INDIANAPOLIS – In one of the stranger delays you will see in a football game, the Big Ten title bout between Ohio State and Wisconsin was postponed for nearly 15 minutes at the start of the fourth quarter after a section of turf in the Buckeye end zone became dislodged following a Badger touchdown.
The field was treated for several minutes as the two teams plotted their strategy for an upcoming two-point conversion, which the Badgers ultimately converted on when play resumed.
The damaged turf in the end zone that required maintenance: pic.twitter.com/bqrJ9K4Ygf
— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) December 3, 2017
The delay seemed to take a bit of win out of Wisconsin's sails, as the Badgers were playing with momentum at the time of the incident. Ohio State's ensuing drive saw the Buckeyes drive 72 yards on 15 plays, a series that was capped with a field goal from Sean Nuernberger.
Social media had run with the turf incident, including pairing it with background music.
So I timed up the guy fixing the turf with "Flight of the Bumblebees" and it's incredible pic.twitter.com/uy3KBkL5TV
— Matt Allaire (@AllaireMatt) December 3, 2017
Badger Passing Game
With Ohio State's defense shutting down Wisconsin's rushing attack, the Badgers were forced to attempt a season-high 41 passes on Saturday, a large amount of which went to tight ends and running backs.
In fact, running back Johnathan Taylor caught three passes for 30 against Ohio State, nearly doubling his season total of four receptions entering the game. Reserve running back Garrett Groshek did double his season total in receptions, catching two passes for 27 yards against the Buckeyes.
Ohio State defensive coordinator Greg Schiano said after the game that Wisconsin's game plan to utilize the backs and tight ends – most of which came on designed screen plays – was unique.
"They had some really creative things that they did tonight with throwbacks and different things and we just battled our way through it," Schiano said. "I don't know if I have ever seen so many screens in one game in my life."
Tight end Troy Fumagalli made his presence felt against Ohio State, catching five passes for 45 yards, but was held without a touchdown, though he did find the end zone on Wisconsin's two-point conversion.
Overall, Schiano said he thought his defense performed admirably thanks in large part to the way it prepared in the week leading up to the game.
"I don't know that I've ever seen a college football team prepare the way these kids did, and I think that gave them great confidence to go execute," he said.
Ohio State Collects Key Interceptions
The Buckeyes came away with two interceptions on Saturday, each coming in key situations.
The first came on Wisconsin's second possession of the game, when Denzel Ward made a play on a pass from Alex Hornibrook to Fumagalli near the front pylon. It was just Ward's second interception of the season, but it helped keep the Badgers off the board and ultimately led to Ohio State's first points of the game.
It took almost a full game for Hornibrook to throw his second interception of the night, but on 4th-and-20 with the game on the line, the sophomore quarterback took a shot deep over the middle to Fumagalli only to have Damon Webb step in front to pick it off and seal the win for Ohio State.
The two interceptions marked the fifth time this season Ohio State has tallied multiple picks. The Buckeyes also recorded such performances against Indiana, UNLV, Rutgers and Michigan State.
