So Ohio State will play Wisconsin on Saturday in the Big Ten title game without quarterback J.T. Barrett.
But that might not be the Buckeyes’ biggest concern.
Wisconsin’s running game should be.
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The Badgers entered Saturday with the nation’s second-best running game in the country, averaging 343.5 yards per game. Of course, those numbers in large part are because Melvin Gordon, the nation’s leading rusher.
Ohio State is a respectable 42nd in rushing defense, but don’t be fooled by that figure. Sure, the Buckeyes allow 145.5 rushing yards per game after Michigan gained just 121 in OSU’s win Saturday. But the Buckeyes’ defense has feasted on some of college football’s worst rushing attacks.
The Buckeyes held four opponents to less than 100 rushing yards this season, but look at where they’re ranked nationally:
— Kent State: 47 rushing yards, ranked 122nd in the nation
— Cincinnati: 70 rushing yards, ranked 63rd
— Maryland: 66 rushing yards, ranked 109th
— Penn State: 16 rushing yards, ranked 112th
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Ohio State played Navy in the season opener and the Midshipmen piled up 370 yards on the ground, 5.9 per attempt.
Gordon had another big game Saturday in beating Minnesota — a win that clinched the Badgers’ spot in the Big Ten championship game — gaining 151 yards on 29 carries with his 26th touchdown of the year on the ground and third receiving TD.
Gordon has 2,260 yards on the season, giving him the fourth-best single season in college football history. Marcus Allen is third (2,427 yards in 1981 for USC), Kevin Smith (2,567 yards in 2007 for UCF) is second and Barry Sanders (2,628 yards in 1988 for Oklahoma State) is No. 1.
Wisconsin has rushed for 4,012 yards this season after Gordon led the Badgers to 234 yards in the 34-24 win against Minnesota.
The Badgers’ game plan Saturday in Indianapolis won’t be a secret: control the clock with Gordon carrying the ball 25 to 35 times.
If Ohio State can’t stop them, it won’t matter who’s playing quarterback for the Buckeyes.