Ohio State Defense Suffocates, Offense Dissects Wisconsin

Sayin was spectacular once again in this one. Could this game be the birth of a Heisman campaign?

A Wall Built of Silver Bullets

The Ohio State defense, despite having to replace most of the starting lineup from last year’s elite group, might even be better in 2025. In the first half, Wisconsin ran 24 plays for 74 yards. Those six drives resulted in four three-and-outs, an interception, and a punt. There was nowhere to go for the Badgers’ offense. In the third quarter, Wisconsin had the ball once. That drive was another three-and-out.

65 of Wisconsin’s 144 total offensive yards came in the fourth quarter with Ohio State’s backups in the game.

Over the first three quarters, Wisconsin had eight yards on the ground on 19 attempts. 20 of the 87 fourth-quarter rushing yards for the Badgers were off a fake punt.

Caleb Downs led the way with six total tackles for the defense. Matt Patricia’s defense moved him around, and this time, he was playing down closer to the line to take away the rushing attack. The unit also totaled seven tackles for loss, led by Arvell Reese‘s two. The junior linebacker continued his breakout campaign with four tackles and a sack in addition to those tackles for loss. Number eight for the defense has been everywhere for the Buckeyes, and the NFL is taking note. A previously unknown has shot into potential top-10-pick hype.

This defense is stacked at every juncture and, as the broadcast put it, there is no weakness right now.

Onto The Bye

Heading into this season, the second bye week was circled as crucial for the Buckeyes’ success. It fell perfectly between a back-to-back on the road and a pivotal home game against Penn State. That matchup against the Nittany Lions has lost almost all of its luster with Penn State firing James Franklin and on a three-game skid heading into Week 8.

There will be things to nit-pick about this Ohio State team, none of which is on the defensive side of the ball. Special teams is an issue. The Buckeye punt team struggles to pin teams deep, and the return team is undisciplined. Inniss, when he returns, often makes poor decisions.

Additionally, after not pursuing a premier kicker in the portal, Ohio State is getting by with Jayden Fielding. While he has made 129 extra points in a row, he can’t make those clutch field goals. In this one, Fielding missed on a 38-yard attempt. This year, he’s also missed from 53. Last year, he missed four…and two were in that 13-10 loss to Michigan. Those were from 42 against Nebraska, 56 against Tennessee, and 38 and 34 against Michigan. Missing from 50+ isn’t the end of the world. Ideally, a program like Ohio State can recruit a kicker who is better from distance, but it is what it is; kicking is hard.

Missing anything from inside 40 is not acceptable from a Big Ten kicker, especially not two in the same game in a game the Buckeyes lost by three.

Those issues are not likely to be fixed in a single bye week. So, moving forward, Hartline and Day have to be cognizant of their special teams issues and go for it more often where it makes sense. Do you kick a field goal to go from 17 up to 20? What good does that really do?

Overall, Ohio State is in a great spot, and this is splitting hairs. With matchups against Penn State, Purdue, UCLA, Rutgers, and Michigan left, the path back to the CFP is clear: take care of business.