Ohio State and Wisconsin played an instant-classic in Madison. Through it all, the Buckeyes found a way to win and continue its march towards really big things. Here are five things we learned from this Donnybrook.
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5. Nick Bosa is starting to be a force
Nick Bosa is everywhere for Ohio State right now. pic.twitter.com/Sig6nWO1Au
— Eleven Warriors (@11W) October 16, 2016
You remember Joey Bosa right? Well, if you even remotely follow Ohio State, you know that his little brother is now on campus trying to fill some big shoes his big bubby left behind. Unfortunately for the younger Bosa, he’s still getting right from a knee injury he suffered his senior season of high-school.
He must be a quick healer, because Nick Bosa has begun to get more time on the defensive-line, and it’s not just mop up duty. Last week, he got in on a goal-line stand to stuff an Indiana fourth-down conversion, and in this one, he flashed in the backfield early and often.
He’s not 100% yet, but he’s pretty darn close. He might not be as strong as his older brother yet, but he’s got a little more burst and that same motor Joey had. It should be fun to see him continue his upward trajectory throughout the season.
4. There are still some dents in the passing game
One week is an aberration, but two in a row is cause for concern. Unless Ohio State can start to get more separation down the field, teams will continue to play man and push up the field against the run — daring Barrett to beat them with his arm rather than his legs.
Truth be known, he’s still hard to stop in the ground game even with nine and ten men committed in the box, but without the ability to take the top off the defense, the Buckeye offense is not nearly as dynamic, making this team beatable.
It got punched in the gut tonight and was able to muscle through it, but there needs to be improvement for the biggest of goals to be met.
3. Wisconsin is for real
Regardless how this ends this should have officially killed any lazy narrative that the Big Ten is only Ohio State and Michigan this year
— Mike Hall (@MikeHallHere) October 16, 2016
Yeah there are often challenges on the offensive side of the ball, and yeah the Badgers could use some more elite skill position players, but this Badger team is no joke.
For those of you lamenting about the Big Ten being mostly about Ohio State and Michigan, it’s time to come to the realization that Wisconsin belongs in that conversation too. The reality is that the brutal schedule might keep it out of the loftiest of goals, but this team can hang with, and beat, anyone.
The defense is tough and plays fast and fearless, while the offense is starting to gain its identity with a rebuilt offensive line and Alex Hornibrook under center making plays.
2. Ohio State coaches are some of the best at making half-time adjustments
Opposing college football coaches; meet Urban Meyer, Greg Schiano and Luke Fickell. At half-time, there was absolutely no reason to believe the Buckeyes could turn the tide of despair occurring in the Madison night.
The defense had given up over 300 yards of total offense in one half to Wisconsin, and their own offense couldn’t get anything going consistently — having to settle for just two field goals. It sure looked like the 16-6 lead the Badgers had would only get worse.
But the Buckeyes owned the third quarter because of some key adjustments on both offense and defense. On offense, we started seeing some medium range passes, more designed outside runs. And on defense, Schiano and Fickell began to dial up some blitz packages to force Alex Hornibrook into some quicker decisions and mistakes.
In the end, it was just enough to almost completely close the gap in total yardage and send the game to OT, where we all know the rest of the story.
1. Survive and advance
http://gty.im/614930300
You hear it all the time in March, but in the new landscape of college football where the blue-bloods are playing each other more often, it’s just as relevant.
We’ve seen so many highly ranked teams go down already in this still young season, that simply getting by in a place like Madison is worth more than its weight in gold. Urban Meyer knows his team just pulled one from the jaws of defeat, and it doesn’t matter.
The coaching staff, fans and players are more than fine with a close win against a quality opponent. The Badgers have already knocked off LSU, and put a scare in Michigan in the Big House. Ohio State is over the moon about this one being just that too — a scare — and not a blemish on the record.
On to Happy Valley …
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Phil Harrison is a frequent contributor to The Student Section. He is also a featured contributor to collegefootballews.com, and talking10.com. You can follow him on twitter @PhilHarrisonCFB or email him at pharrison28@gmail.com. If that doesn’t work, you can find him in the doghouse at home.
