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Disappointment hits Wisconsin again in 34-0 shutout loss to Ohio State

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4 months ago

October 18, 2025

Disappointment hits Wisconsin again in 34-0 shutout loss to Ohio State

The Wisconsin Badgers were shut out for the second consecutive week on Saturday, losing 34-0 to the Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall Stadium to fall to 2-5 on the season and 0-4 in Big Ten play.

It was a tough game for the Badgers from the start, as they couldn’t get any offensive consistency, having four three-and-outs, another punt, and an interception in the first half.

Meanwhile, Ohio State flourished, scoring on three of its first four opening possessions and playing strong complementary football from start to finish.

“If I said it once at the end of the game, this’ll be the fifth or sixth time I’ve said it: I’m incredibly disappointed in a lot of things. Obviously, the scoreboard is probably the most notable,” head coach Luke Fickell said after the game. “To not find a way to put points on the board will never give us a chance. We know we have to be able to do that and we have to get a hell of a lot better at it.

Let’s get into our recap of the game.

The Badgers began the game with the ball, looking to put some early points up on the talented Ohio State defense, but the troubles for the offense continued as they have all season. Wisconsin went three-and-out to start the game, unable to generate any type of rhythm or momentum.

Ohio State, led by sophomore Julian Sayin, started the game on fire. Sayin connected on eight passes on the first drive for 95 yards and a touchdown. The score came on a 3rd & 12 when junior receiver Carnell Tate climbed the ladder to catch the ball over Wisconsin safeties Matt Jung and Austin Brown.

Down seven early, the offense needed to respond and retake the momentum. Wisconsin’s second drive started promisingly with a huge 15-yard catch by tight end Jackson McGohan. That drive was quickly derailed, however, when a dropped pass by Cade Yacamelli fell right into Sonny Styles’ hands for the first interception of the game. Styles returned it to the Wisconsin 43, setting up the Ohio State offense in a prime position to go up two scores.

The Badgers defense stood their ground though, allowing only a single first down. Ricardo Hallman came up with a big pass deflection in the endzone against Jeremiah Smith on 1st down, and from there, the front seven kept the Buckeyes from advancing. Sebastian Cheeks and Mason Posa combined for a sack on third down, forcing Ohio State to settle for a field goal and a 10-0 lead with four minutes left in the first quarter.

The Badgers offense remained stagnant—a common sight this season. With three straight run plays, Dilin Jones and Cade Yacamelli were getting beaten up by the Ohio State front four. Wisconsin punted after another three-and-out, their second in three drives. Through three possessions, the Badgers had totaled just 34 yards and an interception.

With a chance to go up three scores, Julian Sayin did not disappoint. Starting at their own 11-yard line, the Buckeyes picked up three first downs and 54 yards in just three plays. Following a couple of short runs from Bo Jackson, Sayin connected with Carnell Tate for a 10-yard touchdown pass. Similar to last week against Iowa, the Badgers faced a steep uphill battle, down 17-0 in the first quarter.

On their fourth drive, the Badgers finally showed some life, picking up three first downs and driving into Ohio State territory. Unfortunately, a set of penalties created a 3rd and 17 that ended with an incomplete pass when Hunter Simmons’ hand was hit as the ball came out. While the drive didn’t end well, there were signs of life. On 3rd and 12, Simmons found Lance Mason over the middle for 24 yards, and the play before saw Simmons execute the bootleg well, connecting with Mason for seven yards and a first down. Lance Mason has been one of the very few bright spots in the offense this season. Interestingly, the Badgers moved away from targeting Vinny Anthony and Trech Kekahuna, with neither receiving a single target through the first four drives.

The defense continued to battle, getting multiple stops following the first three scoring drives. With a 3rd and 2 at the Ohio State 22-yard line, the Badgers came up big, stuffing the run up the middle for one yard and forcing the punt. Freshman linebacker Cooper Catalano made the play on third down, shooting the gap and standing Bo Jackson up to prevent the first.

With a stop and some momentum finally on their side, the crowd was looking for offensive production, but it remained nonexistent. The Badgers went three and out for the third time in their first five drives, giving Ohio State another chance before halftime. The Buckeyes responded immediately. Superstar receiver Jeremiah Smith caught three straight passes totaling 27 yards. Following a set of rushes and precise passes from Sayin, the Buckeyes faced a 3rd and 4 at the Wisconsin 20-yard line. The Badgers defense came up big, forcing a fourth down and a subsequent missed field goal.

Still down 17-0 with one minute left in the half, the Badgers got the ball back but were clearly ready to take it to halftime. Wisconsin ran the ball three times before punting for the fourth time. Out of seven first-half drives, four ended with three-and-outs.

The Buckeyes offense was on fire in the first half, totaling over 200 passing yards and two touchdown passes. However, the Badgers’ run defense held strong, limiting the Buckeyes to just 35 first-half rushing yards.

Ohio State’s offense picked up right where it left off in the second half, driving downfield to the Wisconsin 17-yard line. Two passes to Carnell Tate—including a big 17-yard pitch and catch on 4th & 4—put Ohio State in prime scoring position. The Badgers defense stood firm as Christian Alliegro and Mason Reigor combined for a big 4-yard tackle for loss, setting up a long third down and eventually another field goal. Julian Sayin went 6-for-6 on the drive, totaling 60 yards, but was unable to convert in the red zone.

Unfortunately, the Badgers offense and Hunter Simmons couldn’t even come close to the red zone. On the following drive, Wisconsin finally committed to the pass game, but two straight incompletions led to yet another three-and-out. Without complementary football, it’s hard to win a game, but without an offense capable of gaining 100 total yards, it’s impossible. The defense continued to work hard and fight all game long, to no avail.

The Wisconsin linebacking corps also saw significant substitution. Look out for next week, as one of the freshman linebackers may take the start over Tackett Curtis, who did not have a great overall game today.

Ohio State continued to dominate offensively, scoring following another Wisconsin three-and-out. While the defense initially forced a fourth down, Ryan Day didn’t back down and called a quarterback sneak, getting the first down and letting Sayin take it from there. He connected with Bo Jackson and Quincy Porter for gains of 16 and 22 yards, respectively. Running back Isaiah West also had a big 15-yard rush to put the Buckeyes at the Wisconsin 4-yard line. From there, Sayin connected on a tight end pop pass for a touchdown—his third passing touchdown of the game—putting the Buckeyes up 27-0 with a minute left in the third quarter.

The Badgers were backed up on the ensuing possession. After a third-down sack on Hunter Simmons that ended his day, Wisconsin faced a 4th and 19. Looking for a lifeline, freshman punter Sean West came up with a huge run, breaking tackles and fighting his way to a first down—the second biggest offensive play of the game. The energy brought by the punter was quickly killed by the offense, and the ball was punted right back to the Buckeyes.

Sayin was ready to put the final nail in the coffin, driving downfield, this time on the ground. Running backs Bo Jackson and Isaiah West carried the ball a combined seven times for 33 yards. The icing on the cake was a beautiful pass from Julian Sayin to Brandon Innis on a deep crosser at the back of the endzone, putting the Buckeyes up 34-0.

At this point, Wisconsin fans were extremely frustrated, and the “Fire Fickell” chants started again. Some fans in the student section even mimicked what Oklahoma State fans were doing, taking their shirts off and swinging them over their heads.

With one last chance to avoid the shutout, the Badgers offense—with Danny O’Neil at the helm—tried to put together some sort of last-ditch scoring attempt. With running backs Dilin Jones and Durrion Dupree out, Gideon Ituka got the nod, rushing for 30 yards on three attempts. The drive stalled yet again. On 4th and 5, Danny O’Neil couldn’t find anyone past the sticks and threw a hospital ball to Trech for no gain.

Ohio State came into Camp Randall and made it their second home, shutting out the Badgers and putting up 34 points. The Badgers look to have a long season ahead and a lot of changes coming their way during the offseason if they want to compete in the Big Ten.

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Ohio State stud Carnell Tate might be the ideal ‘game-changer’ that Giants need

Published

7 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Press Room

Ohio State stud Carnell Tate might be the ideal ‘game-changer’ that Giants need

INDIANAPOLIS — There are so many questions an NFL team can pose to a top prospect and so many of them have to do with how he will handle the step up to the next level.

And how will he deal with waiting his turn?

These questions do not really apply to Carnell Tate.

Not after the gauntlet he had to pass through in college, trying to find his way and making incremental rises on a depth chart overflowing with talent at his position.

“The competition there, we’re all pushing to be the best receiver on the field that day and that practice,’’ Tate said Friday morning at the NFL Scouting Combine, “and typically, when you’re the best receiver at Ohio State, you’re the best receiver in the country.’’

True, that.

Tate figures to be in play for the Giants with the No. 5 pick in the NFL Draft.

He is widely considered the top receiver in this class — there are certainly Jordyn Tyson supporters out there — and where the Giants prioritize aiding their offense with bolstering their defense will go a long way in determining if they select a wide receiver with their top pick for the second time in three years.

Where they are situated, one or both Ohio State studs, safety Caleb Downs or linebacker Sonny Styles, should be on the board — another Ohio State defender, edge rusher Arvell Reese, could go to the Jets at No. 2.

The Giants unquestionably need another prime target for Jaxson Dart but, when healthy, they already have a No. 1 receiver in Malik Nabers, who was the No. 6 overall pick in 2024.

Investing so much draft equity in another one might not be the most balanced way to build the team in John Harbaugh’s first year as the head coach.

Or, it might be just the ticket to launch the offense.

“You’re always going to want to add more explosiveness to your offense, guys that score touchdowns, wherever that comes from: running back, receiver, tight ends, whatever it may be,’’ general manager Joe Schoen said. “That will be something we’ll look for.’’

There should not be much, or any, concern that Tate will not be a supportive and obliging running mate for Nabers, who made it into only four games last season before a devastating knee injury — he tore his right ACL and meniscus — left Dart without his only lethal weapon.

Tate is not one of those youngsters accustomed to being the top guy during his college experience.

Tate arrived as a five-star recruit in 2023 but how the heck was he supposed to break into the starting lineup with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka — both future first round picks — ahead of him?

In 2024, Tate was overshadowed by freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith.

Tate had to wait for his opportunities and while he did, he concentrated on becoming a better all-around player, developing his ability as a blocker on the perimeter.

In three seasons, Tate totaled 121 receptions for 1,872 yards.

He notched nine of his 14 touchdowns during the 2025 season.

Tate is often likened to Chris Olave, another former Buckeyes wideout.

Olave was a 2022 first-round pick of the Saints and has surpassed 1,000 receiving yards in three of his four NFL seasons.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba (Seahawks) and Garrett Wilson (Jets) are also former Ohio State receivers tearing it up in the NFL.

“It means a lot to me and it’s also a lot on your shoulders,’’ Tate said of the legacy. “Now you got to be the next one to come out there and put on for the school and carry the Receiver U.’’

Tate lining up on one side and Nabers — who is expected to be fully recovered in the spring or by training camp — lining up on the other side would be quite a combination for Dart.

“It would be great,’’ said Tate, who this week had a formal meeting with the Giants. “It would be a great opportunity, especially playing in New York. Big showcase. I’d love to go out there and play in New York.’’

Wan’Dale Robinson, mostly a slot receiver, is an impending free agent.

If he does not return, it would drain the passing game of the 92 receptions for 1,014 yards he contributed in 2025.

Veteran Darius Slayton is coming off a poor seventh year with the Giants.

At 6-foot-3, Tate has ideal height and he is lean at 195 pounds.

He will run the 40-yard dash in Indy but otherwise wait for his Pro Day to work out for NFL executives, coaches and scouts.

Without sounding boastful, Tate does not lack confidence.

“I think my game brings it all to the table,’’ he said. “I got the contested catch, I got the route-running and I also bring it in the run game, a lot of receivers don’t do that. I’m able to impact the game with or without the ball in my hands.

“If you want a game-changer, you got one right here.’’

The best wide receiver in this draft class?

“Me, no question,’’ Tate said.

“Whatever you need to do, I got it.’’

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Ohio woman sentenced in $775,000 Medicaid scheme

Published

19 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

COLUMBUS — A Lake County woman was sentenced this morning to jail time and ordered to pay $775,000 in restitution for fraudulently billing Medicaid, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost announced. “She inflated her earnings through brazen fraud, but her scheme burst wide open when our investigators got the case,” Yost said. “Cheating taxpayers comes with […]

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‘Catastrophic’ Ohio farm fire kills 6,000 hogs and pigs, officials say

Published

1 day ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

‘Catastrophic’ Ohio farm fire kills 6,000 hogs and pigs, officials say

A wind-swept blaze at an Ohio hog farm complex caused “catastrophic” damage and left thousands of pigs dead, fire officials said, marking another devastating barn inferno contributing to the deaths of millions of animals in recent years.

The massive fire occurred on Wednesday, Feb. 25, at Fine Oak Farms in Union Township, Madison County, located west of Ohio’s capital of Columbus, according to the Central Townships Joint Fire District. Fire crews received a report of a barn fire shortly before 12 p.m. local time.

The incident was later upgraded to a commercial structure fire after Chief Brian Bennington observed a “large column of smoke visible from a distance” and requested additional resources. Multiple local fire departments, along with several other emergency agencies, were called to the scene.

“What our crews encountered upon arrival was a very difficult and heartbreaking incident,” Bennington said in a statement on Feb. 26.

The fire chief described the facility as a large farm complex used for hog production consisting of five large agricultural buildings, including four that housed about 7,500 hogs. When crews arrived at the scene, they found two of the barns engulfed in flames, Bennington said.

Crews were challenged by windy conditions that significantly impacted fire suppression efforts, according to Bennington. Three barns were destroyed in the fire, and about 6,000 hogs and pigs were killed.

Firefighters saved one barn and about 1,500 hogs, the fire chief added. No injuries were reported in the incident.

Bennington highlighted the assistance of the farming community throughout Madison and Clark counties, as multiple farmers responded with water trucks to help with water supply efforts. “Rural Ohio’s agricultural community is tight-knit, and they truly step up when one of their own is in need,” he said.

The incident remains under investigation, and the Ohio State Fire Marshal’s Office will determine the fire’s cause and origin. Bennington said there is no suspicion of arson and no ongoing threat to the public at this time.

‘Rapidly changing fire behavior conditions’

Heavy smoke from the fire could be seen for miles, and Bennington said first-arriving units were met with fire conditions coming from the opposite side of the hog farm complex.

The fire chief noted that the incident required extensive water-shuttle operations due to rural water-supply limitations in the area. Crews attempted to cut the fire off by deploying multiple handlines and using an aerial device, but “faced extremely challenging conditions throughout the incident,” according to Bennington.

Sustained winds of about 20 mph with gusts up to 35 mph accelerated the fire’s spread, Bennington said. The high winds made it “extremely difficult” to contain forward fire progression and created “rapidly changing fire behavior conditions” across the agricultural complex, he added.

After about four to five hours, the fire was contained by fire personnel from four different counties, according to the fire chief.

“Unfortunately, the fire resulted in catastrophic damage to the business,” Bennington said in an earlier statement on Feb. 25. “A significant portion of the agricultural structures were destroyed.”

Latest major fire to impact an Ohio hog farm

The incident at Fine Oak Farms is the latest major fire to cause significant damage to an Ohio hog farm in recent years.

In August 2024, about 1,100 pigs were killed in Versailles, a village about 50 miles northwest of Dayton, Ohio, according to data from the nonprofit Animal Welfare Institute. In March 2022, about 2,000 hogs died in a barn fire at Kenneth Scholl Hog Farm in Brown Township, just west of Columbus.

Before the fire at Fine Oak Farms, the Animal Welfare Institute reported that other barn fires in Ohio this year killed 162 sheep, horses, cows, chickens, and other animals.

Hundreds of thousands of animals killed in barn fires each year

Data from the Animal Welfare Institute shows that hundreds of thousands of animals are killed in barn fires across the country each year. Since 2013, over 9 million farm animals have been killed in barn fires, according to the organization.

As of Feb. 26, the Animal Welfare Institute reported that 118,738 farm animals have died in U.S. barn fires this year, including the incident at Fine Oak Farms. The majority of farm animals killed were chickens in separate incidents in North Carolina and Georgia in January, and another incident in Missouri earlier this month.

“Most fatal barn fires occurred in colder states, particularly the Upper Midwest and the Northeast. New York, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Illinois had the highest number of barn fires, respectively,” according to the organization. “The amount of cold weather a state experienced appeared to be a greater factor in the prevalence of barn fires than the intensity of a state’s animal agriculture production.”

In an updated report on farm animal deaths due to barn fires in 2025, the Animal Welfare Institute said more than 2.53 million farm animals were killed in barn fires from 2022 to 2024. The organization noted that the high death toll was “driven primarily” by fires at large operations that housed several thousand to over 1 million farm animals.

The majority of deaths in these incidents during that period, over 98%, were farmed birds, such as chickens and turkeys, according to the Animal Welfare Institute. But in 2023, a massive fire at a west Texas dairy farm became the single deadliest event involving livestock in the state’s history and the deadliest cattle fire in America in at least a decade.

18,000 head of cattle perished in the fire at the South Fork Dairy farm near Dimmitt, Texas. At the time, Roger Malone, who is the former mayor of Dimmitt, called the incident “mind-boggling.”

“I don’t think it’s ever happened before around here. It’s a real tragedy,” Malone said.

Contributing: Rick Jervis, USA TODAY; Shahid Meighan, Columbus Dispatch

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