INDIANAPOLIS — Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett rallied No. 8 Ohio State to a 27-21 victory over previously unbeaten No. 3 Wisconsin in Saturday's Big Ten championship game. Barrett threw two touchdown passes, ran for another and had a crucial fourth-down conversion late in the game to hand the Badgers their first loss during a historic season.
The heartbreaking result ends the Badgers' College Football Playoff hopes, but the season's not over yet as UW now awaits Sunday's bowl announcements for its next game destination.
The Buckeyes built a 21-7 lead into the second quarter lead by Barrett and J.K. Dobbins. The Badgers' stalwart defense kept them in the game and were rewarded with an ill-advised pass by Barrett near his goal line in the first quarter as Wisconsin's
Andrew Van Ginkel snagged a pick-six with a nine-yard run. Van Ginkel later forced and recovered a fumble that set up a field goal. Wisconsin closed the deficit to 21-10 at the half and 21-13 early in the third quarter.
The Badgers offense finally broke through early in the fourth by capping a 52-yard drive with a Chris James' 1-yard TD run and a 2-point conversion pass from Alex Hornibrook to Troy Fumagalli after a 10-minute delay to repair the field after the turf seams separated. That cut the deficit to 24-21 with 12:39 to go. Barrett's fourth-and-1 conversion on the next series set up a short field goal, and the Badgers couldn't rally on their final two possessions to save the perfect season.
Fumagalli finished the game with 5 catches for 45 yards, while Danny Davis added 3 receptions for 50 yards.
Wisconsin started the game as the only team in the nation that hadn't trailed in the fourth quarter. That streak ended when the Badgers opened the fourth down 24-13. Jonathan Taylor's streak of four straight 100-yard games also ended Saturday. The Big Ten rushing champ was held to 41 yards on 15 carries and failed to score for the fourth time this season.
Both teams now await Sunday's postseason playoff and bowl announcement.
The AP contributed to this article.
