The Wisconsin Badgers are still in the Big Ten title game in two weeks, but it
Curt Phillips
won’t take the sting away from Saturday’s 21-14 overtime loss to the 6th ranked Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall Stadium.
Wisconsin (7-4, 4-3 Big Ten) will close out the regular season at Penn State next Saturday.
Ohio State’s (11-0), 7-0) Carlos Hyde scored the overtime game winner, a 2-yard rushing touchdown to give the Buckeyes the win. The Buckeyes defense turned around and stopped the Badgers on their offensive series to pull out the win.
Badger quarterback Curt Phillips tossed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Pedersen to force the overtime. Phillips finished 14 of 25 for 154 yards and a touchdown.
A choked up Bret Bielema talked after the game about the disappointment in seeing his seniors lose their final home game.
The difference in the game came on special teams. Ohio State’s Corey Brown returned a punt 68-yards for a touchdown. They needed it too. The Buckeyes started the day averaging 39.9 points a game.
The Badgers also had an earlier chance at points in the 4th quarter when Montee Ball tried to dive over the pile for a first down and possible touchdown. Ball had the football stripped from his possession and the Buckeyes recovered the fumble, costing Wisconsin possible points.
Ball was trying to set the NCAA Division 1 record for career touchdowns on that drive. He had early scored from 7-yards out to tie the all-time record of 78 career touchdowns.
The Badgers had more issues on special teams as well. Kicker Kyle French, who has struggled on and off this season, missed a field goal attempt from 40-yards that could have made a big difference in the contest.
Buckeyes quarterback Braxton Miller was limited to 48 rushing yards on 23 carries and 97 passing yards.