Tressels, Fickells, Urbans, Days, Johnsons and Days,
Do you remember when you were 10 years old, playing football on the playground at recess and running off tackle with only a few seconds left in the game to seal a victory?
Neither do I...
At that age, football was spectacular. Every pass was a long bomb into the endzone. Sometimes we would intentionally try to make a one-hand grab if the catch was going to be too simple. Every touchdown resulted in coordinated group celebration; typically, a variation of the "Fun Bunch."
This Saturday might not look like that.
When Ohio State travels to play Wisconsin this weekend, the Buckeyes may continue to slow the game down and limit the number of snaps with the big picture in mind. Limit snaps now to be ready for late November and the CFP. Lots of formations with multiple tight ends, plodding along and watching the play clock tick down.
In ways, that feels appropriate. For about 20 years, this match-up was a mix of bad blood and midwest power football tradition making for some great moments:
2002: An injured Maurice Clarett carries the ball for over 160 yards in Satan's lair...and OSU edges Wisky on a quest for the national championship
2003: Robert Reynolds chokes Jim Sorgi; Lee Evans catches a long TD late in a dark, rainy night game in Satan's lair and OSU's consecutive win streak is snapped
2008: With a minute left in the game, Terrelle Pryor (as a true freshman) runs for a game-winning TD in Satan's lair
2010: Wisky takes back the opening kickoff the length of the field and you know it's going to be a long night for the top-ranked Bucks in Satan's lair
2011: Four TDs scored in the final 5 minutes; but, Braxton Miller (as a true freshman) hits Devin Smith deep in the end zone with a minute left for the game winner
2012: Ryan Shazier forces overtime when he causes a Wisky fumble at the goal line near the end of regulation; Carlos Hyde scores the final TD in overtime
2013: OSU withstands a late surge and over 200 yards receiving from Jared Abbrederis for a 7 point victory over the Badgers
2014: CAR! DALE! JONES!
2016: Buckeyes seal the victory with a walk off sack in overtime in Satan's lair
2017: Ohio State wins the Big Ten Championship game...and some guy on the field crew repairs the turf near the goal line trenches in Lucas Oil Stadium by himself during the middle of the game for about 20 minutes
2019: The Buckeyes face double jeopardy matching up with Wisky for the second time that season in the Big Ten Championship game; Wisky leads at halftime but Ohio State scores 27 unanswered points in the second half, and Josh Proctor lays the hardest hit I've ever seen on the last play of the game to seal the OSU victory
2023: Ohio State wins a hard-fought battle under the lights at Camp Randall while I'm at a Halloween party wearing an Elf costume complete with yellow tights.
We're heading into the second half of conference play. This is the stage where every college football team is beat up and tired. Great teams separate themselves as the season progresses by absorbing whatever comes and imposing their will. The Buckeyes seem to be playing the long game week-by-week using their experience from the 2024 championship season.
I'd love to see Ohio State continue to gain momentum and beat Wisconsin soundly this Saturday.
Touchdowns: Max Klare, Jeremiah Smith, Carnell Tate, Carnell Tate, Caleb Downs
OSU 35 Wisconsin 3
Go Bucks! Beat Wisconsin! Harry Miller and Eddrick Houston for Heisman!
Stout Pops
