Former Buckeye now with Wisconsin makes bold statement about facing Ohio State for the first time in his career
He’s going to have some extra motivation going into this game against Ohio State.
The Ohio State Buckeyes are on the road again this weekend for the second straight week as they face the Wisconsin Badgers. Ohio State will be going up against a much lesser program than what it has typically seen in years past, as the Badgers sit at 2-4 on the season. The end could soon be coming for former Ohio State interim head coach Luke Fickell.
Wisconsin’s only wins this season came in the first couple of weeks against Miami (OH) and Middle Tennessee. The Badgers have one of the worst offenses in the country, averaging just 292 yards per game. When the Ohio State defense takes the field, it will be facing a familiar face — a former Buckeye.
Jayden Ballard is looking forward to facing Ohio State
“It’s going to be great competition,” Ballard said via Badger Blitz. “Going up against the best guys. Just proving to myself what I can do and also proving what we can do as a team.”
Ballard spent four seasons at Ohio State as a former four-star recruit from Massillon (OH). His best year came in 2022 as a sophomore when he totaled 155 yards and a touchdown across 12 games. Ballard appeared in another 12 games in 2023 but didn’t record a catch on offense. In his final season with the Buckeyes last year, he caught two passes for 18 yards. Ohio State’s deep wide receiver room was one he was never really able to climb.
Now with Wisconsin, Ballard is a starter, and his transfer destination has put him on pace for his best season yet. Through six games, he has seven catches for 150 yards and two touchdowns. His best performance came in Wisconsin’s Week 2 win over Middle Tennessee, when he caught two passes for 73 yards and a touchdown. However, the former Buckeye hasn’t recorded a catch over the past two weeks as the Badgers’ offense continues to struggle.
“Just gotta treat it like another game,” Ballard said about facing the Buckeyes. “They’re the number one team in the nation. Keep a straight head, be confident, and go out there and compete with 100 percent effort.”
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