Wisconsin Football: 3 reasons the Badgers will upset Ohio State in Week 9

3. The defense returns to form

There’s no debating that the performance of the Wisconsin defense against Illinois was pitiful, and after watching the Badgers get torched by the Illini on several occasions last weekend, one can understand why many college football fans and pundits alike are expecting this Ohio State offense to have a field day on Saturday.

However, while defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s unit deserves every bit of criticism that has come its way since that loss, it seems as though people are forgetting just how dominant it had been through Wisconsin’s first six games.

Even taking into account the lackluster performance in Champaign, the Badgers still lead the NCAA in scoring defense, passing defense (in both yards per game and passer rating) and rushing defense. Though the offenses they have shut down aren’t exactly stellar, the level of success they have had is striking regardless of the opponent.

Until now, Ohio State’s toughest battle of the season came against Michigan State back on Oct. 5. The Spartans have an excellent defense (though the Badgers eviscerated it earlier this month), and it showed during the first quarter of that one; Ohio State only managed 16 yards on 16 plays and didn’t have single rushing yard in that period. Unfortunately for Michigan State, the Buckeyes got things figured out offensively over the next three quarters and ended up with a blowout 34-10 victory.

Michigan State is stingy defensively, but Wisconsin is on a completely different level. Simply put, this is going to be the stiffest challenge quarterback Justin Fields and company have faced to this point in the season. The Spartans proved that this Ohio State juggernaut of an offense is capable of being slowed down. While they couldn’t achieve that for more than a quarter, I think the Badgers will be able to sustain that success on Saturday.

Even if they find a way to just stifle the Buckeyes until halftime, Wisconsin is going to have a shot at the upset.

If the Badgers can go into halftime with a lead or within a few points of Ohio State instead of getting blown out from the jump as everyone expects, there is going to be a ton of confidence that results from that. This Wisconsin team is talented, and I refuse to believe last week’s performance is indicative of who it really is. If the score is close at halftime, it is going to serve as a confirmation to the Badgers that they belong on the field with the Buckeyes.

If that happens, Ohio State is on legitimate upset alert.