As the clock ticked down on the Buckeyes' undefeated season, the Wisconsin offensive line proved to be just as formidable as OSU feared.
In the sight that was repeated throughout Saturday's game, John Clay bursts free for some hard-earned yard in Wisconsin's 31-18 victory over Ohio State at Madison, Wis.MADISON, Wis. -- On the clock as the Buckeyes and the Badgers renewed hostilities Saturday night.
7:01 p.m.: Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema leads his team out of the tunnel to U2's "Where the Streets Have No Name." About 10 seconds later, Ohio State hits the field to boos.
7:06: The pressbox begins to sway, for good reason. Wisconsin's David Gilreath returns the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown. Compared to what happens next, at least this pain is quick.
7:14: This hurts Ohio State more. A kickoff return can be passed off as a one-time thing, but Wisconsin goes to work, with a six-play, 58-yard touchdown drive in which the Badgers continually blow the Buckeyes off the ball. But this won't be the greatest pain either.
7:34: This? Now this is like torture for Ohio State fans, and it will take up 10:04 on the clock and 17 minutes in real time. Ironically, this Wisconsin drive begins with Ohio State's first decent defensive play against the Badgers' run game, as OSU defensive lineman John Simon knives into the backfield and trips up John Clay for only a 1-yard gain.
7:35: The Badgers face a third down and though the Buckeyes do a better job plugging up the hole, James White still manages to pick up the first down with a 3-yard gain. So even the not-so-good Wisconsin runs gain 3 yards.
7:38: On the seventh play, the Badgers try their second pass, and for a moment, it looks like OSU safety Jermale Hines is going to step into the throwing lane. But Scott Tolzien's pass gets past Hines, who is just a half-step late, and hits Isaac Anderson for a nine-yard gain and a first down.
7:40: Huge hole for John Clay, and he turns it into a 13-yard gain on the drive's ninth play. The Badgers are just getting started.
7:42: It's fourth down for the first time on the drive, but the Badgers convert it easily, as Tolzien picks up two yards on a quarterback sneak when he only needed one yard.
7:46: The first quarter ends with Wisconsin up, 14-0. The break doesn't slow the Badgers.
7:49: On the 16th play of the drive, Gilreath is wide open and Tolzien finds him for an 18-yard gain to the 7, and defensive end Nathan Williams hits Tolzien after he throws the ball, the personal foul penalty sending Wisconsin down to the 3.
7:49: Clay for zero.
7:50: Clay for two.
7:51: Clay for the touchdown, as the Badgers go up, 21-0. The drive is stunning, a 19-play, 89-yard march that takes 10:04 off the clock. The dominance of the Wisconsin offensive line is unquestioned. It will show itself again.
9:23: Believe it or not, the Wisconsin drive is not the longest drive of the night. When they need it in the fourth quarter, the Buckeyes answer with a 19-play, 94-yard drive that takes 9:56 off the clock. The offensive line isn't quite as dominating, but the Buckeyes hold their own, giving Terrelle Pryor time to throw and Dan Herron some room to run. The best thing either team can do at this point is keep the other offense off the field, but the Buckeyes after their touchdown and 2-point conversion cuts the Wisconsin lead to 21-18, have to kick it back to the Badgers. Those are the rules.
9:34: More pain. This doesn't take 10 minutes, but is long enough to finish off the Buckeyes. Wisconsin stomps 73 yards in 10 plays and takes a 28-18 lead on a James White 12-yard touchdown run, the drive taking up 4:36.
9:45: Late in the fourth quarter Wisconsin's John Clay picks up five yards. It puts him over 100 yards on the night, making him the first running back in 30 games to gain 100 yards against Ohio State. It seems like he gained even more.
Because when the Badgers wanted to run, they ran.