Live coverage: : Ohio State leads Wisconsin, 31-7, at the half of Big Ten opener; Clay Cundiff suffers leg injury

The Wisconsin Badgers (2-1) seek their first road win at Ohio State in 18 years as Graham Mertz, Braelon Allen and Co. play the No. 3-ranked Buckeyes (3-0) Saturday night.

Kickoff is set for 6:30 p.m. at Ohio Stadium.

Join blog host Mark Stewart as be brings you live updates and analysis from the press box. Be sure to refresh your browser for the newest.

Jackson Acker gets first TD catch

Wisconsin is well on its way to its second loss of the season, but its second touchdown drive of the night is one of the positives of the night.

The Badgers put together an 80-yard, 14-play drive that took 7 minutes 32 seconds off the clock. Graham Mertz hit fullback Jackson Acker in the flat for a 2-yard touchdown with 9:46 left in the game.

The Badgers converted four third-down opportunities on the drive, including the scoring play.

Score: Ohio State 45, Wisconsin 14

Big-time time throw adds to Ohio State lead

C.J. Stroud has NFL potential and part of the reason are throws like the one he delivered to put the Buckeyes up, 45-7, with 2 minutes 22 seconds left in the third quarter. Facing first and goal from the 8, Stroud fired a slant to Emeka Egbuke between cornerback Cedrick Dort and safety Preston Zachman that showed his accuracy and arm strength.

Another impressive play for Ohio State, much to the chagrin of Wisconsin.

Buckeyes continue to carve up UW

In the third quarter Ohio State picked up where it left off against the Badgers defense. Touchdown drive No. 5 covered eight plays and 72 yards and took 3 minutes 38 seconds off the clock.

C.J. Stroud hit Julian Fleming on a slant on third and 5 from the 12 and Fleming bulled through a couple of UW defenders in order to reach the end zone. The extra point gave Ohio State a 38-7 advantage at the 9:35 mark of the third quarter.

Stroud has completed 13 of 20 passes for 208 yards and three touchdowns.

Clay Cundiff suffers left leg injury

For the second straight year, Cundiff had to be carted off the field due to a left leg injury. The junior caught a pass in the flat on a first down play at the Ohio State 48 during the final minute of the first half and was upended by Tanner McCalister for a 3-yard gain.

Story continues

Many of you will recall that Cundiff suffered a leg injury again Iowa last year. That was to his right leg. He suffered a dislocated right ankle, broken fibula and torn ligament in the back of the foot.

There was no preliminary word on the injury he suffered Saturday, but he was clearly in pain and received immediate attention from UW’s trainers.

The injury added to the insult that was the first half for Wisconsin. The Badgers trailed, 31-7, with Ohio State holding a commanding edge in total yards, 328-96, and yards per play, 8.2-3.4

UW’s defense holds …. sort of

The Badgers scored a minor victory late in the first half when they kept Ohio State out of the end zone for the first time in the game. They, however, didn’t keep the Buckeyes off the scoreboard. Noah Ruggles’ 25-yard field goal with 2:20 left in the half pushed his team’s lead to 31-7.

The drive was Ohio State’s longest of the day, 6 minutes 11 second, and it came after UW’s only scoring drive of the half.

Badgers reach paydirt on 1-yard run by Graham Mertz

Mertz’s score came with 8:31 left in the first half and completed an impressive 10-play 72-yard drive that took 4:55 off the clock. The big play of the possession was a 26-yard pass from Mertz to Skyler Bell on third and 9 from the Buckeyes 40.

UW used the Wildcat formation a couple of times on the possession. The second time Braelon Allen took the snap and ran up the middle for a 5-yard gain that left the ball inches from the goal line.

It’s an understatement to say the Badgers needed that drive. Now let’s see if they can build on that momentum.

Ohio State 28, Wisconsin 7

Big third-down run leads to fourth OSU TD

Wisconsin has struggled to get off the field tonight. It had a chance to hold Ohio State to a field goal attempt on the Buckeyes first possession of the second quarter, but on third and 3 from the 24, linebacker Jordan Turner couldn’t wrap up Miyan Williams behind the line of scrimmage and Williams rumbled for a 21-yard gain to the UW 3.

On the next play he was in the second zone. The extra point gave Ohio State a 28-0 lead with 13:33 left in the first half.

After one quarter, the numbers are ugly for UW

The first quarter is complete. Here are some of the numbers behind Ohio State’s, 21-0 lead.

Total yards: Ohio State 210, Wisconsin 23

First downs: Ohio State 12, Wisconsin 1

The Buckeyes have 12 plays of 10 yards or longer. OSU quarterback C.J. Stroud has completed nine of 10 passes for 142 yards.

C.J. Stroud, Cade Stover connect again

The Badgers aren’t showing well in front of a national audience. The Ohio State offense continues to shred the UW defense. Touchdown No. 3 comes on a seven-play, 70-yard drive that ends with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Stroud to Stover with 3:55 left in the first quarter. There were five plays of 10 yards or longer on the drive.

Score: Ohio State 21, Wisconsin 0

Graham Mertz interception leads to second OSU TD

Mertz probably wishes he had his first pass of the night back. On second and 10 from the Buckeye 36, Mertz targeted Chimere Dike. The two, however, appeared to have a miscommunication. Dike cut his route to the outside. Mertz threw to the inside where Tanner McCalister was waiting.

McCalister returned the interception 30 yards to the UW 16. Two plays later, Stroud hit tight end Cade Stover for a 13-yard touchdown at the 8:54 mark. On the play, Stroud rolled to his left and when the defense flowed with him, he hit Stroud on the right side of the field for an easy pass and catch.

If you counting, that is 14 points in less than 3 1/2 minutes of possession for Ohio State.

Ohio State waste no time in reaching end zone

All the Buckeyes needed for their first touchdown drive was 2 minutes 41 seconds and six plays to cover 88 yards. Miyan Williams scored 2-yard run at the 12:13 mark. The Buckeyes had three plays of 15 yards or longer that included a 33-yard pass from C.J. Stroud to Emeka Egbuka that gave the team a first and goal from the 2.

UW opened the game playing a 2-4-5 alignment against Ohio State’s explosive attack.

Jaxon Smith-Njigba among Buckeyes who are unavailable

The standout wide receiver returned to action last week after missing Week 2 vs. Arkansas State and caught two passes. He is one of 10 players out for OSU. Ohio State doesn’t list the nature of injury or body part on its status report.

DE Omari Abor

WR Kam Babb

CB Cam Brown

CB Jordan Hancock

LB Mitchell Melton

LB Teradja Mitchell

DT Zach Prater

RB Evan Pryor

TE Joe Royer

WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba

LT Jack Nelson is out; offensive line must adjust … again

The Badgers will be without both their top tackles tonight.

Right tackle Riley Mahlman won’t play for the third straight week due to a left leg injury. The news Saturday is the loss of left tackle Jack Nelson, who won’t play due to an illness.

The illness means more shuffling to the line, which underwent a major change last week when Tanor Bortolini replaced Michael Furtney at right guard and Trey Wedig took over at right tackle for Logan Brown. Nelson’s illness opens the door for Brown at left tackle, a position he played for the team until this season.

Out

K Vito Calvaruso — Leg (right)

TE Cam Large — Leg (right)

OL Riley Mahlman — Leg (left)

OL Jack Nelson — Illness

LB Bryan Sanborn — Arm (left)

CB Alexander Smith — Leg (right)

OLB Aaron Witt — Leg (right)

S Hunter Wohler — Leg (left)

QB Chase Wolf — Leg (right)

Out for the season

S Travian Blaylock — Leg (right)

DE Mike Jarvis — Leg (left)

ILB Luna Larson — Leg (right)

DE Isaac Townsend — Leg (left)

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin Badgers vs Ohio State Buckeyes score, live game updates