Wisconsin Football: 3 keys to victory vs. Ohio State in Week 9

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MADISON, WISCONSIN – NOVEMBER 03: Jack Coan #17 hands the ball off to Jonathan Taylor #23 of the Wisconsin Badgers in the third quarter against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Camp Randall Stadium on November 03, 2018 in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

2. Shorten the game

The Badgers cannot win a shootout with the Buckeyes — that probably goes without saying. That is neither an indictment on their talent either. It isn’t how the Badgers are built.

Wisconsin’s defense is playing out of its mind this season, but the Badgers will wilt if they have to play 70-plus snaps against the Buckeyes’ offense. The Badgers have to get the Buckeyes off the field on third downs, and they have to control the clock offensively. This isn’t to suggest Paul Chryst gets super conservative and go three yards and a cloud of dust to keep the score low.

Ohio State can score from anywhere on the field. What the Badgers need to do is stay in front of the chains and be methodical in their approach. In that approach, however, score touchdowns. If they don’t score touchdowns they don’t have a chance to win this game. They need balance in their methodical approach; the Badgers need to take shots down the field on early downs.

The Buckeyes are going to load the box, and if they can take advantage to back the safeties off; that will give Jonathan Taylor room to run the ball. However, if they can’t possess the ball, and the Buckeyes continually get snaps it will be a long night for the Badgers in Columbus.

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