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Ohio State survives OT in Wisconsin, stays perfect

Nov 18, 2012 - 8:50 AM Madison, WI (Sports Network) - Carlos Hyde rushed for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns, including a go-ahead 2-yard score in overtime to keep Ohio State's undefeated season alive, as the sixth-ranked Buckeyes held off the Wisconsin Badgers, 21-14, at Camp Randall Stadium.

Braxton Miller completed 10-of-18 passes for 97 yards and added 48 rushing yards on 23 carries to help Ohio State (11-0, 7-0 Big Ten) claim the Leaders Division title.

Unfortunately for the Buckeyes, they can not play for the Big Ten championship, or go to a bowl game for that matter, as they are ineligible due to NCAA sanctions.

Wisconsin running back Montee Ball carried the ball 39 times for 191 yards and a score, giving him 78 career rushing touchdowns to move into a tie with former Miami-Ohio star Travis Prentice for the most career rushing touchdowns in NCAA history.

Curt Phillips threw for 154 yards and one touchdown on 14-of-25 efficiency for the Badgers (7-4, 4-3), who've already clinched a berth in the Big Ten title tilt for the second straight season thanks to Ohio State's and Penn State's ineligibility.

With Wisconsin trailing 14-7 in the fourth, Ball seemed primed to break Prentice's mark as the Badgers moved inside the Ohio State 5.

After Ball was stopped for a 1-yard gain on 3rd-and-2 from the OSU 3, the Badgers went back to their work horse on 4th-and-1.

Ball took the handoff and leaped over the line, but as he tried to stretch the ball across the goal line, Ryan Shazier knocked it loose and Christian Bryant recovered the fumble to give possession back to the Buckeyes.

A quick three-and-out from the Buckeyes gave possession back to the Badgers at the OSU 41 with 1:33 still to play.

John Simon sacked Phillips on the Badgers' first play, but on 4th-and-3, Phillips hit Jared Abbrederis over the middle for 14 yards.

Phillips then hit Abbrederis for 11 more down to the OSU 5 and after a spike, Phillips found Jacob Pederson for a game-tying 5-yard touchdown pass with eight seconds remaining to send the game to overtime.

The Buckeyes needed just four plays to jump in front in the extra session, as Hyde broke free for 11 yards on the first play before capping the short series with a 2-yard plunge to force the Badgers to come up with a touchdown.

"We ran a play we haven't run all day with Carlos to the edge, their focus was all over Braxton Miller and rightfully so," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said. "As we grow as a team, we have to stretch. I can't stand watching it and I'm sure people don't stand watching it when we just don't have the vertical threat, we have to do that."

Wisconsin was unable to score on its lone touch of overtime, as Phillips' 4th- and-6 pass was knocked away by Bryant and the Buckeyes escaped with the victory.

"It was extremely disappointing," Phillips said. "There was no doubt in my mind that we were going to score there; it was the same as a two-minute drive. I thought we left some plays on the field that we definitely should have made."

Earlier in the game, the Buckeyes got a big play from their special teams unit to take a 7-0 lead, as Corey Brown fielded a punt at the Ohio State 32 and carried into 68 yards to the end zone to give the visitors a 7-0 lead with 1:58 left in the first.

The Buckeyes then forced a three-and-out from Wisconsin and Miller led Ohio State into Wisconsin's red zone before Hyde capped the 8-play, 69-yard scoring drive with a 15-yard touchdown surge to press the margin to 14-0 with 11:27 left in the second.

Wisconsin answered quickly, as Ball rushed four straight times for a total of 38 yards to the Ohio State 44.

Four plays later, Ball tied the NCAA record for career touchdowns with a 7- yard TD run, as he broke through the line, hurdled a defender and leaned into the end zone to put the finishing touch on the 8-play, 82-yard drive and bring Wisconsin within 14-7 with 7:30 left until halftime.

The Badgers' deficit remained at seven to start the second half, and after Wisconsin punted on its opening possession, the home team put together a lengthy drive on their second touch.

Phillips kept the drive alive with an 8-yard toss to Kenzel Doe on 4th-and-4 from the Ohio State 25, but the Badgers were unable to capitalize on the 15- play trek, as Kyle French's 40-yard field goal missed wide left to keep the margin at 14-7 early in the fourth.

Game Notes

Ohio State closes out its season next Saturday when as the Buckeyes host Michigan ... The Badgers wrap up their regular season at Penn State next weekend ... Brown added four catches for 48 yards ... Wisconsin outgained Ohio State, 360-236.