By the Numbers: Comparing Ohio State and Wisconsin

COLUMBUS — The Wisconsin offense hasn’t been as explosive as it could have been. Head coach Luke Fickell and offensive coordinator Phil Longo dove into the transfer portal this past offseason for an assortment of talent while shifting the program’s offensive philosophy.

Wisconsin adopted an Air Raid offense that still features a heavy dosage of the run game — after all, the Badgers’ most dynamic player is running back Braelon Allen.

Spreading things out hasn’t resulted in offensive explosion, however. Wisconsin is tied for the 10th fewest plays of 20-plus yards from scrimmage this season. SMU transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai was up and down before breaking his hand, and now backup — and former three-star prospect — Braedyn Locke is running the show. He piloted the Badgers to an 18-point, come-from-behind win at Illinois last week.

With that victory, Wisconsin enters a Week 9 matchup against Ohio State atop the Big Ten West standings. It’s gotten there largely because of the Badgers’ defense, which has allowed 20 or more points only twice all season.

Perhaps most notably, the pressure created by EDGEs C.J. Goetz and Darryl Peterson help an already strong secondary limit opposing passing offenses to fewer than 200 passing yards per game. That group will have its hands full with an Ohio State aerial attack that’s pushing 305 yards per game through the air.

The Badgers aren’t ranked, but they’re in the driver’s seat in the Big Ten West during the last year of the Big Ten West no less.

Lettermen Row tracked how Ohio State and Wisconsin compare after seven games, by the numbers.

Scoring Offense

Buckeyes: 33.7 points per game (34th nationally in FBS, 3rd in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 26.9 points per game (T-78th nationally in FBS, 6th in Big Ten)

Total Offense

Buckeyes: 431.9 yards per game (38th nationally in FBS, 1st in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 396.9 yards per game (65th nationally in FBS, 5th in Big Ten)

Passing Offense

Buckeyes: 304.9 yards per game (14th nationally in FBS, 1st in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 216.6 yards per game (84th nationally in FBS, 8th in Big Ten)

Rushing Offense

Buckeyes: 127.0 yards per game (101st nationally in FBS, 10th in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 180.3 yards per game (34th nationally in FBS, 3rd in Big Ten)

Scoring Defense

Buckeyes: 10.0 points per game allowed (3rd nationally in FBS, 3rd in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 18.3 points per game allowed (20th nationally in FBS, 6th in Big Ten)

Total Defense

Buckeyes: 260.1 yards per game allowed (5th nationally in FBS, 3rd in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 334.1 yards per game allowed (39th nationally in FBS, 7th in Big Ten)

Passing Defense

Buckeyes: 159.6 yards per game allowed (6th nationally in FBS, 4th in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 196.3 yards per game allowed (29th nationally in FBS, 8th in Big Ten)

Rushing Defense

Buckeyes: 100.6 yards per game allowed (18th nationally in FBS, 4th in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 137.9 yards per game allowed (64th nationally in FBS, 10th in Big Ten)

3rd Down Conversion

Buckeyes: 42.86% (T-45th nationally in FBS, 4th in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 43.40% (T-39th nationally in FBS, 3rd in Big Ten)

Opponent 3rd Down Conversion

Buckeyes: 30.19% (15th nationally in FBS, 3rd in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 35.24% (43rd nationally in FBS, 7th in Big Ten)

Red Zone TD Percentage

Buckeyes: 57.14% (T-83rd nationally in FBS, 10th in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 66.67% (T-37th nationally in FBS, 6th in Big Ten)

Opponent Red Zone TD Percentage

Buckeyes: 57.14% (T-55th nationally in FBS, 7th in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 60.00% (T-70th nationally in FBS, 10th in Big Ten)

Sacks Per Game

Buckeyes: 2.00 (T-80th nationally in FBS, 10th in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 2.57 (T-37th nationally in FBS, 6th in Big Ten)

Sacks Allowed Per Game

Buckeyes: 1.71 (T-45th nationally in FBS, T-7th in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 1.43 (T-31st nationally in FBS, 5th in Big Ten)

Turnover Margin Per Game

Buckeyes: 0.00 (T-67th nationally in FBS, 7th in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: -0.14 (T-78th nationally in FBS, 8th in Big Ten)

Time of Possession

Buckeyes: 29:34.86 (80th nationally in FBS, 9th in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 30:16.71 (60th nationally in FBS, 7th in Big Ten)

Penalties Per Game

Buckeyes: 6.6 (T-89th nationally in FBS, 12th in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 5.9 (T-60th nationally in FBS, T-9th in Big Ten)

Punt Average

Buckeyes: 44.21 (32nd nationally in FBS, 4th in Big Ten)
Wisconsin: 42.44 (T-66th nationally in FBS, T-8th in Big Ten)