Badger of Honor
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Wisconsin Football: 10 best Badgers games since 2010

By Tanner Nestle

MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Paul Chryst and Alex Hornibrook #12 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates after winning the 2017 Capital One Orange Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
MIAMI GARDENS, FL - DECEMBER 30: Head coach Paul Chryst and Alex Hornibrook #12 of the Wisconsin Badgers celebrates after winning the 2017 Capital One Orange Bowl against the Miami Hurricanes at Hard Rock Stadium on December 30, 2017 in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) /
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MADISON, WI – OCTOBER 16: John Clay #32 of the Wisconsin Badgers runs for a touchdown against the Ohio State Buckeyes at Camp Randall Stadium on October 16, 2010, in Madison, Wisconsin. Wisconsin defeated Ohio State 31-18. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

3. October 16th, 2010 vs #1 Ohio State

Wisconsin beats the top-ranked Buckeyes

Technically, this game didn’t happen. The 2010 season was wiped from Ohio State’s record books after NCAA sanctions came out. Jim Tressel was out as coach and Terrelle Pryor wouldn’t bring the Buckeyes a national title. Ohio State should be thankful Wisconsin beat them on this October night, else they’d perhaps have a national title to forfeit to the NCAA.

This one started with a bang. David Gilreath took the opening kickoff back for a score and the Badgers were off and running. John Clay was a monster the Buckeyes couldn’t tackle and the Badger defense was shutting things down. The second half got tight, but the first half efforts were too much to overcome.

When push came to shove Wisconsin kept pushing and shoving Ohio State around in the trenches. The Buckeyes couldn’t stop the run and couldn’t block J.J. Watt.

 Final score: Wisconsin 31, Ohio State 18

This game gave Wisconsin control in the Big Ten on its way to the first of three-straight Rose Bowl appearances. It also went a long way in setting the tone for what was to follow in the coming decade of football. Since that season, and what was highlighted in that game, Wisconsin has been synonymous with power running the football. They’ve become a running back and offensive linemen factory.

It’s not very often you get the top-ranked team in the country on your home field. Wisconsin made the most of that opportunity and it’s become a monumental win in the program’s history.