COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Western Michigan's game against Wisconsin in Week 1 was closer than the 28-14 final score.
The Broncos played tough until almost the end.
No. 2 Ohio State is not Wisconsin, of course, but the Buckeyes certainly took notice of what the Mid-American Conference team, 4-8 last year, was able to do against a Big Ten opponent in their opener.
“I think it is good for us to see them play another Big Ten opponent, just to compare what we’re seeing, so that was good," Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. "I thought they played well in that game. They were strong, and they have a good team.”
The Broncos will still come in as more than five-touchdown underdogs when they visit Ohio Stadium for a night game Saturday. They can look forward to “Hang on Sloopy” after the third quarter instead of “Jump Around," but the Buckeyes faithful will be every bit as enthusiastic.
Ohio State started slow last week against Akron in the opener in the Horseshoe, then buried the Zips 35-3 in the second half to finish it 52-6. Day said the Buckeyes will be looking for a faster start.
“The effort across the board was solid,” he said. “We got a long way to go here, and we want to keep pushing. There were certainly some great clips (last) Saturday, but we’re nowhere near where we need to be. We’ve got to keep building. It’s a long season.”
Second-year Western Michigan coach Lance Taylor lamented that his squad “lacked the killer instinct” against Wisconsin.
“When you look at that game, for three-and-a-half quarters, we played really well,” Taylor said. “Disciplined, smart, sound football. For the last 10 minutes we didn't. We did some things we didn’t do at other points in the game. And ultimately, that cost us the game.”
Taylor knows what he's getting himself into this week.
“Not only are they really good players but they are a disciplined football team,” he said of the Buckeyes. “They don’t beat themselves, they’re where they should be, and they make the plays they should. Really good football teams do that. So it will be a great challenge for us.”
Heralded freshman receiver Jeremiah Smith had quite a debut last week, leading the Buckeyes with six catches for 92 yards and two contested TD catches against Akron. Carnell Tate had four receptions for 58 yards and a TD.
Taylor reckons that Western Michigan could have won the Wisconsin game if three plays had gone differently. The key to this week will be getting his players past that.
“Really, what you try to do as a football coach is point out the positives and show how you can learn and grow from the things you didn’t do as well and need to do better,” Taylor said. “But because they care so much, sometimes they dwell on the mistakes.”
Both coaches said this week that having electronic video pads on the sidelines to review plays was a huge advantage, as much as the new helmet radios that allow coaches to call in plays to the field.
“Everyone gets to get real information, see it exactly how it happened, and that doesn’t happen until we were able to access to these, so it really does help,” Day said. "It really helps with the players. They see it, and they’re getting communication on what they’re dealing with.”
Quarterback Hayden Wolff was 12 for 18 for 141 yards and an interception against Wisconsin. Jalen Buckley carried 16 times for 64 yards and two touchdowns. Linebacker Donald Willis and cornerback Bilhal Kone each had 10 tackles.