“It is amazing, the opportunity that we have”: UW wants to flip the script vs. Ohio State in the Big Ten title game

MADISON – Wisconsin’s roster is laden with players who experienced the pain of losing to Ohio State in the 2017 Big Ten title game.

UW was 12-0 and ranked No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings. A victory over the No. 8 Buckeyes would have given the Badgers their first Big Ten title since 2012 and a spot in the four-team playoff.

The 27-21 loss at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis left the Badgers wanting more and sent them to the Orange Bowl to face Miami.

No current UW player feels the pain of that loss more than wide receiver Quintez Cephus.

Then a sophomore, Cephus had suffered a broken leg four weeks earlier in a victory over Indiana. Cephus could only watch from the sideline, his right leg in a cast, and wonder if he could have made a play or two to help UW prevail.

“I really wanted to be on the field with those  guys,” Cephus said. “It was a great environment. … But I couldn’t, so all I could do was cheer on my teammates.”

Two years later, Cephus is healthy and once more is UW’s best wide receiver with 45 catches for 720 yards and six touchdowns. He is eager to get another shot at No. 1 Ohio State (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten) in the 2019 title game at 7 p.m. Saturday in Indianapolis.

“It is a great opportunity to face the level of athletes that they have,” Cephus said. “Going onto that type of stage is a great thing for any of us.

“It is the Big Ten championship and that is where we worked to be.

“It is amazing, the opportunity that we have.”

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Most analysts believe UW (10-2, 7-2) has nothing more than the opportunity to lose to the Buckeyes for the second time this season.

Ohio State is a 17-point favorite, on a neutral field. Ohio State was a 14-point favorite when the teams met Oct. 26 in Columbus and the Buckeyes routed UW, 38-7.

“They did everything to win the game,” said UW coach Paul Chryst, who is 0-2 in Big Ten title games. “What stands out to me is that they made plays when it mattered most.

“Offensively, we really didn’t get a lot going. And defensively … they’ve got a lot of weapons and they played well.

“It’s a really, really good football team.”

UW’s players understand the challenge.

Ohio State limited UW to nine first downs, 83 rushing yards and 191 total yards on 51 plays in its victory in October.

Quarterback Jack Coan was under siege almost every time he looked to pass. He was sacked five times for a combined 36 yards and completed 10 of 17 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown.

Tailback Jonathan Taylor entered the day having rushed for at least 100 yards in six of UW's seven games. He was averaging 136.7 yards per game. Taylor averaged 2.6 yards per carry and finished with a season-low 52 yards on 20 carries. His long run was 14 yards. He gained a combined 38 yards on his other 19 carries.

“It’s a really, really talented defense,” Chryst said, “and I think they’ve done a great job in coaching it, giving them a plan that plays to their strengths.

“You try to study it and put together a plan that gives your players a chance but you still have to then go out and execute.”

UW’s defense was stout early. The Buckeyes were held to a total of 44 yards on their first three possessions, an average of 2.8 per play.

Ohio State then scored twice in the final 6 minutes 52 seconds of the half. Blake Haubeil capped a 41-yard drive with a 49-yard field goal, and Justin Fields found Chris Olave for a 27-yard touchdown to cap an 85-yard drive to help the Buckeyes take a 10-0 halftime lead.

UW’s defense opened the third quarter by recording a three and out and the offense parlayed a blocked punt into a 30-yard touchdown drive.

From that point, however, Ohio State’s offense dominated and UW’s defense withered. The Buckeyes scored touchdowns on their next four possessions – with drives of 75, 53, 55 and 45.

Fields overcame five sacks to pass for 167 yards and two scores. Tailback J.K. Dobbins, given wide running lanes by his linemen and tight ends, averaged 8.2 yards per carry and finished with 163 yards and two touchdowns. He added 58 yards on three receptions.

Senior linebacker Zack Baun, who had one sack and 10 tackles in the loss, made it clear after UW’s victory over Minnesota that the Big Ten title game afforded the Badgers a chance to show they have improved since that first meeting.

“I’m excited,” Baun said. “It is another opportunity. We got to play for another opportunity (today) and now we’re playing for more.”

For a title. 

"We’ve got unfinished business," tailback Garrett Groshek said. "We’re just excited for the challenge."