Ohio State went on the road and took care of Wisconsin easily. Here are five takeaways from what we saw on Saturday from the Buckeyes.
Saturday’s trip to Madison turned into a showcase for both sides of the ball as Ohio State rolled over Luke Fickell’s Wisconsin Badgers, 34-0. The Buckeyes walked out of Camp Randall with a convincing win, even if the run game didn’t pop. They had to settle for field goals on a couple of promising drives, but Julian Sayin—oh baby—what a performance.
The Ohio State quarterback isn't getting nearly the hype he deserves, but maybe it's time to start talking about him more in the Heisman conversation. Meanwhile, the defense? Absolutely lights out. A full-game shutout on the road. That doesn’t happen by accident.
Here are five takeaways from the Buckeyes’ dominant win over Wisconsin.
Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin is a stud
After a quieter outing last week against Illinois, Julian Sayin lit up the Badgers in a big way. What stands out isn’t just his arm talent, but how composed, smart, and efficient he is, especially for a freshman. Sayin takes what the defense gives him, avoids mistakes, and looks completely in control of the offense.
Whether it’s a quick read over the middle or a perfectly placed deep ball, he makes it look easy. Sayin finished with nearly 400 passing yards and four touchdowns, torching Wisconsin’s secondary from start to finish. He’s playing like a veteran, and his ceiling keeps climbing every week.
This Ohio State defense is insane
At this point, there just aren’t many new ways to describe what Matt Patricia’s defense is doing. Another game, another first-half shutout—and this time, it pitched a shutout for the entire game. Ohio State overwhelmed both Wisconsin quarterbacks, dominated the line of scrimmage, and made every possession feel like an uphill battle for the Badgers.
Sonny Styles grabbed a pick, Arvell Reese was everywhere, and Caleb Downs led the team in tackles. That trio was elite all afternoon and continues to look like a group that will be playing on Sundays next year. Patricia has this defense firing on all cylinders, and there’s no sign of it slowing down.
Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith Are the Best Wide Receiver Duo in the Country
Ohio State receivers Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith were the engine of the Buckeyes’ offense in Madison. The two combined for 15 catches, 208 yards, and two touchdowns. Sayin clearly trusts them both—and for good reason.
Tate is looking like the best wide receiver prospect in the 2026 NFL Draft class. He’s now closing in on 600 yards and has six touchdowns on the season, scoring almost every week. He was the headline-grabber with two touchdowns in this one, but Smith was just as effective, hauling in nine catches for 97 yards. Together, they’re an impossible duo to defend and are capable of taking over any game.
The Ground Game Remains a Work in Progress for Ohio State
It’s hard to call it a “flaw” when the team is winning like this, but if there’s one area that still needs to come together, it’s the running game. Ohio State rushed for just 99 yards on over 25 carries between four different players.
The plan was clearly to attack through the air, and it worked, but if the Buckeyes want to repeat as national champions, they’ll need more balance. Sayin is capable of throwing for 300-plus every week, but defenses will eventually adjust. Establishing a more consistent run game should be a priority down the stretch.
Shoutout to Brandon Inniss
Brandon Inniss hasn’t had many big moments this season, playing behind stars like Tate and Smith, but he made his presence known in Madison. The former five-star recruit contributed with some key punt returns and capped off the game with a touchdown catch in the fourth quarter to make it 34-0.
He finished with three catches for 26 yards and the score. It was a glimpse of the talent he brings to this already-loaded receiver room. Hopefully, this performance kick-starts a larger role for Inniss moving forward. With so many weapons on this offense, he’ll have to make the most of every opportunity—but today, he definitely did.
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Ohio State vs. Wisconsin: 5 takeaways from the Buckeyes dominant win
Category: General Sports
