How did Ohio State football grade out vs Wisconsin?

Ohio State football's Julian Sayin had a career day as the Buckeye quarterback commanded a strong 34-0 victory over the Wisconsin Badgers.

Starting the scoring with an acrobatic touchdown effort from wide receiver Carnell Tate, the Buckeyes jumped out to a 17-0 lead in the first quarter. Though Ohio State's run game struggled, wide receivers Tate and Jeremiah Smith combined for 208 yards with outstanding passing from Sayin.

Coming off a 37-0 loss to Iowa, the Badgers were handed their second consecutive shutout, this time by an Ohio State defense that allowed only 144 yards of offense. The Buckeyes' defense has allowed only 41 points in seven contests, the lowest total through seven games since 1993.

With the win, Ohio State improves to 7-0 ahead of a bye week before hosting Penn State on Nov. 1. Wisconsin is -5 and is without a Big Ten win.

How did the Buckeyes grade in their win? Leaves are awarded on a zero-to-five basis.

Offense (4 leaves)

Tate had four catches for 85 yards and two touchdowns; Sayin completed 14 of 15 passes for 169 yards and two touchdowns.

Then the first quarter ended.

Before completing his eighth consecutive pass, Sayin threw to five different receivers and looked as poised as ever, leading a confident drive down the field. Then, he threw a dart in double coverage to Tate, who brought the ball in Randy Moss style while getting his helmet ripped off.

Sayin had the best game of his career. Though he threw his last passing touchdown far after the game was decided, he landed nearly every football right in his receivers' hands. Sayin is not the same quarterback he was against Texas in Week 1. The redshirt freshman showed no sign of wavering confidence and finished the day completing 36 of 42 passes for 394 yards and four touchdowns. His accuracy is the most impressive trait of his game, and against Wisconsin he completed 77.8% of passes while throwing the ball 40-plus times.

Though Sayin hosted nothing short of a passing clinic, Ohio State running backs averaged 2.9 yards per carry while the offensive line looked lackluster while blocking on runs.

The quarterback wouldn't admit his grade when asked in the postgame interview, but he gets five Buckeye leaves while the total offense gets four.

Defense (5 Leaves)

Even though last week's five stars for the defense might have been too many, a shutout defensive performance against the Badgers earns defensive coordinator Matt Patricia's unit a perfect score. Ohio State's defense looked bigger, stronger and faster against Wisconsin's offensive unit, giving up 49 passing yards and 3.1 yards per carry. Even with just one turnover against the best defense in the country, Wisconsin's offense failed to get within field goal distance all day.

Special teams (2 leaves)

It is unacceptable to let the opposing punter rush for 20 yards and make a fourth-and-19 conversion, a longer rush than any Ohio State running back. That play alone docks a couple of leaves off the special teams ranking in the win.

Kicker Jayden Fielding tied his season best with a 38-yard field goal on Ohio State's second drive of the first quarter. But on his second attempt, another 38-yard look from the left hash, he pushed his kick wide right, but made his last kick for 37 yards. Brandon Inniss' longest punt return was 18 yards, but the Buckeyes often found themselves in tricky field position as opposed to starting near the 50-yard line most drives in the Illinois game. Not a great day for special teams, which was a clear weakness against the Badgers.

Coaching (4 leaves)

Ryan Day made a statement that the Buckeyes wanted to get comfortable quickly with a 17-point lead in the first quarter. But offensive coordinator Brian Hartline completely loosened the leash on play-calling for Sayin, recognizing the obvious strength in the passing game and adapting Ohio State's offense to stay comfortable throughout the entire game.

Taking the pressure off scoring immediately allowed the Buckeyes to play a fluid brand of football as Patricia earned his second shutout of his collegiate coordinator career.

Fun factor (4 leaves)

Well, at least one team clearly had some fun on the football field today.

CARNELL TATE!!!!! WHAT A CATCH!!! pic.twitter.com/ddZ885v0NH

— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) October 18, 2025

The fun meter was in danger from the get-go given the state of Wisconsin football, but besides continuous highlights on the Buckeyes' offense, the fans eventually showed up with a shirtless student section.

Students have taken over this game. Going shirtless. #Badgerspic.twitter.com/P7Ur26ELlx

— Evan Flood (@Evan_Flood) October 18, 2025

Besides, there was never a question about the energy for "Jump Around."

Buckeyes taking part in the “Jump Around” tradition at Camp Randall stadium. pic.twitter.com/VjFE9Mrixg

— Jack Berney (@JackBerneyTV) October 18, 2025

Fun moments were sprinkled throughout the game. Immediately after the jumping and thumping at Camp Randall, Wisconsin punter Sean West, the Badgers' MVP, had his aforementioned 20-yard fourth-down conversion, the happiest in-game moment for the Wisconsin fans of the day.

Finally, a crowning fun moment for the officials came in the fourth quarter with an "everybody but the center" offsides call.

Given the awkward vibes with Wisconsin's second game getting shutout, the fun college football intricacies and highlight plays give this game a fun seal of approval.

Wisconsin (2 leaves)

At least four starters left with injuries while a constant and dull chorus of boos fell over Camp Randall Stadium. There was no offensive production from third-string quarterback Hunter Simmons, who was benched for fourth-string quarterback Danny O'Neill in an attempt to shake things up.

It's been a rough year to be a college football fan in Wisconsin, but the Badgers did have some plus qualities, such as stopping the Buckeyes' rushing attack, earning five tackles for losses and executing a great punting game. But back-to-back shutouts equate to rock bottom for the current Wisconsin regime as the hot seat continues to increase in temperature for Fickell.

Officials (5 leaves)

The officials earned brutal back-to-back one-leaf rankings in the Minnesota and Illinois games, but they get a five-leaf performance despite a questionable pass interference call on Devin Sanchez in the second quarter when the cornerback placed one hand on the intended receiver's back. The officials appropriately let the play continue on a "fumble" call from Simmons that was reviewed and changed to an incomplete pass, and they called for an official review on a Jeremiah Smith near fumble that was correctly ruled a catch and short of a first down.

“EVERYONE BUT THE CENTER” MENTIONED RAHHH#Badgers#OnWisconsinpic.twitter.com/w4xymPXrGY

— Carter 🧀 Big Ten (@crtrwisc) October 18, 2025

The officiating staff never inserted itself into any play and even cracked a joke with the offside call on 10 Wisconsin players.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State football vs Wisconsin: How OSU grades in Big Ten matchup