SportsDirect Inc. staff
Nov 17, 2012
Ohio State 21, Wisconsin 14 (OT): Carlos Hyde ran for two touchdowns – including one in the extra period – and the Buckeyes’ defense denied a fourth-down attempt on the final possession against the host Badgers, allowing them to remain one of the four undefeated teams in FBS.
Hyde finished with 87 yards rushing as Ohio State (11-0, 7-0 Big Ten) joined Oregon, Kansas State and Notre Dame with unblemished records.
The Buckeyes’ win overshadowed Montee Ball’s date with history as the Wisconsin star tied former Miami (Ohio) running back Travis Prentice’s FBS record of 77 career touchdowns.
In the overtime, the Buckeyes needed only four plays to find the end zone on Hyde’s 2-yard plunge. On Wisconsin’s possession, Ohio State’s defense forced an incompletion on second down and tackled Ball for a 2-yard loss on the next play. Curt Phillips’ fourth-down pass attempt fell incomplete.
The Badgers (7-4, 6-3) recovered from a fourth-down fumble by Ball at the goal line earlier in the fourth quarter and forced the overtime on their final possession of regulation. Phillips led Wisconsin on a nine-play, 41-yard drive in 85 seconds, eventually finding Jacob Pedersen in the end zone to knot the game at 14 with eight seconds left.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The fumble was only the second of Ball’s career. …. Philly Brown returned a first-quarter punt 68 yards for a touchdown for the Buckeyes. … Ohio State, which is ineligible for the postseason, will complete its season next Saturday at home against archrival Michigan.