Taylor has one more chance to break record
INDIANAPOLIS – Wisconsin’s Jonathan Taylor has one more chance to set the FBS record for rushing yards in a single season by a freshman.
However, based on UW's inability to run the ball in the Big Ten title game there is no guarantee Taylor will get the necessary yardage in the bowl game.
Taylor entered the title game against Ohio State with 1,806 yards in 12 games, an average of 150.5 yards per game.
That was 120 yards behind Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 1,925 yards at Oklahoma in 2004.
Taylor's season-low mark was 73 yards, on just 12 carries, at Illinois. He did not play in the second half because he aggravated a left-ankle injury early.
Ohio State controlled the line of scrimmage Saturday and held Taylor to a season-low 41 yards on 15 carries. His long run was 7 yards.
Taylor remains third on the list. Former UW tailback Ron Dayne is No. 2 with 1,863 yards in 1996, but only because the NCAA decided not to include bowl game statistics before the 2002 season.
“I’ve loved the way that Jonathan has gone about this whole season,” UW coach Paul Chryst said before the game. “I’ve loved the way that he’s approached every new experience that he's gone through this year."
Living on the edge: Redshirt junior offensive lineman Michael Deiter made his 40th start Saturday night, including his 13th at left tackle.
Deiter, who started 16 games at center and 11 at left guard in his first two seasons, had been solid at left tackle this season.
He had his hands full with Ohio State sophomore end Nick Bosa, the 2017 Big Ten defensive lineman of the year.
Bosa, 6-foot-4 and 270 pounds, finished with a sack and two tackles for loss in the title game. He leads the Buckeyes in sacks (seven), tackles for loss (141⁄2) and hurries (eight).
Deiter was also called for two penalties. A false-start call left UW in a third-and-10 hole from the Ohio State 11 in the third quarter. UW failed to convert the third-down play and settled for a field goal to pull within 24-13.
Then on UW's final drive of the game, Deiter was called for holding. The officials missed a pass-interference call, which would have resulted in offsetting penalties, but the holding call left UW facing first and 20 from its 47.
Quarterback Alex Hornibrook threw three consecutive incompletions. His fourth-down throw was intercepted and the Buckeyes took over at their 29 with 1 minute 9 seconds left and UW out of timeouts.
“Michael's been great,” Chryst said before the game. “And he's an unbelievable worker. He enjoys playing. He enjoys being with the guys. He brings great energy.
“He’s a guy that will do anything for this team and I think he's playing at a really good level. He’s a good football player, great teammate. I think he’s a leader on this team.”
How would Deiter assess his play on the outside?
“It was not as hard as I thought but it was not easy,” he said before the game. “I think I’ve done well, but I wouldn’t say that it was fantastic or that I’ve arrived at left tackle or anything like that."
Extra points: UW entered the title game with a Big Ten-best 37 sacks. That included 17 in the previous five games – five at Illinois, four at Indiana, four against Iowa, two against Michigan and two at Minnesota. The Badgers didn't record a sack against the Buckeyes. They did have three quarterback hurries, including three by end Alec James. ...
The East Division improved to 4-0 in the title game since the divisions were realigned geographically after the 2013 season. Ohio State routed UW, 59-0, in 2014; Michigan State defeated Iowa, 16-13, in 2015; and Penn State defeated UW, 38-31, last season; and the Buckeyes prevailed, 27-21, Saturday. …
Including an 11-6 edge Saturday, UW has outscored opponents, 237-64, in the second half of games this season.