No.24 Wisconsin Badgers prepare for road test against desperate Ohio State Buckeyes

Ranked for the first time since November after consecutive wins over top-10 programs, No.24 Wisconsin continues its road heavy stretch by traveling to Columbus

Feb. 18, 2026 at 9:47pm

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The Badgers look for a season sweep of the Ohio State Buckeyes, as Wisconsin begins its closing stretch towards the postseason. Ohio State is in a different situation, sitting in a tie for eighth place in the league and coming off a loss to No. 15 Virginia, dropping the Buckeyes to 0-8 in Quad-1 games and leaving them teetering on the fringe of the NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

With three weeks until the start of the Big Ten tournament, Wisconsin had put itself in contention for a double bye after having won nine of its last 11 games. The Badgers haven't had a bye into the quarterfinals since 2011 when it won a share of the regular season title. Ohio State is desperate for a win to keep its NCAA Tournament hopes alive.

The details

Wisconsin is led by senior guard Nick Boyd, who was named Big Ten Player of the Week for the second time this year on Monday. Ohio State will be without sophomore guard John Mobley Jr. due to a hand injury. In the first meeting between the teams, Wisconsin scored 92 points, its most against Ohio State since 2002.

  • Wisconsin and Ohio State first met on January 31, 2026 in Madison, with Wisconsin winning 92-82.
  • Tonight's game is scheduled for Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 7:30 p.m. in Columbus.

The players

Nick Boyd

A 6-3 senior guard for Wisconsin, averaging 20.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.

Amare Bynum

A 6-8 freshman forward for Ohio State, who led the Buckeyes with 18 points and 7 rebounds in the first meeting against Wisconsin.

Bruce Thornton

A 6-2 senior guard for Ohio State, averaging 19.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game.

Greg Gard

The head coach of the Wisconsin Badgers, in his 11th season with a record of 231-124.

Jake Diebler

The head coach of the Ohio State Buckeyes, in his 3rd season with a record of 41-27.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.