The Ohio State Buckeyes didn't look good early, but the #2 team in the country rallied with a strong second half performance to beat #8 Wisconsin, 30-23, in overtime on the road. While the victory certainly won't earn Ohio State any style points, they do remain undefeated - and that's all that matters. here are the three biggest takeaways from the game:
3) Ohio State's defense is young, but great
The Buckeyes have been playing at such a high level this season that it was very easy to forget that the defense is the youngest unit in all of college football. That youth definitely showed in the first half - particularly in the first quarter - when Wisconsin was able to take advantage of some breakdowns in the secondary and beating Ohio State up on front.
However, this group showed why they're so great in the second half. They limited the Badgers to just 11 total yards in the third quarter (sparking the comeback) and came up with the interception that really changed the momentum of the game. Plus, they sacked Wisconsin quarterback Alex Hornibrook on 4th down in overtime to end the game.
So, while we can expect some inexperience to show from time to time with this unit, this game showed they have what it takes to win a championship.
2) The vertical passing game is a work in progress
One area of Ohio State's offense that became abundantly clear was the need for them to improve their vertical passing game. J.T. Barrett wasn't able to drive the ball down the field, largely because of the inability of OSU's receivers to consistently create separation. The passing game did open up in the 4th quarter, but it's why they've been unable to move the ball with any consistency in the past two games. As we saw tonight, it's something that quality opponents will be able to exploit.
1) J.T. Barrett is a bonafide Heisman contender
If he wasn't already, this game confirmed Barrett's candidacy. Sure, the numbers weren't eye-popping (226 passing yards and a touchdown while rushing for another 92 yards and two more scores), but it was his ability to put this team on his back, lead and will them to a victory on the road in a hostile environment. He made every big play when Ohio State needed it, and Heisman voters certainly took notice.