featured image

no. 3 Ohio State welcomes Wisconsin to The Horseshoe for the Buckeyes’ Big Ten opener on Saturday, September 24. The game will be streamed live on fuboTV (livestream) and DirecTV Stream (free trial).

Ohio State Offensive Coordinator Kevin Wilson tried to tone down the accolades and exaggeration that came after Buckeyes’ 763-yard blast last week against outclassed Toledo.

Wilson, the former Indiana head coach, knows the challenge will be greater when the No. 3 Buckeyes (3-0) open their Big Ten schedule against Wisconsin (2-1) at Ohio Stadium on Saturday night.

“Big Ten game is more challenging, it’s more physical up front, no disrespect (to other conferences),” Wilson said recently.

“When you play in the Big Ten, it’s a line-of-scrimmage competition, it’s a tough competition,” he said. “It carries you week after week after week. We start off with a big challenge with a great line-of-scrimmage team on both sides coming to the fore as Wisconsin walks into the ‘Shoe’.

The message? Let’s just wait and see what happens.

So far, so good for quarterback CJ Stroud, who threw five touchdown passes in the 77-21 win last week. The Buckeyes defeated the state of Arkansas in Week 2, after beating then-No. 5 Notre Dame 21-10 in the opener. The Irish have since fallen out of the AP Top 25.

When is Ohio State Wisconsin?

Ohio State plays Saturday, September 24 at 6:30 PM (7:30 PM ET) in Wisconsin.

Live Stream Options

FuboTV

The game will be streamed live on fuboTV, which offers a free trial. The most basic plan is the “fubo standard” package, which includes over 121 channels for $69.99 per month. Like all cord cutting alternatives, there are plenty of options, especially for sports. It comes with over 1,000 hours of cloud-based DVR and up to 10 screens simultaneously.

Direct TV Stream

DirecTV Stream offers a free trial.

There are four options for DirecTV Stream:

The entertainment package, which consists of 65+ channels, costs $54.99 until the promotion ends on April 30. It’s the basic package for unmissable entertainment – including ESPN, TNT, Nickelodeon and HGTV.

The Choice Package has over 90 channels and costs $74.99 during the promotion. The channels in ENTERTAINMENT, plus MLB Network, NBA TV, college sports networks and more. Enjoy regional sports networks at no extra cost.

The ultimate package has over 130 channels and costs $89.99 during the promotion. Everything in CHOICE, plus Oxygen, Golf Channel, NHL Network, Universal Kids and more.

The Premier package has over 140 channels and costs $134.99 during the promotion. Everything in ULTIMATE, plus HBO Max, SHOWTIME, STARZ, Cinemax and more.

DirecTV Stream offers a free trial that doesn’t require much effort.

To sign up, enter a phone number, email, and credit card, and you’ll receive five days of free service.

In addition, enhance your experience with the DirecTV Stream device. While it doesn’t include a free trial, it gives you access to thousands of apps like Netflix and more on Google Play. You can search using the voice remote control with Google Assistant and you can enjoy a traditional live TV channel guide. It is sold separately.

Will it be televised?

Ohio State-Wisconsin will air on ABC.

Example

STOP IN OHIO STATE: The Badgers are once again built around a defense that finished 2021 as No. 1 in the nation.

Granted, it’s only three non-conference games, but Wisconsin so far limits opponents to 246 total yards — 76 rushing yards and 170 passing yards — per game. Seven players have interceptions.

Ohio State is the nation’s top offensive team after last week’s explosion, averaging 8.44 yards per game and 563.3 yards per game.

“It’s one thing (to say) ‘this is their schedule,’ but the players understand that, and it allows them to really go out and play,” Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said. “And I think that’s what they do very well.”

SPICED TIE: The Buckeyes’ overhauled defense will have to stop the run to slow Wisconsin.

Running back Braelon Allen picked up where he left off after rushing for 1,268 yards and eight touchdowns in his freshman year, third best in the Big Ten. He averages 110 yards per game and 6.6 per carry in the first three games.

Quarterback Graham Mertz is in his second year as a starter.

“It’s going to be the best quarterback we’ve seen. It’s going to be the best running back we’ve ever seen,” Day said. “There’s a lot of ‘best we’ve seen so far’ (with Wisconsin).”

TREVEYON IS OK: AP Preseason All-American running back TreVeyon Henderson left last week’s game after Ohio State’s first offensive series with an unspecified injury.

Day said it was something that bothered the second year back, and the decision was made to hold him out for the rest of what appeared to be a lopsided game.

Day said this week that Henderson’s injury was “short-lived,” and he is expected to play this week.

SATURDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: The Buckeyes will play the fourth of five consecutive home games to kick off the season and the third with a late start on Saturday.

“It’s been good for recruiting,” Day said of the night games, which draw large audiences on national television. “Those are long days. I like it when an afternoon game finishes around 4:30pm and you can go home and enjoy the rest of the day. But the electricity in the Horseshoe for a night game, nothing beats that. And that’s give and take, I guess.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.