Wisconsin vs Ohio State: Whooping Buckeyes Can't Bring Back Badgers' Title Hopes

The Wisconsin Badgers were the last hope for the Big Ten and were supposed to be the top team in that conference. They were undefeated and had a great shot at winning the National Championship.

That was until they lost on a 44-yard fluke of a Hail Mary play to the Michigan State Wolverines. With that the Badgers fell to No.15 in the rankings and their title hopes are all but gone.

This week, Wisconsin travels to Ohio State to take on the Buckeyes and it used to be that if you won, you'd get credit for a quality win.

Not this year.

Not when the Buckeyes are 4-3 and struggle to put the ball in the end zone. Not when Ohio State is going through distractions daily and have no big playmakers on the field because they're all suspended.

Ohio State has lost to every good school they've played this season (except Illinois, but they are coached by Ron Zook, so that doesn't count).

Ohio State is a mess right now and a win over them would just be any other win. It shouldn't do much for Wisconsin as far as the standings go.

Especially considering they are ranked No. 15 in the country. That loss against Michigan State killed them; they fell nine spots in the rankings.

Even winning by a large margin wouldn't do much for the Badgers because then they'd be just like the Miami Hurricanes, who that win did nothing for.

It also doesn't help that majority of the teams around them in the rankings have easy games this week. Sure, Kansas State and Oklahoma play each other and either Nebraska or Michigan State will lose, but that's about it.

The only way Wisconsin will move up in the rankings is by getting help from other teams.

A win over the Buckeyes used to mean something, but this year it doesn't.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]

Bleacher Report is your home for college football for the 2011 season. From scores, news, analysis, live blogs and updates on your favorite teams and the big national games every week, keep it on Bleacher Report for the very latest in college football news.