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Ohio State Football: Buckeyes did their part, Badgers didn’t

By Charlie Lockhart

CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 19: Tony Adams #6 of the Illinois Fighting Illini leaps to intercept a pass in the fourth quarter of the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Memorial Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois defeated Wisconsin 24-23. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
CHAMPAIGN, IL - OCTOBER 19: Tony Adams #6 of the Illinois Fighting Illini leaps to intercept a pass in the fourth quarter of the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Memorial Stadium on October 19, 2019 in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois defeated Wisconsin 24-23. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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It appeared when the Ohio State football team would host Wisconsin next Saturday it would be a matchup of top six teams. Now that won’t be the case.

The last two years the Ohio State football team suffered bad losses on the road nullifying any chance of making the College Football Playoff. That didn’t happen when the Buckeyes throttled the Wildcats of Northwestern Friday night.

The Buckeyes simply took care of business winning 52-3.

It was up to Wisconsin, a heavy favorite, to defeat Illinois and set up a marquee match-up. The Badgers laid an egg and were defeated 24-23 on a last-second field goal.

Early on it appeared Wisconsin came prepared to play in what some considered to be a trap game. The Badgers seemed to be rolling and led 10-0 early in the second quarter.

However, the Illini didn’t believe the game was over. They struck back with a 48 yard touchdown pass from Brandon Peters to Donnie Navarro to pull within three.

After Wisconsin pulled out to a 20-7 lead Illinois answered with a 43 yard TD run by Reggie Cortin. After the Badgers had stretched the lead to 23-14 Peters threw a TD pass to make it 23-21. After a Wisconsin turnover, Illinois marched downfield and James McCourt hit the game winning 39 yard field goal.

Whether fair or not it looked as though the Badgers expected to win and was looking to next week’s game in ‘The Shoe’. That wasn’t the case with the Buckeyes.

Ryan Day and most of his players experienced the sting of road losses to underdogs the last two years and you could tell they didn’t want another and took care of business.

The complexion of next Saturday’s game has changed but it still will be an interesting matchup.

Next. Day's start at OSU more impressive than Meyer's. dark

Wisconsin may have to win out in order to play for a Big Ten Championship with undefeated Minnesota leading the West Division. And Ohio State players and coaches know all too well what they have to do to make the College Football Playoff. It may not be a battle between top six teams, but it will be an important one.

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