COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State stole the University of Wisconsin’s hopes for a College Football Playoff bid Saturday, but first the Buckeyes stole the Badgers’ soul. For three decades, UW has pushed and shoved its way into college football’s upper crust behind a big, physical offensive line and a relentless rushing game. It is the soul of UW’s program, the engine that drives it. The Badgers run the ball and dare anyone to stop it. If UW found it difficult to slog through Illinois’ penetrating, ever-changing defense in its stunning loss to the Illini a week earlier, imagine what it was like going against the Buckeyes defense, which is bigger, faster, stronger and deeper than Illinois’ unit and ranked second in the nation (behind UW). The Buckeyes stymied tailback Jonathan Taylor on early downs, which forced UW to throw when Ohio State knew it had to throw. That set the…
Continue Reading: Tom Oates: Badgers' ongoing struggles on the ground prove fatal at Ohio State
