Entering Week 8, the Ohio State Buckeyes remain one of only a handful of teams unbeaten in the nation. Ryan Day’s boys continue to roll after allowing just 6.8 points per game, proving to be the ultimate juggernauts. On the contrary, Wisconsin lost four straight games, including a 37-0 drubbing by Iowa. Now, with the weather update concerns looming, Mother Nature’s mood could affect the contest.

“Showers to our west will continue to dissipate as they approach southeast Wisconsin. We’ll have a better chance of these showers holding together later tonight and into tomorrow morning,” reported Brian Niznansky of TMJ4. Not just that, the weather forecast also predicted high-speed winds that would affect Ohio State’s passing game. Owing to this development, CBS Sports’ analyst Dave Biddle touted an upset possibility in Madison.

In CBS Sports’ 16th October podcast, Dave Biddle discussed Ohio State’s reliance on the passing game. He touted the rainy and windy conditions, giving trouble to Ohio State, which the Buckeyes and Julian Sayin haven’t faced yet in 2025. “It could be the great equalizer when you look at this matchup because Ohio State can run the ball pretty well. But they definitely throw the ball better. They’ve had some issues here and there running the football,” said Dave Biddle about the weather forecast.

Dave Biddle’s take surely has a lot of evidence backing it up. For one, despite exceeding every expectation so far, Ohio State is 62nd nationally in the running offense. However, they are slightly better in their passing game, which is ranked 43rd nationally, notching up 260.8 yards per game. Could this then become a factor in Julian Sayin’s performance? Or will OSU limit Sayin in such a condition and rely more on their running game?

“The Buckeyes have not played in poor weather yet. Julian Sayin has not had to throw the ball in wet weather yet, so it’ll be very interesting to see how they combat that. And you have to feel like Wisconsin, they’re going to come in with nothing to lose. Luke Fickell, obviously a former Buckeye player-coach, was even an interim head coach for a year here in Columbus. So yeah, this could be the great equalizer if the weather forecast holds up,” said Biddle.

Luke Fickell, currently in his third season with Wisconsin, is 15-17 so far with the team, and the Badgers have struggled under him. However, barring that, Fickell has spent much of his coaching tenure from 1999 to 2016 at Ohio State in different defensive capacities. Not to mention, he is also a native of Columbus, Ohio.

The dynamic surely means Fickell knows the OSU philosophy inside out and can extract an upset with some effort. But how tall would the task be if it happened?

Breaking through the Buckeyes’ rushing barrier won’t be straightforward

The Badgers have been miserable so far in the season, and their tough schedule hasn’t made life easy for them. Their rushing offense ranks 108th in the country, and their yards per carry figure ranks 125th, showcasing their troubles. Performing against an OSU secondary and D line that is arguably the best in the country will be a monumental challenge. However, there’s an area where Wisconsin is exceeding expectations and tipping the scales in its favor.

“Their best running back, true freshman Bo Jackson, has an ankle issue… They do have an off week next week. And they’ve been giving carries to CJ Donaldson and James Peoples as well. So you might see more of those guys. But yeah, this would be the first time if the forecast does hold up,” said Biddle. So, while Bo Jackson, who has accumulated 407 rushing yards so far, remains doubtful, Wisconsin will use one of the best rushing defenses in the country.

Due to the rainy conditions, the major part of the game will surely see rushing plays. Wisconsin’s rushing defense, ranked 19th nationally, can come in handy to tackle OSU’s rushing game. The Badgers have allowed just 97.5 rushing yards per game, and most woes are seen in overcoming the passing offense. Still, an upset would be a big ask. But don’t rule out the possibility just yet, even if slim.