MADISON, Wis. — J.T. Barrett threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to leaping receiver Noah Brown in overtime, and No. 2 Ohio State finished off No. 8 Wisconsin with a sack on fourth-and-goal from the 4 for a 30-23 win on Saturday night.
Barrett also ran for two touchdowns for the Buckeyes (6-0, 3-0 Big Ten), who passed their toughest road test of the season.
The touchdown throw gave Barrett his 89th career touchdown passing or rushing, breaking the school record previously held by quarterback Braxton Miller.
The Buckeyes rushed the field after defensive end Tyquan Lewis sacked quarterback Alex Hornibrook to end the thriller.
Just in time too, after school officials warned fans that severe weather was rolling through the area right before the final play.
After trailing for most of the game, the Buckeyes took a 20-13 lead in the fourth quarter only to see the Badgers respond to go up by three with time waning.
Ohio State drove deep into Wisconsin territory but had to settle for a Tyler Durbin field goal to set up overtime.
“There were some indicators that there would be a bad ending. But on our sideline you couldn’t tell. It’s just what we do. We’re a good, close football team that keeps swinging,” head coach Urban Meyer.
The Buckeyes opened overtime with Barrett’s touch pass to Brown in the corner of the end zone for the go-ahead score.
Barrett finished 17 of 29 for 226 yards with one interception, and ran for 92 yards on 21 carries. Corey Clement ran for 164 yards on 25 carries for Wisconsin (4-2, 1-2).
Barrett proved his mettle once again, shaking off an interception in the third quarter. He hit long pinpoint passes, often on the move, into tight coverage.
The Buckeyes made it a point to work on the passing game leading into the game after problems last week against Indiana. That work paid off, though it didn’t come easy against the Badgers’ tough defense.
The Buckeyes play the second of two straight night games at a tough road venue when they visit Penn State on Oct. 22.