Ryan Day barely finished a question about the run game before redirecting the room:
“Let’s talk about the defense,” Day ordered.
He wasn’t wrong. Ohio State’s Silver Bullets didn’t just travel to Wisconsin, they boarded the plane with a sledgehammer and left with a 34–0 road nuke, the program’s first road shutout since 2017 and their second goose egg of the season.
This was domination with receipts.
Wisconsin didn’t crack 100 total yards until its final drive against Ohio State’s second-teamers. Before that mercy-time march, the Badgers had 40 rushing yards at 1.7 per carry and were stuck in a 3-and-out loop.
They finished with season lows in total yards (144) and passing yards (49). When the ball did pop loose – literally – linebacker Sonny Styles pounced for his first career interception after a tipped pass, setting up points and setting the tone.
Arvell Reese, Caden Curry, and Kenyatta Jackson Jr. each notched a sack, Caleb Downs led with six tackles, and the backups slammed the door with style: Faheem Delane’s third-down tackle for loss, Eddrick Houston’s heat forcing a hurried throw, and Aaron Scott Jr.’s emphatic stop on fourth down to protect the bagel.
Through seven games and 28 quarters, the numbers are getting silly.
READ MORE: Julian Sayin Slices Badgers as Buckeyes Pitch Second Straight Shutout Statement
Ohio State is allowing 5.86 points per game, territory no FBS defense has touched since 2000. That’s not “best in the country right now” good. That’s “check the record books” good. Day’s postgame message matched the edge on the field: Don’t get used to shutouts, they happen because of relentless work, process, and a unit playing for each other.
Wisconsin’s offense has issues, sure, but Ohio State didn’t just handle a wounded unit – it erased it. Three road games in four weeks, zero excuses, zero points allowed. If the Buckeyes keep upgrading out of the bye, this defense isn’t just elite. It’s building a legacy.
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