Ohio State football: Three games that will define the season
By Ryan Stano
Ohio State football vs. Wisconsin
This is another big one. Wisconsin comes to the Shoe to take on the Bucks on September 24th in what will likely be another night game. It will be a blackout in the Shoe, so I’d be shocked if it was not a night kickoff. It’s another big game that will define Ohio State’s season.
This will be the first time that these two teams have played since Ohio State beat them in the Big Ten Championship Game in 2019. It’s also another game for the Scarlet and Gray to go against a top-25 team. A win here would certainly bolster their resume.
Wisconsin’s bruising rushing attack will give Ohio State their biggest challenge on the ground all season. The rushing attack is what did the Buckeyes in against TTUN and Oregon last season. This has been the Badgers’ bread and butter for the last several decades, so it won’t be easy to defend.
Ohio State’s defense needs to keep Wisconsin from controlling the ball and keeping the Buckeye offense on the sideline. There’s no way the Badgers can stop C.J. Stroud and company from lighting up the scoreboard. The only way to stop them is to keep them off the field.
A loss in this game would be crushing for the Buckeyes. Even with a win over Notre Dame in the opener, they would have to hope to see the Badgers again in the Big Ten Championship to make sure that they get a chance to avenge the loss and make the CFP.
The final game on this list is the biggest game for the Buckeyes every single year, but this year will be bigger.