Badgers and Buckeyes Clash in Big Ten Tilt – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/29/1999 12:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 29, 1999
By BRIAN OREFICE
AP MegaSports Writer
Wisconsin and Ohio State would each tell you that there are few things worse than having to play Cincinnati. Having to take on each other, however, might be one of them.
The 12th-ranked Buckeyes, coming off a win against the Bearcats in which they found themselves outplayed for most of the game, play host to a Badgers team Saturday afternoon that was upset by Cincinnati two weeks ago.
While the Bearcats were giving Ohio State (3-1, 0,0) all it could handle in an eventual 34-20 loss last week, Michigan put the clamps on Wisconsin tailback Ron Dayne, holding the senior to zero second-half yards in a 22-16 win.
The Buckeyes defense will have to match that type of effort if they are to be successful this week.
“We are not happy with the way we are playing,” said Ohio State coach John Cooper, whose team struggled against lightweight Ohio prior to its win over Cincinnati.
“We need to step it up, especially against Wisconsin this week. They are a strong team and will run the ball down our throat. To win, we will have to stop Ron Dayne.”
Dayne, the Big Ten’s career rushing leader, totaled 88 yards against Michigan, leaving him with 5,175. With three more yards, he will crack the NCAA’s Top 5.
The Badgers (2-2, 0-1) are No. 1 in the conference in rushing while Ohio State is ninth in the Big Ten in rush defense.
“You always have to be a step ahead of Ron Dayne. … We want to stop him in that first half and keep that momentum throughout the game,” said Buckeyes cornerback Ahmed Plummer.
Ohio State has some weapons of its own in running back Michael Wiley and wide receiver Ken-Yon Rambo. Rambo caught three passes for 164 yards a week ago and has 345 yards in his last two games.
The league rivals will be meeting for the first time since 1996, when the Buckeyes took a 17-14 decision. Ohio State leads the series 48-13-5 and has won the last three meetings.
Wisconsin trails the series at Columbus 4-27-3.
