Garrett Rand and Isaiahh Loudermilk helped UW's defense dominate Minnesota but the challenge is greater this week against Ohio State

Jeff Potrykus | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MADISON – During the midst of Wisconsin’s 21-point victory over Minnesota, Isaiahh Loudermilk and Garrett Rand enjoyed a surreal moment.

“They put the tackle leaders up on the board and Garrett was leading us in tackles,” Loudermilk said. “I was standing next to him and I said: ‘Hey, you’re leading in tackles.’”

A man of few words, Rand said: “No way.”

Rand didn’t finish as UW’s leading tackler but he recorded a personal-high mark of seven, including a sack, and forced a fumble.

To put Rand’s tackle total in perspective, consider that he entered the regular-season finale with 14 tackles in 10 games.

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“I had no idea,” Rand said when asked about his tackle total against Minnesota. “I was just doing my job.”

Loudermilk finished with four tackles. He entered the game with 12.

Together, they helped UW limit Minnesota’s tailbacks to 92 yards on 23 carries and generate pressure that resulted in five sacks of quarterback Tanner Morgan.

“They had huge games,” defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard said. “You kept noticing them, in different ways. One play was physicality. Another it was pass rush. It might be slipping a block and making a play.

“They kind of checked all the boxes in that game, which is obviously why we played so well up front.”

Can Loudermilk, Rand and their fellow defensive linemen give an encore performance when UW (10-2) faces No. 1 Ohio State (12-0) in the Big Ten title game at 7 p.m. Saturday in Indianapolis?

Ohio State rolled up 264 rushing yards and 431 total yards in the Buckeyes’ 38-7 victory over UW on Oct. 26 in Columbus. Tailback J.K. Dobbins rushed for 163 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Justin Fields passed for 167 yards and two scores and added a 10-yard touchdown run.

Rand missed the game while recovering from a concussion but the Ohio State offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage.

Ohio State coach Ryan Day believes center Josh Myers and guards Wyatt Davis and Jonah Jackson form the best interior trio in the country.

“I just think first off their approach to the game is off the charts,” he said. “They understand stuff. They communicate. They’re tough. They’re good in the run game, pass game. They finish guys.

“If you follow them around during the game, just amazing the stuff that they do, the finishes and the knock-downs they get during the game.

“They’re the tip of the spear on our offense. Everything goes through those guys. Their approach has been off the charts.”

Loudermilk saw that in the teams’ first meeting.

UW’s defense forced the Buckeyes to punt on their first three possessions. After managing a combined 44 yards on those possession, the Buckeyes put together scoring drives of 41 and 85 yards to take a 10-0 halftime lead.

Then after going three and out to open the second half, Ohio State scored on its next four possessions. The Buckeyes rolled up 228 yards on 25 plays, 9.1 yards per play, during that flurry.

“They definitely opened up a lot of holes with all the zone read stuff,” Loudermilk said. “There was a lot on our plate. That is the difference between Ohio State and a lot of other teams. They spread it out more. We have to be right with our eyes 100%. Because if we don’t eat up blockers, someone else is getting blocked.

“They have two threats back there in Dobbins and Fields that if you make the wrong decision, they can break it open. Having a quarterback and a running back like that, you have to be correct with your decisions.

“We came out playing disciplined defense. Then somewhere in the second half we lost our footing. And give them credit, Ohio State is a great team. You can’t make mistakes.”

Leonhard knows the Buckeyes’ talent and execution, coupled with UW’s defensive miscues, contributed significantly to the Badgers’ demise.

“Ohio State has been rolling everybody,” he said when asked about the rematch. “There is no secret in that. The challenges change week in and week out. Can we get the same type of production? I don’t know. That is the goal. That is the plan, to create a plan for those guys to make big plays.

“I like where we’re at going into the game but obviously we’ve got to do some things to clean up the mistakes we made the last game and I’ve got to present a better plan to give our guys a chance to go out there and get a win.”

The Edge: Wisconsin Vs. Ohio State, Big Ten championship game The Edge: Journal Sentinel Badgers beat reporter Jeff Potrykus looks at the strengths and weaknesses of the Wisconsin Badgers and their next opponent to see which team has the edge in offense, defense, special teams and coaching.