Buckeyes have night assignment

Terrelle Pryor faces a test in Ohio State’s first trip to Madison, Wis., since 2003.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Chris “Beanie” Wells cracks up in the huddle when freshman quarterback Terrelle Pryor eagerly tries to describe each play before Ohio State runs it.

“It’s funny, Terrelle always has to look back and explain the full play,” said Wells, who pesters Pryor about the habit. “I just know it comes with being a new guy.”

No. 14 Ohio State (4-1, 1-0 Big Ten) is having fun again after being crushed by Southern California, with its dynamic backfield of Wells and Pryor providing plenty to get excited about.

“I don’t think we’re looking forward to redemption, we’re just trying to go out there and get better,” said Wells, the hobbled running back who’ll wear a lineman’s shoe to protect his injured foot.

Wells is expected to play against No. 18 Wisconsin (3-1, 0-1) after gaining 169 yards and scoring three times in last year’s 38-17 victory. The winner of tonight’s showdown can keep big bowl hopes afloat and feel much better near the season’s halfway point.

Both teams have had embarrassing low points already.

Ohio State needs to win at night on the road to forget the 35-3 rout at the hands of USC Sept. 13.

Wisconsin needs to move on after squandering a 19-0 lead in a 27-25 loss at Michigan last Saturday in what was supposed to be the Badgers’ coming out party.

Instead of kicking off a BCS push, Wisconsin will again be pushing to change the perception that it’s a notch below Ohio State.

“Nobody likes to lose. But it happened and we can learn from it,” said running back P.J. Hill, who is averaging 4.9 yards per carry with four touchdowns but missed last year’s game with the Buckeyes.

With a 3-2 record, Wisconsin is the only team in the conference to own a winning record against Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel. And the Badgers thrive at night, winning 21 of the last 22, including all six since coach Bret Bielema joined the staff.

“Any time you play the game that you did [at Michigan] and have it end the way they did, they’re going to be excited to play anywhere,” said Bielema, who has a 16-game home winning streak. “To have it be in Camp Randall, to have it be at night, to be in an environment that they’ve had a lot of success in, I’m sure makes them all feel better, including the head coach.”

But they’ll face an evolving Ohio State offense ever since Pryor took over two weeks ago.

In a 34-21 win against Minnesota Prior ran for a 33-yard TD and threw for another. He gets his first road test in Ohio State’s first trip to Madison since 2003.

“He doesn’t play like a freshman at all. Him being a freshman, to me is irrelevant. He’s the type of guy who’s going to go out there and perform and play hard no matter who we’re playing,” Wells said. “He’s a competitor and I love that in him. You really don’t find that too much in QBs. QBs are usually the laid back guys, just nice guys. Terrelle is a guy who’s going to get in your face, and I love that about him.”