It might not be the highest-profile game this year, but if the Buckeyes overlook the Badgers, it could derail their season unexpectedly.
From now until preseason camp starts in August, Land-Grant Holy Land will be writing articles around a different theme every week. This week is all about this season’s marquee matchups. Whether they feature the Buckeyes, other Big Ten schools, or major teams across the country. You can catch up on all of the Theme Week content here and all of our ”Game of the Year” articles here.
Wisconsin’s football program has taken a bit of a downward turn in recent seasons, finishing the 2024 season with just five wins, but that is, to some extent, what makes Ohio State’s trip to Madison so sticky this year.
In fact, I’m naming this a “Game of the Year” for exactly that reason. It’s not the Buckeyes’ biggest matchup—Wisconsin likely won’t even be ranked. Instead, it’s a game that could be so easy for Ohio State to overlook in their quest to defend their national title that it catches them off guard.
Part of this is where it is positioned on the schedule: Sandwiched between what will presumably be two ranked matchups for the Buckeyes, on the road at Illinois the week prior and at home against Penn State (one of the two toughest games on the schedule) two weeks later (with a bye week after the Wisconsin game), the Badgers have the potential to slip through the cracks on OSU’s radar.
Wisconsin, frankly, has one of the toughest schedules in the Big Ten this season, with tough games against Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, and Illinois (plus a preseason matchup against Alabama). If the Badgers head into the Ohio State game with three or four losses already, this game could mark a massive momentum shift for them — and head coach Luke Fickell knows that.
The Badgers will have the home crowd on their side, too, with the game set to take place at Camp Randall. A notoriously tough stadium to play a road game in, if the Buckeyes look past the Badgers to focus on Penn State, the stadium crowd there could be enough to rattle them after a mistake or two.
And then there’s the Fickell Factor: Facing the Buckeyes for the first time since 2023, Fickell has the opportunity to get his first win against his alma mater. Badgers fans have criticized Fickell for both the five consecutive losses that ended last season and his “Why does it matter?” comment when asked who would be calling the plays for the Badgers after he fired offensive coordinator Phil Longo after 10 games.
But you know what would get the fans back on Fickell’s side? A home win over the defending national champions.
While the season likely won’t be a stellar one for the Badgers, sometimes the morale boost that comes from a marquee win in a mediocre season is enough to make a case for a contract extension. If Fickell can pull it off in a year where many experts are predicting Ohio State to run the table, it positions him well to get another chance to build his program.
He’s also made some additions since last season, replacing Longo with new offensive coordinator Phil Grimes in a move that could revitalize the offense. Grimes’ offensive scheme plays to the Badgers’ strengths, focusing on wide-zone runs and play-action passes, so it could breathe new life into the program. Additionally, they have the offensive weapons to execute the scheme with running backs Dilin Jones and Darrion Dupree.
Oh, and they’ve got a wide receiver who might look familiar to Buckeye fans: Jayden Ballard, who transferred to Wisconsin from OSU for his final year of eligibility. Ballard will certainly be hungry to prove himself in this specific game, and while the Buckeyes aren’t struggling defensively or offensively, sometimes when things are personal, it lights a fire that even the most well-equipped firefighters can’t douse.
Do I realistically think the Buckeyes will lose the Wisconsin game? No. And I believe Ryan Day has done a good job of coaching his team not to look past the seemingly easy games. But if the Badgers manage to fly under the radar, they could catch the Buckeyes sleeping, and a loss against a mediocre Wisconsin team would do damage beyond just the one loss when playoff ranking time comes ‘round.