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Game 140: #21 Wisconsin @ #1 Ohio State

Dodging bullets may be the name of the game this year if your team is in the top five and a national championship is a main goal. This season has been one of many mishaps by upper echelon football squads. Being in the top five is about survival, not about dominance. Many teams who have found their way into this elite range have fallen, but not the Buckeyes. Yes, their schedule may be weaker, but upsets have been coming in all forms this year and no game is a gimme. The Badgers charged into Columbus riding a three game winning streak in Ohio Stadium, so an upset certainly wouldn’t be a fairy tale in this matchup.

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Game 126: #1 Ohio State @ Northwestern

Northwestern probably wishes there was a “CNTL, ALT, DELETE” function on this football game. Is there any way we can start over? Perhaps they wish this could be granted for their entire season. With all the trouble the Wildcats have had this year, their matchup with #1 Ohio State would have to serve as their bowl game. With the top ranked team in the nation, all the national attention, and equal amount of fans from both sides, the atmosphere emoted a bowl-like feel. Actually, it felt more like Chicagoland’s personal Ohio Stadium. The gross amount of Buckeye fans drowned out the flecks of purple. The fair-weather nature of the Wildcats fans was purely embarrassing.

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Game 88: #3 Ohio State @ #23 Wisconsin

Eleven years ago, I was fortunate enough to witness the Badgers upset Ohio State at Camp Randall Stadium. The weather in Madison that day was chamber of commerce quality. Ever since that momentous victory, Wisconsin has had four opportunities and failed each time to defeat the Buckeyes at home. Each one of those losses took place amidst dreary, cold, and uncomfortable weather. Is it possible that the conditions outside serve as a harbinger for the outcome of this game?

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Game 81: #4 Ohio State @ Wisconsin

It’s not like Ohio State needed to show off. Their swanky number four ranking, glossy undefeated record, and star tailback Maurice Clarett impressed any onlookers. Still, the courageous and gargantuan Buckeyes strutted into Camp Randall Stadium prepared to play. Not even two minutes had been erased from the game clock – hardly enough time for Badger butts to warm the cold, metal bleachers – and Ohio State receiver Michael Jenkins hauled in a pass from Craig Krenzel, spun off a Badger defender, and sprinted solo forty-seven yards into the end zone. He made it appear as though one Buckeye player could single handedly defeat Wisconsin. After that play, I recall turning to my group and remarking on how that play defined how a top five squad should look like. The Badgers were far from such a lofty distinction since after winning five in a row, they coughed up two hairballs against Penn State and stumbling Indiana. With this inauspicious start, it was hard to imagine anything greater than an 0-3 Big Ten debut.

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Game 18: #14 Ohio State @ #21 Wisconsin

This would be my first time watching a would-be Heisman Trophy winner in action. Ohio State running back, Eddie George, led fourth ranked Ohio State into Camp Randall Stadium. Based on the first three games of this season, Wisconsin would seem like a chew toy for the Buckeyes. But, last week’s win at #7 Penn State jumped the Badgers into the top 25 suddenly making Wisconsin vs. Ohio State the game of the week.

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Game 7: #3 Ohio State @ #15 Wisconsin

I missed last week’s game against #24 Michigan, and it left me feeling bittersweet. It would be the last game that I would voluntarily not attend at Camp Randall for the next eleven years. It was a blessing. That Michigan game was the infamous “crowd crush” game that forced all stadiums across the country to reevaluate their stadium structure and safety procedures. Wisconsin defeated Michigan for the first time in many years (thus, the crowd rush). But, it nearly killed so many fans.

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Game 2: #12 Ohio State @ Wisconsin

Today would be a memorable day in the career of Wisconsin head coach, Barry Alvarez.  I didn’t care.  I don’t even think I knew why this Berry Alcatraz was so special.  Once again, I was being handcuffed to the car and dragged to another football game.  Not interested.  I remember the last game I attended.  Dreary.  Boring.  Low attendance.  But, there was something different about today.  Camp Randall Stadium was PACKED with a vibrant red that stretched to every curve and corner.

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