Ohio State upends No. 24 Wisconsin 86-69

The Buckeyes beat a ranked team for the first time in seven tries this season.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The Ohio State Buckeyes defeated the No. 24 ranked Wisconsin Badgers 86-69 in a Big Ten conference matchup. Ohio State was led by Bruce Thornton's 27 points and Devin Royal's 25 points, while Wisconsin was paced by Braeden Carrington's 20 points. The Buckeyes shot 51.7% from the field in the first half to build a 38-26 lead at the break and never looked back, extending their advantage to as much as 18 points in the second half.

Why it matters

This win is significant for Ohio State, as it marks the first time this season the Buckeyes have defeated a ranked opponent. The Badgers entered the game as one of the hottest teams in the Big Ten, having beaten then-No. 8 Illinois and then-No. 10 Michigan State the previous week, so this loss is a setback for Wisconsin's conference title hopes.

The details

Ohio State shot an impressive 51.7% from the field in the first half, including 6-of-13 from 3-point range, to build a 38-26 lead at the break. The Buckeyes extended their advantage to 18 points in the second half and the Badgers were never able to get closer than 12 the rest of the way. Thornton had a big game for Ohio State, scoring 27 points to move into third place on the school's all-time scoring list with 2,005 career points.

  • The game was played on Tuesday night.

The players

Bruce Thornton

A senior guard for Ohio State who scored 27 points in the game and moved into third place on the school's all-time scoring list with 2,005 career points.

Devin Royal

A player for Ohio State who scored 25 points in the win over Wisconsin.

Braeden Carrington

A player for Wisconsin who led the Badgers with 20 points, including making five 3-pointers in the second half.

Nick Boyd

A player for Wisconsin who scored 14 points in the loss.

John Blackwell

A player for Wisconsin who scored 14 points in the game.

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What’s next

Wisconsin will host Iowa on Sunday, while Ohio State will travel to face Michigan State, also on Sunday.

The takeaway

Ohio State's victory over the 24th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers is an important milestone for the Buckeyes, who had struggled to beat ranked opponents so far this season. This win could provide a boost of confidence as Ohio State continues its push for a strong finish in Big Ten play.