Last Go On The Road: Wisconsin

Winning on the road in college football is no easy task, even for the best teams. Ohio State has proven to be one of the nation’s elite programs, and over the past four years (2021–2024), the Buckeyes have compiled an impressive 20-4 record away from Ohio Stadium during the regular season. Despite this success, Ohio State fans expect a win in every game, but a winning percentage exceeding 83% is nothing to overlook.

This year, the Buckeyes face five road games, taking them to the Pacific Northwest, the shores of the Great Lakes, the open plains of Central Illinois and Northern Indiana, and finally to the massive stadium built into a giant hole in the ground. Ohio State knows it will face Michigan annually as protected rivals in the Big Ten, but some of these other opponents haven’t hosted the Buckeyes in years—some for nearly a generation, others just a couple of seasons. Notably, Washington was still in the Pac-12 the last time these teams met.

As the countdown to kickoff approaches, let’s examine each road opponent this week, exploring the last time Ohio State visited their venue, what happened, and the Buckeyes’ historical success in that stadium or city.

October 18^th at Wisconsin

Last time played in Madison: October 2023

Result: Ohio State def. Wisconsin 24-10

All-Time Record in Madison: Ohio State leads 27-11-2

The Ohio State Buckeyes and Wisconsin Badgers have transitioned from sporadic matchups to a more frequent rivalry, meeting six times since 2016, including twice in the Big Ten Championship Game. Those championship clashes feel like distant memories, don’t they?

In an unusual scheduling twist, the last two encounters between these teams have both been in Madison, Wisconsin, with the upcoming game set to follow suit. It’s no surprise that Ohio State entered their most recent matchup undefeated and ranked No. 3 nationally. With an impressive 20-4 road record over their last 24 games and a knack for securing home victories, losses are rare for the Buckeyes.

The Badgers faced challenges as the game progressed, losing key players like running back Braelon Allen and receiver Chimere Dike to injuries. Ohio State capitalized early, taking a 10-0 lead with a Jayden Fielding field goal in the first quarter, followed by a 16-yard touchdown pass from Kyle McCord to Marvin Harrison Jr. Harrison wasn’t done, adding a 19-yard touchdown catch in the third quarter, also from McCord. Running back TreVeyon Henderson sealed the victory in the fourth quarter with a 33-yard touchdown run, capping a swift three-play drive.

The Buckeye defense rose to the occasion, stifling Wisconsin’s ground game to under 100 yards and containing quarterback Braedyn Locke to 164 passing yards on 18-of-39 attempts. Despite Ohio State’s statistical dominance, Wisconsin battled back, tying the game at 10-10 with 10 unanswered points. However, by the time Badger fans erupted for their traditional “Jump Around,” Ohio State had regained a seven-point lead, ultimately securing a 24-10 victory that looked more comfortable in the box score than it felt in the moment.

Following this win, Ohio State reeled off three more victories against Rutgers, Michigan State, and Minnesota before their season finale. We’ll dive into that final game later this week.

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