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Ohio State returns home to face Wisconsin

Nov 3, 2007 - 10:45 AM Wisconsin (7-2) at No. 1 Ohio St (9-0) 12:00 pm EDT

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- Todd Boeckman and Ohio State are in the homestretch now.

After an impressive road win, Boeckman and the top-ranked Buckeyes look to move a step closer to a second straight berth in the national championship game when they host Big Ten Conference rival Wisconsin on Saturday.

A fifth-year junior, Boeckman passed for 253 yards and three touchdowns as the Buckeyes cruised past then-No. 24 Penn State in State College last weekend, 37-17.

Chris Wells rushed for 133 yards for Ohio State (9-0, 5-0 Big Ten), which was not expected to contend for the national title this year after the departures of Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Troy Smith, star receivers Ted Ginn Jr. and Anthony Gonzalez and running back Antonio Pittman.

Wisconsin (7-2, 3-2) has won its last two games by a combined 77-6 margin after losing consecutive contests at Illinois and Penn State.

Last Saturday, the Badgers crushed Indiana, 33-3, behind a pair of TD runs from backup tailback Lance Smith. Starter P.J. Hill left the contest in the first quarter with a lower-leg injury.

The teams have not played since 2004, when Wisconsin registered a 24-13 victory here. The Badgers have won the last two meetings since a 19-14 loss in Madison in 2002.