#3 Ohio State hosts tough, physical Wisconsin in Prime Time Saturday Night

The No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes kick off their 110th season of Big Ten Conference play Saturday with a 7:30 p.m. game at Ohio Stadium against the Wisconsin Badgers.

BROADCAST

Wisconsin at No. 3 Ohio State • Saturday, Sept. 24 • When: 7:30 p.m. ET • Where: Ohio Stadium • TV: ABC

• Radio: 97.1 The Fan

Ohio State Blackout Uniforms they will wear tonight (courtesy OSU Athletics)

QUICK HITTERS

  • The game matches the programs with the most Big Ten divisional titles since the conference moved to a divisional format in 2011: Ohio State has won or shared 10 consecutive division titles. Wisconsin has won or shared five division titles.
  • The Buckeyes have won eight consecutive games over the Badgers, including a 38-7 win in 2019 at Ohio Stadium and a 34-21 win in the 2019 Big Ten championship game.
  • Ohio State is 70-28 all-time in night games, including 20-5 at Ohio Stadium, and has won nine of its last 10.

BY THE NUMBERS

208.6

QB C.J. Stroud is second nationally in passing efficiency with a rating of 208.6 that is a full 22 points higher than his school-record rating of 186.6 in 2021 when he threw 44 TDs vs. just 6 INTs.

.938

Credit the Wisconsin SID staff for this gem: from 2014 through 2021, Ohio State leads the nation with a .938 winning pct. in conference play. The Buckeyes are 61-5. Alabama is second at .909.

2nd

Three WRs topped 100 receiving yards vs. Toledo; the second time in school history for this occurrence (Oregon, 2021): Emeka Egbuka (116 yards), Jayden Ballard (113) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (102).

1/2

Through three games, Ohio State’s defense has given up half as many points (43 vs. 86) and half as many third down conversions (12/46 vs. 25/46) as it had through three games in 2021.

MARVELOUS MARVIN

  • Marvin Harrison Jr. has caught eight touchdown passes in his last four games, beginning with the 2022 Rose Bowl and continuing through the first three games this fall.
  • His five TD receptions currently is tied for second nationally.
  • And how about this: 14 of his 18 receptions this season have resulted in either first downs or touchdowns (and in some cases, both).
  • Harrison Jr. also ranks second nationally with five catches of 30 yards or more. Only Marvin Mims Jr. of Oklahoma has more, with six.

A TOP-25 DEFENSE

  • Ohio State’s team defense is ranked among the nation’s Top 25 in five major statistical categories: total defense, third downs, rushing, scoring and red zone defense.
    • Total Defense: 278.7 yds/game (21st)
    • Third Downs: .261 (21st)
    • Rushing: 84.3 yds/game (24th)
    • Scoring: 14.3 ppg (24th)
    • Red Zone Defense: .843 (24th)
  • Through three games last season, Ohio State ranked 91st in scoring, 101st in both rushing and total defense, 117th in passing and 126th in third down conversions.

THE WISCONSIN BADGERS

  • Wisconsin is 2-1 on the young season and coming off a 66-7 win over New Mexico State last week in Madison.
  • The Badgers’ offensive identity continues to come on the ground, as sophomore running back Braelon Allen is fifth in the Big Ten in rushing through three games. He’s carried 50 times for 332 yards and scored five touchdowns.
  • Defensively, Wisconsin has surrendered just 24 points this season and rank 11th overall, allowing an average of just 246.0 yards per game.

CELEBRATING 100 YEARS OF OHIO STADIUM

The 2022-23 academic/athletic season will feature a celebration of 100 years of Ohio Stadium. Ground was broken in 1921, more than $1 million was pledged toward construction by proud and dedicated Ohio State fans, and Ohio State christened its new home with a 5-0 win over Ohio Wesleyan on Oct. 7, 1922. The iconic venue on the banks of the Olentangy River is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

100 Years of Ohio Stadium Home Page 

COURTESY OSU ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS