Buckeyes set for primetime road showdown at Wisconsin
COLUMBUS — Ohio State has a massive showdown at home this week against Penn State. The Buckeyes can’t have their attention anywhere else.
But after taking on the Nittany Lions at home this weekend in an epic top-10 clash, the Buckeyes will hit the road to take on Wisconsin for a Halloween weekend tilt. That game now has been assigned a TV network and time slot.
Next weekend on Oct. 28, Ohio State will face Wisconsin in Madison for the first time since 2016, when it beat the Badgers 30-23. And the Buckeyes’ first road game at Wisconsin in eight seasons will be in primetime, earning a 7:30 p.m. slot. The game will be broadcast on NBC as part of that network’s new deal with the Big Ten.
It’ll be the Buckeyes second time on NBC this season. They played Notre Dame on the road on NBC last month — and they’ll also get the primetime treatment from NBC on Nov. 11 when they host Michigan State.
But for this Wisconsin matchup, it could prove to be a tricky spot for Ohio State coming out of its clash with Penn State. It’ll also hold special meaning, as former Buckeyes defensive lineman, assistant coach and interim head coach Luke Fickell will be across the field as the Wisconsin head coach.
Of course, the matchup lost some of its luster when the Badgers were beaten last weekend by Iowa, knocking them out of the top of the Big Ten West. Badgers quarterback Tanner Mordecai also left that game with a broken hand and isn’t expected to be back in time to face the Buckeyes defense.
Ohio State has a very important game this week. It hosts Penn State at noon in a top-10 showdown. But the game after that will be big for the national title picture as well. And the trip to Wisconsin is officially a primetime matchup.
Top 10
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Sooners get double punishment
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Big 12 title game
Scenarios illustrate complexity
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AP Poll Shakeup
New Top 25 shows Saturday carnage
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2023 Ohio State football schedule
Sept. 2 — at Indiana (Won 23-3)
Sept. 9 — vs. Youngstown State (Won 35-7)
Sept. 16 — vs. Western Kentucky (Won 63-10)
Sept. 23 — at Notre Dame (Won 17-14)
Sept. 30 — IDLE
Oct. 7 — vs. Maryland (Won 37-17)
Oct. 14 — at Purdue (Won 41-7)
Oct. 21 — vs. Penn State (Noon, FOX)
Oct. 28 — at Wisconsin (7:30 p.m., NBC)
Nov. 4 — at Rutgers
Nov. 11 — vs. Michigan State (7:30 p.m., NBC)
Nov. 18 — vs. Minnesota
Nov. 25 — at Michigan (Noon, FOX)
Buckeyes stay put in latest AP Poll
Ohio State stayed put at No. 3 in this week’s AP Top 25. So did the entire top four.
There are four Big Ten teams in the Top 25, and three of them are in the top seven: No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 7 Penn State and No. 24 Iowa.
The biggest winner this week was Washington, which took down now-No. 9 Oregon in a dramatic, top-10 clash. Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Michael Penix Jr. led the Huskies on a game-winning drive, and then Oregon missed a potential game-tying field goal. Washington is now No. 5, ranking inside the top five for the first time in six years.
No. 22 Air Force has made its way into the rankings after staving off Wyoming and improving to 6-0.
North Carolina climbed to No. 10 with its win over now-unranked Miami. Notre Dame jumped from No. 21 to No. 15 with an upset of then-No. 10 USC, which is now No. 18.
