On this date in Ohio State football: Oct. 9, 1982

Taking a look back at a game Ohio State played on this date:

Wisconsin 6, Ohio State 0

Setup: Riding an uncharacteristic two-game losing streak, Ohio State sought normalcy in the form of an appreciative sellout crowd and an opponent that had not won in Columbus since 1918. But this was no normal Saturday. An all-day rain kept enough folks away to snap the Buckeyes' home sellout streak at 86, and a lot more chose to not wait around to see the finish. Good call.

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Stars: The conditions ensured that this day would be more about survivors than stars. For Wisconsin, John Williams rushed for 70 yards and the game's only score, in the first quarter. For OSU, Jimmy Gayle ran for 108 yards, but the Buckeyes lost two fumbles, and Brent Offenbecher threw an interception.

Turning point: Ohio State had its chances to score (Rich Spangler missed two field goals, including a 26-yarder) and take the lead, the last being when it drove to the Badgers' 22-yard line with nine minutes left. But Tim Spencer fumbled, Brad Grabow recovered, and Wisconsin ran out the clock, twice converting on fourth down.

Impact: The Buckeyes didn't know it that day, but they had reached bottom. Quarterback Mike Tomczak, benched by coach Earle Bruce for an interception late in a loss to Stanford, was reinserted the following week at Illinois. OSU upended the Big Ten leaders and didn't lose again, creaming BYU in the Holiday Bowl.

Quotable: "You've got to put the ball in the end zone to be winners." — Bruce, seething afterward.

rstein@dispatch.com