MADISON, Wis. - The highly-anticipated matchup between the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes (7-0, 4-0) and the Wisconsin Badgers (5-2, 3-1) is set to take place at Camp Randall Stadium for the first time since 2016. With Ohio State leading the series 62-18-5, the Badgers are aiming to halt their opponent's impressive nine-game winning streak.

The Buckeyes' dominance over the Badgers is evident, with their last meeting resulting in an embarrassing 52-21 loss for Wisconsin. The defeat, which occurred in Columbus last season, left a lasting impact on the Badgers and served as a motivation for this year's matchup.

"I think it left a bad taste in our mouths," stated sophomore cornerback Ricardo Hallman. "We got embarrassed on national television. I think that's something this team never forgot. We have to play way better than we did last year.”

While Ohio State has been victorious in recent matchups, the games held in Madison have been notably competitive. In fact, five of the last six meetings at Camp Randall Stadium have been decided by a single score. The Badgers will be relying on a highly energetic home crowd and the atmosphere of a night game to give them an edge.

OSU head coach Ryan Day acknowledged the challenging environment they will face, stating, "Night game, it's Halloween weekend, it's gonna be rocking. We know that."

Wisconsin's recent history against ranked opponents has been less favorable, having only won two out of their last ten games against such teams. Additionally, the Badgers haven't defeated a top-three ranked opponent since their 2010 victory over Ohio State.

The spotlight will be on Wisconsin's defense, as they seek redemption for their lackluster performance against the Buckeyes in 2022. Last season, Ohio State effortlessly moved the ball, amassing 539 yards and scoring on their first five drives of the first half. The Badgers' defensive unit aims to execute better and live up to their standards this time around.

On the offensive side, Wisconsin's redshirt freshman quarterback, Braedyn Locke, will face a formidable challenge against an OSU defense that ranks in the top 10 nationally in total defense, passing defense, and scoring defense. Locke impressed during the last game, engineering the game-winning drive against Illinois, but he will need to elevate his performance against a resilient Buckeyes defense.

To secure a victory, Wisconsin will need momentum-changing plays and a disruptive defense to force crucial mistakes from Ohio State. However, the Buckeyes have been consistently disciplined, committing just one turnover per game this season. The Badgers' front seven will need to wreak havoc and create turnovers to increase their chances of success.

Despite Wisconsin potentially having several advantages, such as a home crowd and Ohio State coming off a physical battle against Penn State, the historical dominance of the Buckeyes suggests they will not underestimate the challenge at hand. Under the leadership of Ryan Day and Urban Meyer, Ohio State has never overlooked Wisconsin as an opponent.

With the newfound optimism surrounding the Badgers, there remains an inner belief that they can upset Ohio State. However, the combination of a strong Buckeye offense and a questionable Wisconsin offense may prove too challenging for the underdog Badgers.

Ultimately, the odds appear to be in Ohio State's favor as they seek to continue their winning streak against Wisconsin. The game is poised to be a thrilling contest in front of a passionate crowd under the lights at Camp Randall Stadium.