Ohio State blocked 22 Badger efforts, and goaltender Logan Terness stopped 28 Wisconsin shots in the upset. The teams will play Game 2 on Saturday, with the Badgers needing a win to force Game 3 on Sunday.
“You’re playing one of the best teams in the country on the road, and you’ve got to find a way,” Ohio State coach Steve Rohlik said.
A holding penalty to Wisconsin’s Cruz Lucius in the first minute of the third period allowed the Buckeyes to go up on the power play.
Brent Johnson’s cross-ice pass set Montes up for a shot from the left circle that found the upper left corner. In four regular-season games versus the Badgers, the Buckeyes only scored once on 11 power opportunities.Montes scored into an empty net with 1:47 left.
Goalies Kyle McClellan and Terness had significant performances for the Badgers and Buckeyes, respectively. McClellan had to race to theleft post to stop Patrick Guzzo’s point-blank attempt on a first-period Ohio State power play.The Wisconsin goaltender also made quick saves on Davis Burnside and William Smith after Buckeyes striker Stephen Halliday set up the scoring opportunity.Terness denied Christian Fitzgerald’s second-period attempt after the Badgers forward found a path to the net via a pass from William Whitelaw.The Badgers (25-10-2), who are guaranteed a spot in the NCAA Tournament, have dropped three consecutive playoff games to the Buckeyes (
Even though it is the offseason in college football, and some argue that it is busier and more complicated than the regular season, Ohio State discovers this every year when they go into the living rooms of the world’s best high school players and try to recruit them against other teams.The recruiting process is extremely challenging for both schools and athletes, and Ohio State will have stiff competition for the top player in the 2026 class.
The NCAA football matchup against the Michigan Wolverines will take place at Michigan Stadium. Ohio State lost 30-24.
According to 247sports.com’s Steve Wiltfong, 2026 quarterback Jared Curtis plans to visit the Buckeyes this spring. He also mentioned that Curtis visited Ohio State in the autumn and attended the game against Michigan State.
Curtis is slated to return to Columbus on April 1st and is the top-ranked quarterback and overall talent in the 2026 class, according to 247Sports.
EzoicCurtis is from Nashville, Tennessee, and has decided to commit to Georiga. That might change, though, if he enjoys his visit to Ohio State. Curtis has also had interest from Alabama, Tennessee, Florida State, and Texas A&M.
