Buckeyes face a tough test

Associated Press

COLUMBUS

The Ohio State Buckeyes have waltzed through their first six opponents on the way to becoming No. 1.

With a game on Saturday at No. 18 Wisconsin, staying there will be much harder.

“It’s good to be No. 1, but if we don’t play like it every week, then all the hype will be for naught,” linebacker Brian Rolle said.

Not everyone believes the Buckeyes deserve to be No. 1. Critics point out that by the middle of October, the Buckeyes have played exactly one game away from their home stadium. Also, they haven’t tackled anyone currently ranked in the Associated Press Top 25. (Miami was 12th at the time they lost in Columbus to the Buckeyes, but has since plummeted out of sight.)

At the same time, Ohio State fans are up in arms that mock Bowl Championship Series rankings a week before the first BCS list is released has the Buckeyes fifth. That is due to being downgraded by computers that take a dim view of the Buckeyes’ (lack of) strength of schedule (Marshall, Ohio, Eastern Michigan, Illinois, Indiana and Miami) and drop them way down below the TCUs and Boise States of the world in that category.

But a lot of the questions and doubts about Ohio State (6-0, 2-0 Big Ten) and its rise to the top spot in the polls should be answered this week when the Buckeyes head for Madison, Wis.

The Badgers (5-1, 1-1) are good and particularly good at home. They’ve gone 40-4 at Camp Randall Stadium since the start of the 2004 season. What’s more, the game is at night, allowing an already rambunctious student section to get even more fired up for the big showdown. The Badgers have won 25 of their last 28 night games.

Linebacker Ross Homan said, “Playing there is so tough. You have to battle through a lot.”

An environment like that intimidates some opponents and energizes others.

“I remember we went to Wisconsin my sophomore year,” Rolle said, reflecting on the 2008 game. “It was ridiculous. I believe that student section is the best in the country.”

The product on the field isn’t bad, either.

Led by senior quarterback Scott Tolzien and tailbacks John Clay and James White, the Badgers are physical and tough and rank fourth in he Big Ten in total offense at 450 yards per game. It’ll be a huge test for Ohio State’s defense in particular.

“They know what they’re heading into,” Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said.

Buckeyes quarterback Terrelle Pryor shared Big Ten offensive player of the week honors with Clay, passing for a career-high 334 yards (24 of 30, 3 TDs) in a 38-10 rout of Indiana. Wisconsin is a red-letter game for him and his teammates.

“Without a doubt,” he said. “It’s always circled on the calendar — especially when it’s at Camp Randall.”