When looking at Wisconsin’s schedule during the preseason, everyone in Madison circled the home game against Ohio State as the most important game of the season. In the preseason, both teams were ranked in the top 15, and National Championship hopes were running high for both squads.

One reason this game is so highly anticipated is because of the great offense vs. defense talent matchups that will be on display. Like most years, Ohio State is once again the breeding ground for NFL talent, especially on defense. To say Ohio State’s defense is talented is an understatement. Their defense is comprised of what many consider the most NFL-ready players in college football.

Although the defense has many award winners, the two players that people will most likely be keeping their eyes on are Butkus Award winner and senior linebacker James Laurinaitis and All-American senior cornerback Malcolm Jenkins. These players are the cream of the crop at their respective positions and many consider them the reason why Ohio State had National Championship aspirations coming into the season. Many teams get chills down their spines just by looking at the power Ohio State’s defense has to offer. That does not include the Badgers, though. That is not to say the Badgers do not respect the talent on Ohio State defense, they just will not be surprised the challenge that awaits them.

“They’ve got a great defense, and they’re just going to bring what they bring every week” senior offensive lineman Kraig Urbik said. “They’re not going to change anything up for us.” Wisconsin has the confidence to beat Ohio State because they have enough talent on offense to counter the power of what many consider to be the best defense in college football.

It all begins with Wisconsin’s own top talent, senior tight end Travis Beckum. The team hopes Beckum is well-rested coming into this weekend’s matchup after being unable to play most of this season due to a lingering hamstring injury. Beckum began the season by sitting out two blowout victories over opponents Akron and Marshall. During the third game of the season, however, Beckum was finally used and was a key factor in Wisconsin’s 13–10 victory against Fresno State. Unfortunately, Beckum was held out for the majority of the loss to Michigan due to the injury.

Last week’s loss to Michigan is one of the reasons that the match-up of Wisconsin’s offense against Ohio State’s defense comes into such an important focus. Many of the Wisconsin players are still feeling the lingering effects of the Michigan loss and understand that a win over Ohio State is a necessary step forward if the season is to be salvaged. “If we let this loss to Michigan define who we are, give us any sort of identity, then it will beat us in the end,” said senior fullback Chris Pressley. “We have to make sure we rally around each other and say, ‘Look, we have a whole lot more to play for.’”