Wisconsin Football Roadmap to an Upset vs. No. 3 Ohio State

After an extraordinary comeback win against Illinois on the road, Luke Fickell and the Wisconsin Badgers football program (5-2, 2-1 B1G) are gearing up to host the No. 3 team in the nation, the Ohio State Buckeyes. 

As the Badgers prepare to face this powerhouse from the Big Ten East, let’s map out the road to victory for Wisconsin ahead of Saturday’s David vs. Goliath matchup at Camp Randall Stadium.

Wisconsin Football Must Minimize Costly Mistakes

If Wisconsin football is going to pull off an astonishing upset against the unbeaten Buckeyes, the Badgers must play nearly flawlessly. That starts with eliminating costly blunders. Last week, there were plenty of them. 

The litany of unforced errors, including a botched field goal attempt, multiple false starts, and key drops from the wide receiver group, cannot happen. Braedyn Locke also had a costly fumble early on while trying to escape the pocket — if you hand the Buckeyes a short field, it’s over.

Every single down matters against an opponent like Ohio State, and the reality is Wisconsin isn’t good enough right now to overcome mishaps against a blue-blood program. Period. 

Turnovers could be extremely damaging, and if they hope to shock the country on national TV, minimizing mistakes and converting on third down sits atop the to-do list.

Wisconsin Football Offense Has to Find Some Consistency

In their recent clash with Illinois, the Wisconsin football offense struggled in the first half, only finding its groove when time began to run thin. If the Badgers find themselves in a similar situation against Ohio State, it will likely be too late to orchestrate another remarkable comeback.

The game in Champaign saw the Badgers initially struggle with three punts, a fumble, and a turnover on downs before finally scoring a two-minute drill touchdown. However, in the second half, Wisconsin rebounded, scoring three consecutive times, including a field goal and back-to-back touchdowns, securing the come-from-behind victory.

Facing Ohio State presents a different challenge. 

The Buckeyes boast an exceptionally strong defense, as evident when they limited Penn State’s high-octane offense to just 12 points last week. Their defensive rankings are impressive: No. 3 nationally in scoring defense, No. 4 nationally in total defense, and No. 6 in passing defense. 

To stand a chance against a national title-contending team like Ohio State, Wisconsin’s offense needs to maintain the intensity and consistently execute like they did during their comeback against Illinois. 

The Badgers must succeed on early downs to keep Ohio State’s defense off balance. Additionally, the offense must connect on a few explosive plays to flip the field, ensuring a more balanced offensive approach. 

Braedyn Locke’s willingness to take deep shots down the field will be essential in Saturday night’s clash in Madison.

Braelon Allen Must be an Absolute Workhorse

Saturday in Champaign highlighted what Wisconsin football fans know: Braelon Allen can be a bell-cow. 

He carried the rock a career-high 29 times for 145 yards rushing and a touchdown (5.0 YPC). Allen also caught two passes for 16 yards. Per Pro Football Focus, 112 of his rushing yards came after contact, and Agent 0 forced seven missed tackles. 

pic.twitter.com/VJrMZbWAR6

— Badgers Film Clips (@Badgers_Film) October 22, 2023

It was an all-around terrific performance, which earned him DAWG of the Week honors. 

For Wisconsin football to have a puncher’s chance against Ohio State, Allen needs to continue running violently, pick up extra yards, and be able to carry a heavy offensive workload. 

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