MADISON, Wis. — Ohio State is one and done as No. 1.
John Clay ran for 104 yards and two touchdowns, and James White darted in for the clinching score in the fourth quarter as No. 18 Wisconsin took down top-ranked Ohio State 31-18 on Saturday night.
For the second week in a row, there will be a new No. 1, with the Buckeyes (6-1, 2-1 Big Ten) falling the way Alabama was beaten last week — on the road and in conference.
Wisconsin hadn’t defeated a No. 1 team since 1981, when the Badgers knocked off Michigan 21-14.
This one felt like an upset right from the start.
David Gilreath returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, and the Badgers (6-1, 2-1) proceeded to run over the Buckeyes in the first half, taking a 21-3 lead into the break behind Clay and his blockers.
“I challenged our offensive line at the beginning of the week,” Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema said. “If we’re going to have success, it starts with you guys.”
Terrelle Pryor, who threw for 156 yards and ran for another 56, guided Ohio State on two long scoring drives in the second half, and Dan Herron capped them both with touchdowns to cut the Wisconsin lead to 21-18 with 11:38 left in the fourth.
But the Badgers responded with another long touchdown drive, then added a field goal.
And now No. 1 is up for grabs again — just in time for the BCS standings to make their season debut today.
Wisconsin broke a three-game losing streak to the Buckeyes in easily the biggest victory since Bielema took over the program from Barry Alavrez five years ago. Bielema had been 0-4 against top-10 teams.
The Badgers’ fans poured onto the field despite pleas from the PA announcer that it wasn’t safe. They seemed to make it down OK, covering the field and some grabbing a seat on the goalposts.
For Ohio State, its national title hopes are in critical condition after a third straight loss as the No. 1 team in the country. The last two came in the 2007 season, to Illinois in the regular season and in the BCS title game to LSU.
