COLUMBUS — It was billed as a battle between the Big Ten’s top two running backs, but when the puddles finally settled from an all-day rain, it was Buckeye junior JK Dobbins who stood tallest. Dobbins rushed for 163 yards on 20 carries with a pair of touchdowns in #3 Ohio State’s 38-7 win over the #13 Wisconsin Badgers (6-2, 3-2).
The Ohio State (8-0, 5-0) defense held Badger tailback Jonathan Taylor to just 52 yards on 20 attempts. Taylor came into the game leading the Big Ten in rushing, averaging 136.7 yards on the ground per game. That number was just above Dobbins’ 135.3, at least until now.
The Buckeye defense opened with four defensive linemen, four linebackers, and three defensive backs to combat Wisconsin’s running game. They held the Badgers to just 83 yards rushing on 34 attempts. It was the first time Wisconsin had been held under 100 yards rushing since the last time they played Ohio State, which was the 2017 Big Ten Championship Game.
Junior defensive end Chase Young tied a school record with four sacks. He finished with six tackles, five tackles for loss, four sacks, and two forced fumbles. He hasn’t officially been named Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week, but you heard it here first.
Points didn’t happen Saturday until midway through the second quarter when Ohio State kicker Blake Haubeil drilled a 49-yard field goal with 6:52 remaining in the half.
Wisconsin responded on the next drive with seven yards on seven plays, followed by a 45-yard punt downed at the Ohio State 15-yard line with 2:37 to play in the half.
With time of the essence, Justin Fields directed a touchdown drive that went 85 yards in eight plays, using 1:54 of the clock. It was capped by a 27-yard pass down the middle of the field to Chris Olave, making it 10-0 Buckeyes.
Things quickly got much more interesting in the third quarter as Ohio State went three-and-out and the Badgers blocked Drue Chrisman’s punt. The ball rolled dead at the Ohio State 23-yard line. Two plays later, Badger quarterback Jack Coan found slot receiver AJ Taylor in the corner of the end zone to make it 10-7 Ohio State.
And that’s when the Buckeyes got mad.
Ohio State responded immediately with an 8-play, 75-yard touchdown drive that lasted all of 2:34. On the drive, Fields hit Olave for a 22-yard completion on second-and-long, then a few plays later, Dobbins ripped off a 28-yard scamper down the left seam, and then Fields finished the drive with a 10-yard touchdown keeper to make it 17-7.
Wisconsin went three-and-out on their next possession and the punt was returned 23 yards to midfield by freshman receiver Garrett Wilson. This touchdown drive lasted four plays — all on the ground — and went Dobbins for three yards, Fields for seven yards, Dobbins for 34 yards, and then Dobbins for nine yards into the end zone, making it 24-7 with 6:23 remaining in the third quarter.
The Badgers then began driving the ball, moving it to the Ohio State 32-yard line. On fourth-and-8 from the 37-yard line, however, Young sacked Coan and forced a fumble that was recovered by Ohio State at their own 45-yard line.
With the game moving to the fourth quarter at this point, the rain lessened, but the Buckeyes didn’t. Fields found Dobbins for a 21-yard gain on the opening play of the final quarter, and two plays later Dobbins scored his second touchdown of the game, this time from 14 yards out.
Deja vu then made an appearance as Wisconsin again drove the ball, mostly via a 35-yard completion to receiver Quintez Cephus, but one play later from the OSU 21-yard line, Chase Young again sacked Coan, forcing a fumble that was recovered by linebacker Pete Werner.
Ohio State then took that fumble and turned it into seven more points, via an 8-play, 45-yard drive, capped by a Fields touchdown pass to Olave from four yards out to make it 38-7.
Redshirt freshman running back Master Teague made his customary appearance down the stretch to finish things off, rushing for 76 yards on 13 carries.
Fields finished the game 12-of-22 passing for 167 yards with two touchdowns. He was sacked five times, though. He rushed for 28 yards on 13 attempts.
Ohio State held Wisconsin to just nine first downs and committed just two penalties. The Buckeyes rushed for 264 yards on 50 attempts (5.3 ypc).
Ohio State is off next week, which will allow them to recover from a hard-hitting affair.