Ohio State @ Wisconsin preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 10, 2009 ) Wisconsin 13, Ohio State 31

Ohio State won't get long to enjoy its No. 1 ranking. The Buckeyes, ranked No. 1 for the first time since Dec. 2, 2007, must travel to Madison for what is expected to be a tough road game against No. 16 Wisconsin.

Ohio State quarterback Terrell Pryor showed his passing prowess last week. Limited by a thigh injury, Pryor operated from the shotgun and completed 24 of 30 passes for a career-high 334 yards and three touchdowns. He did not have a single called run in the game. The sophomore has now thrown for 1,349 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Now that Ohio State (6-0, 2-0) has shifted its emphasis to the passing game, receiver Brandon Saine made the transition from running back and caught four passes for 84 yards, including a 60-yard touchdown. Dane Sanzenbacher, who has a team-high 27 receptions, leads the Big 10 with seven touchdowns. DeVier Posey has 26 catches and three touchdowns.

Wisconsin (5-1, 1-1) has plenty of playmakers on its roster, too. Quarterback Scott Tolzien, tailbacks John Clay and James White, tight end Lance Kendricks and receiver Nick Toon all had confidence-boosting performances last week against rival Minnesota. Clay was named Big Ten offensive player of the week.

Tolzein bounced back from a disappointing effort against Michigan State and completed 17 of 23 for 223 yards and one touchdown. He's completed 69.7 percent of his passes for 1,201 yards and seven touchdowns. Clay (111 yards, three touchdowns) and White (119 yards, two touchdowns) are a potent one-two rushing punch; Clay now has 692 yards and nine touchdowns and White has 485 yards and eight touchdowns. It was the second time in three games that both players have surpassed 100 yards rushing in the same game.

The offense has been very effective; they've got four games without a turnover and have produced 20 touchdowns in its last 22 trips inside the red zone.

The Ohio State defense is anchored by linebacker Ross Homan, who leads the team in tackles (37) and has one sack, one interception, one forced fumble and one recovered fumble. The Buckeyes will definitely miss defensive back Tyler Moeller, who will miss the rest of the season after surgery for a torn pectoral muscle. Moeller had 20 tackles, one interception and two forced fumbles when he was hurt against Illinois.

Wisconsin's defense will be stressed by the Ohio State passing game. Although the Badgers have allowed only one rushing touchdown this season, they've been victimized by the pass. Wisconsin ranks eighth in the Big Ten and 83rd in the nation against the pass. They'll need to get pressure from J.J. Watt, a defensive end who had six tackles and a sack last week; he has a team-best 8.5 tackles for loss and six pass break ups. Wisconsin has 10 sacks, but only four interceptions this season; Antonio Fenelus leads with two.

Ohio State presented coach Jim Tressel with his 100th victory in Columbus with last week's 38-10 win over Indiana, a victory that make the Buckeyes bowl eligible .

Ohio State leads the series 53-17-5, but the last three games have been decided by a total of 15 points. Wisconsin has played Ohio State seven times when the Buckeyes have been ranked No. 1, with their only victory coming in 1942. It's the first time Wisconsin has hosted a No. 1 team since 1997 and the Badgers are 3-5 against No. 1 teams at home.