College Football: Badgers trounced by Buckeyes

COLUMBUS, Ohio — What was billed as a battle of the nation's top defenses turned into another rout for surging Ohio State.

The No. 3 Buckeyes' matchup with No. 13 Wisconsin was supposed to be the biggest challenge of the season for Ohio State, a test of mettle against a Badgers defense that statistically was ranked the best in the country.

Instead, Ohio State running back J.K. Dobbins slashed Wisconsin for big gains and two touchdowns, and it was the Buckeyes' defense that put on a show. All-America defensive end Chase Young was nearly unblockable with four sacks as Ohio State romped to a 38-7 win in a steady rain on Saturday.

"I think in all honesty we could have put up 50," said Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, who threw two touchdown passes to Chris Olave and ran for another score. "I think if the weather was different, I think we could have (thrown) the ball more and put up way more points than we did."

Dobbins rushed for 163 yards against a Wisconsin defense that had limited opponents to 58.4 yards per game. He had 112 of those yards and scoring runs of 9 and 14 yards in the second half after the rain let up some and Fields was able to loosen up the Badgers defense with some effective passing.

"If you put all your attention on one guy, they've got a lot of other ways to hurt you," Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said.

Wisconsin (6-2, 3-2) scored on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Jack Coan to A.J. Taylor early in the second half after the Badgers blocked an Ohio State punt and started with a short field. That made it 10-7, but Ohio State immediately answered with a touchdown drive and was never threatened again.

Up next

After an off week, Wisconsin plays at Iowa on Nov. 9.