Ohio State junior running back J.K. Dobbins (2) celebrates after running the ball down the field during the second half of the game against Wisconsin on Oct. 26. Ohio State won 38-7. Credit: Amal Saeed | Photo Editor

Wisconsin’s thoroughbred rush defense entered Ohio Stadium’s horse track ready to race as the country’s best in yards allowed per game.

J.K. Dobbins locked its starting gate and dashed off with 163 yards on 20 carries.

The junior running back averaged 8.2 yards per carry on a defense allowing 2.3 in 2019, grabbing 221 total yards and two touchdowns in Ohio State’s 38-7 win.

“J.K. ran with an edge all day,” Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said. “I think he’s the best running back in the country.”

The second half is where Dobbins flourished most.

In the third quarter, he broke off a 28-yard run over the left tackle, setting up an Ohio State touchdown that put it ahead 17-7.

He bettered himself the next drive, hitting two runs to the right side for 34 and nine yards, respectively, strolling into the end zone on the latter carry.

A 14-yard fourth-quarter scoring dash capped Dobbins’ day.

Dobbins said he and the offensive line play better as games — and seasons — wear on.

“I find things that I need to work on, because my performances have been OK. They haven’t been outstanding,” Dobbins said. “I’m trying to find a way to have that outstanding performance. One day, that’s gonna come if I keep working on my craft.”

Ohio State junior running back J.K. Dobbins (2) blows a kiss to his fans after scoring a touchdown in the second half of the game against Wisconsin on Oct. 26. Ohio State won 38-7. Credit: Cori Wade | Assistant Photo Editor

Dobbins also opened up the Ohio State offense to end 23 minutes of scoreless football.

On a crucial third-and-10 to open a Buckeye drive, the Texas native found room on the sideline to pick up 20 yards as sophomore quarterback Justin Fields scrambled around in the backfield. Junior kicker Blake Haubeil eventually netted a 49-yard field goal to put the Buckeyes ahead 3-0.

The Buckeyes’ next drive, which resulted in a touchdown, opened with a 17-yard from Dobbins that opened the door for Fields’ first string of completions Saturday.

Overall, however, the Buckeyes picked up just 71 of their 193 rushing yards in the first half.

Redshirt sophomore Wyatt Davis said the offensive line performed with more cohesion in the final 30 minutes. 

“Their backers were doing a really good job of scraping over the top of plays, and they were blitzing a lot,” Davis said. “Even on some of our pass downs, they’d run twists when they would go into an open front. We’d miss a backer.”

Dobbins even brought an added element to the Buckeye passing attack, catching three balls for 58 yards — second on the team in both categories.

“We were messing with J.K. the whole week, talking about, ‘The best Big Ten running back is coming to the ‘Shoe,’” Fields said. “J.K. is a great running back, of course, and I thought he played very well today in the passing game and running game also.”

In any case, Dobbins said that by racking up 491 yards on a top defensive horse, the Buckeye offense has shown it can play with anyone in the country.

“We can play ball,” Dobbins said. “That defense was really good, you saw at the beginning. They were giving us fits sometimes. We killed ourselves at times, too. But you see that we can be a great offense, we’ve still got strides we can make.”

Ohio State will have a bye week before it takes its next stride against Maryland Nov. 9.