Ohio State moved to 8-0 on the season after going on the road against Wisconsin and coming away with a scrappy 24-10 win.
The Buckeyes used a similar formula to get the victory in this game and that was by leaning on their defense.
Coming into the game, the unit had allowed an average of 10 points per game and that stays the same with the Badgers only managing the same point total on their 12 drives.
It was a good performance from the defense all around as the defensive line, linebackers, and secondary all played well.
To expand on that, in this article we will break down each defensive position group’s performance using Pro Football Focus grades for each player. While PFF grades aren’t the end all be all, it is a great tool to break down individual players’ performance.
Interior Defensive Line
Starter: Tyleik Williams
PFF Grade
71.3 (55 snaps)
Stats
1 tackle, 1 assisted tackle, 3 pressures and 1 sack on 35 pass rush snaps
Starter: Ty Hamilton
PFF Grade
56.1 (13 snaps)
Stats
0 tackles, 0 pressures on 5 pass rush snaps
Other: Michael Hall Jr.
PFF Grade
76.0 (45 snaps)
Stats
0 tackles, 3 pressures on 30 pass rush snaps
Other: Tywone Malone
PFF Grade
58.1 (5 snaps)
Stats
0 tackles, 0 pressures on 4 pass rush snaps
Other: Hero Kanu
PFF Grade
71.3 (4 snaps)
Stats
1 tackle, 0 pressures on 3 pass rush snaps
Other: Kayden McDonald
PFF Grade
51.6 (3 snaps)
Stats
0 tackles, 0 pressures on 2 pass rush snaps
Other: Jaden McKenzie
PFF Grade
61.5 (3 snaps)
Stats
0 tackles, 0 pressures 1 pass rush snaps
What It Means
This was another good performance from the defensive tackle rotation as Tyleik Williams and Michael Hall Jr. each tallied three pressures.
Edge Rushers
Starter: J.T. Tuimoloau
PFF Grade
52.6 (57 snaps)
Stats
1 tackle, 2 pressures on 33 pass rush snaps
Starter: Jack Sawyer
PFF Grade
80.4 (43 snaps)
Stats
5 tackles, 3 assisted tackles, 1 pressure on 22 pass rush snaps
Other: Caden Curry
PFF Grade
66.9 (12 snaps)
Stats
0 tackles, 1 pressures on 10 pass rush snaps
Other: Mitchell Melton
PFF Grade
76.0 (11 snaps)
Stats
0 tackles, 2 pressures on 10 pass rush snaps
Other: Kenyatta Jackson
PFF Grade
57.1 (9 snaps)
Stats
0 tackles, 0 pressures on 7 pass rush snaps
What It Means
Jack Sawyer had his second highest performance of the season by defending the run very well with four total stops.
Linebackers
Starter: Tommy Eichenberg
PFF Grade
71.6 (66 snaps)
Stats
8 tackles, 1 pressure
Starter: Steele Chambers
PFF Grade
72.4 (51 snaps)
Stats
5 tackles, 3 assisted tackles, 1 pressure
Other: Cody Simon
PFF Grade
69.2 (15 snaps)
Stats
2 tackles
What It Means
Tommy Eichenberg led the team in tackles with eight, while Steele Chambers was tied for second on the team with five.
Cornerbacks
Starter: Denzel Burke
PFF Grade
69.1 (66 snaps)
Stats
2 assisted tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 2 receptions allowed on 4 targets for 30 yards, and 1 PBU on 43 coverage snaps
Starter: Davison Igbinosun
PFF Grade
65.8 (66 snaps)
Stats
3 tackles, 1 assisted tackle, 2 receptions allowed on 5 targets for 2 yards on 43 coverage snaps
Other: Jordan Hancock
PFF Grade
67.8 (64 snaps)
Stats
3 tackles, 3 receptions allowed on 7 targets for 36 yards, 1 TD and 1 PBU on 39 coverage snaps
Other: Cameron Martinez
PFF Grade
54.1 (6 snaps)
Stats
1 tackle, 1 reception allowed on 1 target for 19 yards on 5 coverage snaps
What It Means
The Buckeye secondary has taken a big step up this season, evidenced by their 160.3 passing yards allowed per game being tied for fourth in the FBS.
Safeties
Starter: Lathan Ransom
PFF Grade
68.3 (41 snaps)
Stats
1 tackle, 2 assisted tackles, 0 receptions allowed on 1 target on 22 coverage snaps
Starter: Josh Proctor
PFF Grade
57.1 (62 snaps)
Stats
3 tackles, 2 assisted tackles, 4 receptions allowed on 5 targets for 26 Yards and 1 PBU on 39 coverage snaps
Other: Sonny Styles
PFF Grade
69.4 (29 snaps)
Stats
2 tackles, 2 assisted tackles, 1 reception allowed on 6 targets for 19 Yards and 1 PBU on 24 coverage snaps
What It Means
Lathan Ransom hobbled off the field in the second half and didn’t return. There’s no word yet on the injury which will be something to monitor moving forward as Ransom is a key piece to the defense.
Contact/Follow us @BuckeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Ohio State news, notes, and opinion. Follow Evan Bachman on X.
