Ohio State overcame a rash of turnovers to do something no one else had done this season — defeat the Wisconsin Badgers — to claim the Big Ten football championship.
The Buckeyes (11-2) rode an outstanding defensive effort and made enough big plays on offense to hand the Badgers (12-1) their first defeat on the season in the Big Ten championship game by a final of 27-21.
The win places the Buckeyes in the national championship playoff picture as well. After the championship-winning performance against fourth-ranked Wisconsin, OSU is hopeful of claiming the fourth and final spot in the four-team national playoff.
The win was neither easy, nor — at times — pretty. Quarterback J.T. Barrett was intercepted two times and the Buckeyes turned the ball over one time on a fumble by Mike Weber. The turnovers helped keep the Badgers in the game, but Ohio State’s ability to strike with big plays offensively and dominate defensively were too much for Wisconsin.
Ohio State struck early with an 84-yard touchdown pass play from Barrett to Terry McLaurin to grab a 7-0 lead, but Barrett threw a pick-six on OSU’s following possession to make the score 7-7. Barrett then produced another big play when he connected with Parris Campbell for a 54-yard touchdown score later in the first period.
Leading 14-7, the Buckeyes drove to a second-period touchdown with Barrett going the last yard on the ground for the score to make it 21-7 OSU. Another OSU turnover, this time the aforementioned fumble by Weber deep in Buckeye territory, led to a Wisconsin field goal to make it 21-10 at the half.
OSU could not match its big-play production in the second half, but remained stubborn on defense. The teams traded third-period field goals to make it 24-13. Another turnover helped Wisconsin to a fourth-quarter touchdown and two-point conversion, but the Badgers could not muster enough offense to ever take the lead against OSU. The Buckeyes closed out the scoring with a fourth-period field goal to make the final 27-21.
The Badgers entered the game the only undefeated team in a Power Five conference and the national leader in rushing defense. OSU freshman tailback J. K. Dobbins shredded that defense for 174 yards rushing on 17 carries to earn the MVP trophy for the game.
OSU outrushed the usually ground-oriented Badgers by a whopping 238-60. Ohio State dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, but costly turnovers helped the Badgers stay close by allowing easy scores.
For the game Barrett completed 12-of-26 passes for 211 yards and two touchdowns. He was intercepted twice and missed open receivers on several occasions, which cost the Buckeyes scores. Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook was 19-of-40 passing for 229 yards, but was intercepted twice and sacked three times.