J.K.Dobbins rushed for 174 yards on just 17 carries while J.T, Barrett threw for two scores and ran for another in a game that was deceiving by its score but was not decided until the final minutes of the game.
The new conference champions finish 11-2 in the regular season and will await the decision to see if they will enter the playoff or head to a New Year's Day Bowl instead...
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1) The playoff.
Before I begin, the announcement is within an hour of this writing, so it's likely that this might not be posted until after the decision is released.
If that's the case, I'll add an Editor's Note.
I won't complain either way the decision is rendered because I think both sides have a reasonable argument.
OSU has two losses to Alabama's one, Ohio State has two top four, three top twelve wins and another top 25 win (at the time they played those teams) to Alabama's two top twenty-five.
Ohio State won their conference, Alabama failed to make their conference title game.
Ohio State's loss to Iowa is a bad one, Alabama doesn't have many good wins.
That's the decision: Which is more important? The number of good wins or the inexplicable loss?
I can see both sides.
2) Here is the problem: You have two teams with huge national brands and fan bases, so consider that a wash.
I think it's fair to say that if Ohio State's resume' was compared with Alabama's, but instead of Alabama, it was South Carolina- It would be clear who would get in.
Conversely, if the Buckeye record was Iowa's and it was Alabama with their season- It would be clear who would get in.
It's a tough call with two powerhouse schools with huge tradition, large fan bases and a massive amount of eyes that each bring to watch on television.
Editor's Note: Ohio State is fifth and is likely headed to the Fiesta Bowl and USC.
3) To the game. I give J.T. Barrett tons of credit for being a true warrior and playing through a knee injury that was operated on six days before the game.
More courage than I would have for sure, but even though those kudos were well deserved, J.T. Barrett still didn't play that well.
Barrett interceptions set up both of the Wisconsin touchdowns (one a pick six, the other a bad pass that gave Bucky the ball for a very short field) and he missed two wide open receivers that would have been touchdowns as well.
Kudos for fortitude, but you can make an argument that Barrett shouldn't have been on the field for his own health and you can make another argument that the Buckeyes could have been better off with Barrett not being on the field.
4) J.K. Dobbins was the best Buckeye on the offensive side and the only surprising part of the evening for Dobbins was that Wisconsin caught him from behind twice on long runs.Dobbins may not have the numbers of Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor on the season, splitting time with Mike Weber helps there, but he certainly is Taylor's equal as a back and should be the star of next season's offense.
5) Jonathan Taylor was a complete non-factor in this one with only 41 yards on 15 carries and his longest run was just seven yards.
Wisconsin has always been a ground-based team and it didn't take a genius to figure out that the way to defeat the Badgers was to make Alex Hornibrook beat them.
Taylor's a very good back, but against really good teams, Wisconsin has to rely on a quarterback that usually is not of top ten caliber.
6) J.T. Barrett was helped by his receivers with the catch and run.
The difference in speed and athleticism was glaring between the OSU receivers and the Badgers defensive backs.
7) The defensive star had to be Jerome Baker, who was all over the field including a run from across the field sack of Alex Hornibrook and finished with 12 solo tackles with two of those for a loss.
Baker has had a little bit of a disappointing year, but wow what a performance last night.
8) Denzel Ward's first-half interception not only kept Wisconsin off the board with a high wire act to stay inbounds, he showed the type of talent that is going to make him a top twenty pick in the draft.
Yet another powerhouse Buckeye defensive back off the factory line.
9) Never seen anything like the delay for the torn up Field Turf after the only offensive Wisconsin touchdown.
Give the turf repairman lots of credit for a stressful fix in front of lord knows how many people watching live and on television.
10) In closing.I've often been critical of J.T. Barrett and even in this post, but in this win, Barrett removed the name of Art Schlichter as the winningest QB at Ohio State.
For removing that stain alone, credit to Barrett.
Back today and tomorrow with Miguel Cotto's upset loss, the Browns only visit to the West Coast and maybe some thoughts on the Buckeyes omission from the Final Four.
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