Wisconsin loses Big Ten battle with #3 Ohio State 24-10; Badgers head coach Luke Fickell gives his assessment in Post-game News Conference

By Danielle Daniels

Luke Fickell, Wisconsin head coach against #3 Ohio State in 24 -10 loss 10 28 2023 (courtesy IMAGN, photo by Mark Hoffman of Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, USA Today Sports Syndication)

Luke Fickell Wisconsin head coach Postgame Press Conference 10 28 2023 #3 Ohio State 24 Wisconsin 10 .mp3

 

GAME RECAP

Locke and Pauling lead Badgers with touchdown

MADISON, Wis. — Despite evening up the score 10-10 to start the second half, Wisconsin’s gritty rally fell short to No. 3 Ohio State 24-10 on Saturday night in front of a sold-out crowd at Camp Randall Stadium.

The Buckeyes maintained their unbeaten record as Marvin Harrison Jr. caught two touchdown passes and TreyVeon Henderson rushed for 162 yards and No. 3 Ohio State.

Wisconsin (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) played the second half without star running back Braelon Allen or wide receiver Chimere Dike due to leg injuries. Allen rushed for 50 yards on 10 carries prior to leaving the game in the second quarter.

After Ohio State (8-0, 5-0) squandered an early 10-0 lead, Harrison (6 receptions for 123 yards) completed a 19-yard touchdown reception in the right corner of the end zone with 7:14 left in the third quarter to helps the Buckeyes retake the lead. Harrison also ran a shallow cross and turned it into a 16-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Henderson’s 33-yard touchdown run with 5:15 left in the game delivered victory to the visitors.

Ohio State took an early 10-0 lead. Wisconsin did not capitalize on a first-half drive that began at the Ohio State 36. The Badgers put their first points on the board off a Nathanial Vakos field goal late in the second quarter to make it 10-3 entering the half.

Wisconsin tied the game on Braedyn Locke’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Will Pauling early in the third quarter before Ohio State pulled ahead for good on its ensuing possession. Locke was 18 of 39 for 165 yards in his second career start, finishing with 1 touchdown and no interceptions.

Ohio State’s Kyle McCord went 17 of 26 for 226 yards, but threw a pair of interceptions to go along with his two touchdown passes to Harrison. McCord also lost a fumble during a fourth-and-3 conversion attempt from the Wisconsin 33 on the game’s first series.

Wisconsin’s defense kept the Badgers in the game, forcing three Buckeyes turnovers with nine tackles for loss and sacking McCord four times. Maema Njongmeta led the Badgers with 10 tackles, including 2 TFLs. Ricardo Hallman collected one of the Badgers two interceptions against McCord for 19 yards, while Preston Zachman picked off the QB in the endzone.

Looking ahead, Wisconsin travels to Indiana on Saturday, Nov. 4. Kickoff is still to be announced in Bloomington.

 

WISCONSIN BADGERS TEAM STATISTICS

(courtesy NCAA)

 

COURTESY WISCONSIN ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS & NCAA