Preview: No. 1 Ohio State at Wisconsin
MADISON, Wis. — Looking to snap a four-game losing streak, things don’t get any easier for Wisconsin (2-4, 0-3). No. 1 and undefeated Ohio State (6-0, 3-0) comes to town, boasting the nation’s longest-winning streak at 10 games going back to last season. Normally, this week might be a little sentimental for head coach Luke Fickell, who served the Buckeyes as a player, assistant coach, and interim head coach. But with the Badgers reeling and on the verge of missing a bowl game for the second consecutive season, Fickell doesn’t have time/energy to stroll down memory lane.
“It’s like playing big brother in some ways,” said Fickell. “To be honest with you, where we are and what we’re doing, it’s hard to overshadow every single day of us finding ways to get better. We know the task that’s going to be in front of us on Saturday. We have to be prepared for that. I have to be prepared for that.”
GAME INFO
Kickoff Time: 2:30 p.m. CT
Where: Camp Randall Stadium (Madison, Wis.)
TV: CBS
TV Crew: Brad Nessler, Gary Danielson, Jenny Dell
Stream: Paramount Plus
Line: Ohio State – 25.5
Series History: Ohio State leads 63-18-5
Last Meeting: Ohio State won 24-10 in 2023
NUMBERS TO KNOW
4: Ohio State’s last four victories over Wisconsin have all come by double digits.
8: Luke Fickell is 0-8 against ranked opponents as UW’s head coach.
9: The Badgers lost nine consecutive games against power-four opponents.
10: The Buckeyes have won 10 consecutive games over the Badgers.
28: OSU holds a 28-11-2 edge in the series in Madison.
WHAT TO WATCH
Ohio State’s Lethal Wide Receivers Against a Struggling, Potentially Shorthanded Secondary
Ohio State’s receiving core is led by arguably the best player in the country, Jeremiah Smith, who has a touchdown in five consecutive games. Even in the unlikely event that Wisconsin takes Smith out of the game, the Buckeyes also have Carnell Tate, who is pushing Smith with 476 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Not ideal for the Badgers, who were without their No. 2 cornerback in D’Yoni Hill last week against Iowa.
“As good a group as there is in the country,” said senior cornerback Ricardo Hallman. “They’ve got number one receivers at every option.”
Can the Run Game Carry Over Its Momentum?
Not going to say Wisconsin ran the ball to the standard, but the holes the offensive line created for Dilin Jones last week were pretty surprising against what was the nation’s fourth-ranked run defense. Unfortunately for the Badgers, they had three early turnovers that didn’t allow the offense to really lean on this. Ohio State presents another big challenge up front. The Buckeyes enter Saturday ranked eighth in FBS in run defense, allowing just 82.0 yards per game.
Will Wisconsin Fight For Fickell?
Maybe we’ve already gotten our answer, but rumblings suggest that Fickell is now seriously coaching for his job next season or even the rest of this season. Wisconsin has laid down two of the last three weeks and played pretty uninspired football for most of 2025.
“The record can’t really be all on the coach,” said senior safety Austin Brown. We’re the ones playing at the end of the day. I just try and ignore it. It’s not under my control.”
PREDICTION
Definitely a somber mood during Tuesday’s media availability, bordering on depressing. Sensed a team that’s just out of answers at this point. In comes a red-hot Ohio State, which has held five of six opponents to single digits, facing a Wisconsin offense that couldn’t get inside the Iowa 35-yard line last week. On top of that, the Buckeyes have one of the most efficient passing offenses in the country. Meanwhile, the Badgers rank No. 102 nationally in defensive passing efficiency and have been picked apart through the air all season.
This one might be a little closer than expected. Ohio State very well could sleepwalk its way into Madison, and the Buckeyes are playing their third road game in four weeks. On top of that, Wisconsin has had a tendency to rise up in these games that many think they have no chance in.
Either way, the Badgers aren’t talented enough, and now it feels like they’re not motivated enough to pull off an upset of this magnitude. Also, I don’t know what type of atmosphere UW is going to get. The fans felt checked out a week ago, ticket prices are at an all-time low, and Camp Randall may be overrun with OSU fans.
Wisconsin probably gets back to its blueprint versus Michigan — make the game ugly, drag Ohio State through the mud. However, the Badgers lack playmakers. Eventually, the number of defensive snaps adds up, and the Buckeyes pull away.
Ohio State 31 Wisconsin 7