TreVeyon Henderson's big day leads Ohio State to victory. (Photo by Ohio State Athletics)
Game 8 at Wisconsin View From the Couch (10/28/23)
Favorite Stat of the Game: Henderson and Harrison’s powers combined.
Together Marvin Harrison Jr. and TreVeyon Henderson had 330 of Ohio State Buckeyes’ 407 yards and 18 of their 24 points. With the Ohio State offense being so unpredictable this year with a new quarterback and three new offensive linemen, Ryan Day has come up with a reliable strategy. Run your offense through your Heisman candidate wide receiver and explosive, fast running back.
The Brooklyn Dagger Award: Henderson’s fourth-quarter touchdown.
This was not only the clincher but my favorite moment of the game. Wisconsin was still fighting and in this game until Henderson ripped off a 33-yard touchdown which showcased his vision, elusiveness, and speed. On behalf of Ohio State fans everywhere, welcome back #32.
Bouncing back from an injury against Notre Dame gets Henderson the Taylor Decker Award. He had 24 carries for 162 yards and that touchdown on the ground and contributed in the passing game with four catches for 45 yards and helped in pass protection at times too.
Henderson got back into his freshman season form when he had over 1,500 total yards and 19 total touchdowns. His style of play reminds me of Archie Griffin and Henderson seems to also have Archie’s class, humility, and determination.
Dwayne Haskins Player of the Game: Marvin Harrison Jr.
Maserati Marv, MarvHIM, Marvelous Marv, Marvin Harrison Jr., all the nicknames, and he just keeps dominating. He never seems to get down in even body language and demeanor. There are times when this offense sputters even when he is smoking his opponents but he never balks. He just keeps working hard and carrying this team.
The 2014 Ohio State team was really good on offense but what they thrived at on offense was knocking the other team on their heels. That’s what Harrison routinely does. He opens things up for the rest of the team. It seems every game, he gets going and then another star player does too because the defense is so worried about #18. His second touchdown was the 2014 Moment and opened things up and led to Henderson’s game-clinching touchdown run.
Chase Young Defensive Player of the Game: Tyleik Williams.
Tyleik Williams has been the most dominant player on this elite defense this year. He’s making an impact in every game and in every defensive facet. Williams had four tackles, two tackles for a loss, a sack, and a pass broken up. For the season he has 33 tackles, eight tackles for a loss, two sacks, five passes broken up, one quarterback hurry, and one fumble recovery. Enjoy him for the rest of this season Buckeye Nation. Next year he’ll be in the NFL.
Ryan Shazier–Devin Smith Award: Jordan Hancock
Hancock is a junior but still a bit of a newcomer on the defense. He’s been playing great as the other corner opposite Denzel Burke. He’s a sure tackler and covers his assignments well. He had four tackles, a sack, and a tackle for a loss in the Ohio State win over Wisconsin.
Dane Sanzenbacher–K.J. Hill Award: The Buckeye secondary.
The whole secondary has been the best unit of the defense this season. Burke, Hancock, freshman Jermaine Matthews at corner, and Josh Proctor, Sonny Styles, and Lathan Ransom at safety have been so good and so reliable. They have quietly done their jobs and given the linemen and linebackers help to overcome some of their struggles. Perry Eliano, Tim Walton, and Jim Knowles have to be very happy with their defensive backs.
Fedora Award and the Looking Glass. The quarterback and the offensive line.
These guys don’t have it easy in trying to replace C.J. Stroud, Paris Johnson, Dawand Jones, and Luke Wypler. Three of the four are starting in the NFL as rookies. It’s not realistic to expect Kyle McCord, Josh Simmons, and Josh Fryar to fill their shoes without missing a beat. But there should be some improvement from week one to now and it’s a mixed bag.
The glass is half full with Simmons. He’s shown improvement from the first game. He still needs to take care of problems with false starts, but as an offensive lineman, he has grown and improved.
I can’t say it’s half empty with McCord and Fryar but it is still a mixed bag at best. McCord shows improvement in decision making like on his scramble for a first down and throws like this touchdown passes to Harrison. But also has three turnovers in the first half. You do that in games after Thanksgiving and you’ll lose the biggest games of the year.
The play above though causes concern. This play not only shows McCord missing Harrison wide open down the middle for a touchdown but worse it shows the continuation of a problem McCord and Fryar have had all year. Fryar has had trouble with speed rushers like in this play, but McCord’s struggles with pocket awareness haven’t helped his offensive linemen. On this play, Fryar gets beat but McCord could bail him out by taking a step up and hitting Harrison.
Problems like these aren’t reasons to bail on these guys. They’re playing their hearts out. They’ve played well enough for Ohio State to be 8-0. But these things need to be fixed and now. It’s concerning they’ve been a problem this long and it will bite them hard at some point if it’s not cleaned up. Particularly on November 25th and beyond.
Sweater Vest Award: Jayden Fielding and Jesse Mirco
These two just keep delivering with solid play. Fielding was perfect on extra points and nailed his only field goal while Mirco put three of his four punts inside the 20-yard line.
Coaching Moments of the Game
One area of concern that left me scratching my head was that all-Big Ten tight end Cade Stover didn’t have a catch and then learned he wasn’t even targeted. I understand there is only one football but it’s a little surprising to see Stover without a catch.
Woody Hayes with his horn-rimmed glasses said you win with people and I feel like that’s the good thing Coach Day and his staff is doing. They’re letting their stars carry them. And whether it’s Jim Otis in 1968 or TreVeyon Henderson in 2023, it’s a solid strategy for Ohio State.
2002 Moment: The goal line stand before the half.
When Wisconsin got first and goal to go at the one-yard line I thought they were scoring. With big stops coming from J.T. Tuimoloau and Tommy Eichenberg they held the Badgers to three and changed the temperament of the game. That’s old school, 1968 football. Moments like that build foundations for championship football.
