Ohio State needed the old Braxton Miller back in its Big Ten opener against Wisconsin...and it got him.
Miller looked sharp after missing almost all of the last three games, hitting on 11 of 17 passes for 162 yards and three touchdowns in the first half against the Badgers to spark the Buckeyes to a 24-14 lead. He showed that the sprained medial collateral in his left knee was fine, too, as he looked nimble in rushing for 39 yards on seven carries.
Above all, Miller’s return reminded us of how dynamic he could be, whether by evading the Wisconsin defense or hitting a receiver downfield on a frozen rope. Not for nothing was the junior considered the preseason Heisman favorite.
His performance offset a fine half by Wisconsin’s pass-catch combo of quarterback Joel Stave and Jared Abbrederis. Stave went 11 of 16 for 210 yards and two touchdowns, with 159 of those yards going to Abbrederis on six throws.
WIth Miller back healthy, Ohio State looks like it has the potential to take its offensive game to the next level -- a championship level. As good as Kenny Guiton has been, he’s just not Miller.