of victories during the 2019 season. The Buckeyes defeated the Badgers at home in October before knocking them off in the Big Ten Championship Game.
  • Wisconsin hasn’t won a game at Ohio Stadium since 2004. The 24-13 win marked its third straight victory in Columbus and ended Ohio State’s 18-game home winning streak.
  • The Badgers have won two of the last three Big Ten openers against the Buckeyes, including a 20-16 win at Camp Randall Stadium in 1992 and a 42-17 win at Ohio Stadium in 1999.
  • Ohio State is 80-24-4 all-times in conference openers, including wins in 18 of its last 20. The Buckeyes last lost a Big Ten opener in 2011, falling 10-7 to Michigan State at home.
  • Emeka Egbuka (116 yards), Jayden Ballard (113) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (102) became the second trio of wide receivers in school history to top the 100 yard mark in the same game (Oregon, 2021).
  • Saturday marks the annual American Football Coaches Association’s Coach to CureMD game, so coaches on both teams will be wearing patches to support research and raise donations for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
  • Ohio State will be wearing all-black uniforms for the fourth time in program history. The Buckeyes are 3-0 in its black alternate uniforms, with wins over Penn State in 2015, Nebraska in 2018 and Michigan State in 2019.
  • The Buckeyes are 25-7 all-time in games wearing alternate or throwback uniforms. That includes 2-0 against Wisconsin (2011 and 2013).

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Eddie Marotta
EDDIE MAROTTA

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