Ohio State football handles Wisconsin as limping Kyle McCord seeks stability — and possibly relief

MADISON, Wisc. — Kyle McCord is playing through pain, quite obviously, and who knows how much Ohio State football’s offense is suffering as a result.

McCord limped around at times during the Buckeyes’ 24-10 victory at Wisconsin on Saturday night. It was most noticeable after he scrambled for a third-down pickup late in the third quarter. When he went to the sideline a few plays later — after another wild throw to no one resulting in an intentional grounding penalty — he appeared to rub his leg and grimaced while limping around the sideline.

Ohio State plays three games before making that long-awaited, eternally elevated and recently complicated game at Michigan. It has one mission to accomplish between wheels down in Columbus early Sunday morning and wheels up for Ann Arbor the day after Thanksgiving.

It has to stabilize its starting quarterback. Some of that may go on OSU’s athletic training staff. Some goes on the rest of this offense to use that three-game runway to raise its level. Much falls to McCord himself.

The third-year quarterback brushed off questions about a possible ankle injury a few weeks ago, coming out of the win over Maryland. An injury would explain a certain amount of inconsistency. As a right-handed thrower, McCord’s left leg is his plant leg. He struggled at times to put weight on that leg when walking on the Camp Randall Stadium turf, let alone when trying to get enough air under a downfield throw.

Maybe it also explains the mental mistakes, too. Those were the more troubling aspect of Saturday’s offensive performance, and they nearly undermined another defensive gem.

McCord was sacked on fourth down on OSU’s first series, and coughed up the ball in the process. Since it wasn’t taken to the house, the result wasn’t much different than if he’d held on to the ball. This time, at least. But ball security has been an ongoing concern – one McCord admits to and says has been a practice priority.

Ohio State’s first red zone trip ended with a field goal – the extension of a season-long inability to turn those opportunities into touchdowns. Its second red zone possession ended with McCord rolling to his right on second down, having no options in front of him, and forcing a pass into traffic for an interception.

McCord had thrown only one pick all season before that, and none since a fourth-down, low-risk, high-reward chance in the season opener at Indiana. But he thew another before the end of Saturday’s first half. That also came in plus territory, and the Badgers took it and marched 51 yards the other direction for their first points of the game.

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The raw numbers are not alarming. McCord completed 7 of 7 passes in the second half for 86 yards and a touchdown. He was also twice guilt of intentional grounding calls when Wisconsin’s pressure enveloped him.

Maybe a season of offensive line stability was in his head. Maybe the discomfort of that injury made it difficult to concentrate on making the best decision possible.

McCord came awfully close to doing the only thing he cannot do – give away points.

And here’s why it’s important. Here’s what can happen Nov. 25 at Michigan if McCord heals up and locks in.

Ohio State looks good enough in other facets to win that game.

By now you expect this from the defense. J.T. Tuimoloau, Lathan Ransom, Tyleik Williams, Jordan Hancock – every week you can pick from a long roster of significant plays spread across the field.

Wisconsin went 1-for-6 on third downs in the first half, reminiscent of last week’s shutdown against Penn State. This defense again made even a 10-point lead at times feel insurmountable for a Badgers team that list its best offensive weapon – running back Braelon Allen – to a leg injury right before halftime.

TreVeyon Henderson returned for the Buckeyes, and the running game came alive. He capped the scoring with a 33-yard touchdown run to conclude a 24-carry, 162-yard performance. The ground game hummed with a different energy as he jolted through holes into the second level. And this offensive line, while it let McCord down a few times in pass protection, gave Henderson the structure he needed.

With backup Devin Brown sidelined for at least a couple of weeks with his own ankle injury, McCord has to handle this winnable stretch heading into Thanksgiving. The goal all along has been to raise the defense’s level and find enough ground game consistency that McCord does not need to be a savior.

He only needs to be stable.

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