Wisconsin Has the Answers for Ohio State

Ohio State Coach John Cooper could only shake his head.

“Guys, it’s been a long time since we’ve been physically whipped like that in a game,” Cooper said.

Thirty-two years, to be exact.

Ron Dayne rumbled for four second-half touchdowns as Wisconsin roared back from a 17-0 deficit Saturday to beat 12th-ranked Ohio State, 42-17, at Columbus, Ohio. It was the Buckeyes’ worst loss at Ohio Stadium since a 41-6 defeat against Purdue on Oct. 14, 1967.

“That was a good old-fashioned butt-kicking,” Cooper said. “I’m embarrassed by the way we played in the second half. We didn’t do anything right.”

Defense and Dayne did the damage.

The Badgers, 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the Big Ten, didn’t score on their first four possessions, then rattled off 42 consecutive points by scoring the next eight times they had the ball. Meanwhile, the Buckeyes (3-2, 0-1) didn’t get closer than the Wisconsin 32 in the last 40 minutes.

“We challenged the guys to stiffen up,” Wisconsin Coach Barry Alvarez said of his defense. “The kids made plays and kept the ball away from Ohio State.”

Dayne managed only 36 yards in 11 attempts in the first half, but finished with 161 yards in 32 carries. He had touchdown runs of one, two, three and 11 yards and set up Eddie Faulkner’s one-yard scoring dive with a 46-yard run through the heart of Ohio State’s defense late in the fourth quarter.

“I don’t go out to prove something,” Dayne said. “I just go out and play hard.”

Dayne moved into the No. 4 spot in NCAA Division I rushing with 5,336 yards, passing Ohio State’s Archie Griffin (5,177) and Georgia’s Herschel Walker (5,259). Dayne needs 944 yards to pass the major-college mark of 6,279 yards set a year ago by Texas’ Ricky Williams.

Wisconsin’s defense dominated Ohio State in the second half. The Buckeyes picked up only 113 yards after halftime while the Badgers gained 292.

There was no dispute about when the momentum shifted.

Michael Wiley, who lost a fumble at the goal line early in the game, fumbled the second-half kickoff when hit by Ryan Marks, with Wisconsin’s Bobby Myers recovering at the Ohio State 14. Three plays later, Dayne scored on a three-yard run and the tables turned.

“Seeing that come out was a big turning point,” Myers said of the fumble.

Dayne said, “The turnover on the kickoff got it started.”

No. 14 Michigan State 49, Iowa 3--Bill Burke threw four touchdown passes and Plaxico Burress caught three scoring strikes in the first half to lead the Spartans to a rout of the Hawkeyes at East Lansing, Mich.

Michigan State (5-0, 2-0) moved almost at will against Iowa, building a 35-0 halftime teal with balanced ground and passing games. Iowa (1-3, 0-1) had little luck moving the ball against the Spartans, who have not given up a touchdown on the ground this season.

The game was over by halftime, by which time Michigan State already had begun substituting. Michigan State held a 345-26 edge in yardage and a 19-1 margin in first downs.

Minnesota 33, Northwestern 14--So what if the opponents have been less than fearsome. Minnesota is still unbeaten, putting the Golden Gophers (4-0, 1-0) right up there with conference powerhouses Michigan and Penn State.

Thomas Hamner scored two touchdowns, Billy Cockerham threw for 222 yards and the Minnesota defense stifled Northwestern at Evanston, Ill.

The Golden Gophers are 4-0 for the first time since 1987. It’s also their first victory in a Big Ten opener on the road since 1990. Northwestern is 2-3, 0-1.

Indiana 34, Illinois 31--Antwaan Randle El ran for three touchdowns and threw a 25-yard touchdown pass on Indiana’s first offensive play in overtime, giving the Hoosiers a dramatic victory over Illinois at Bloomington, Ind.

Indiana (2-3, 1-1) overcame a 28-7 deficit to send the game into overtime. Illinois (3-2, 0-2) got the ball first in the extra period and settled for a 36-yard field goal by Neil Rackers after Adewale Ogunleye sacked Kurt Kittner for a four-yard loss on third down.

Randle El, who had a career-high 157 yards rushing and passed for 265, then dropped back and hit Levron Williams in the corner of the end zone.